Chaphapte8308 A Test of Power\u00a0<\/p>\n
65\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fin\u00a0<\/p>\n
HearticahngXhai Xavier was at Ravenshade Villa, Scarlett felt her heart clench involuntarily. Aft brief hesitatusitation, she replied with a touch of resignation, \u201cI understand.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She then bohlboked up at Nolan, who was still standing by the taxi. \u201cNolan, you should head ba I\u2019ll treat youngounoddinner next time to make up for tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan\u2019s lips clipecived into a faint smile, though it didn\u2019t quite reach his eyes. He nodded. \u201cAlri I\u2019ll hold you to hao that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Returning his smilesgaile gently, Scarlett turned and got into Vincent\u2019s car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
By the time they andyedived back at Ravenshade Villa, it was already past eight in the evening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier was seated orthoptheplush living room sofa, leaning on a handsomely carved cane. Eve casual attire, he exudechadednie undeniablefair of authority.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing Scarlett enter with VitheVincent, a slight smile finally touched Xavier\u2019s stern features. But the two approached, his despisessiession grew serious once more.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere have you been at such aucted late hour?\u201d he asked, his tone conveying clear disapproval.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to visit my parents, Grandfandfather Scarlett replied calmly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier\u2019s gaze held a note of expectationation.\u201cVanessa still looks quite peaky. You should make a effort to spend more time with herhlesethese days.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course,\u201d Scarlett answered simplymply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa had been discharged from the hospitalspitals that same afternoon. Scarlett felt no need to explain the day\u2019s earlier conflict, nor did slipshe particularly care how Xavier perceived her acti\u00a0<\/p>\n
ylcare\u00a0<\/p>\n
In less than twenty days, she would have hofunch further ties to the Stewart family. For now, it wa easier to simply acquiesce to his requests.uests.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her compliant demeanor, Xavier finally alllwallowed a look of satisfaction to settle on his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Across the room, near the coffee table, Maria was sittingiting comfortably, snacking on fruit whil watching a drama on the large television. She had been happinapping in her room when Xavier fi arrived and had only come downstairs a short whitevague ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Unfamiliar with Xavier and engrossed in hershow, she hadn\u2019hadn\u2019t paid much attention to the conversation nearby. Her relaxed posture, however, had and stopestaped Xavier\u2019s notice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:06 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 308 A Test of Power\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Taking in her simple housedress, Xavier assumed she was one of the villa\u2019s staff.\u00a0<\/p>\n
(65)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
His voice, laced with undisguised disdain, cut through the room. \u201cWhat is this? Do the help at Ravenshade Villa now presume to sit as equals with the family?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The direct address made Maria jump. She turned and saw the elegantly dressed old man whose very presence commanded respect. A wave of instinctive apprehension washed over her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Noticing how Scarlett and Vincent stood attentively nearby, she quickly deduced this must be a senior member of the Stewart family\u2013Vincent\u2019s grandfather, most likely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once she guessed his identity, a thread of genuine fear wound through her irritation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But before she could muster an apology, Scarlett spoke up, her voice cool and clear, \u201cMaria, have you forgotten the household rules?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing Scarlett use her name so pointedly sent a fresh spike of anger through Maria. Yet, with Xavier\u2019s critical eyes upon her, she couldn\u2019t afford to lose her temper.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Swallowing her pride, Maria stood up from the sofa. She walked over to Scarlett\u2019s side, adopting a deferential tone. \u201cMy apologies, Mrs. Stewart. Is there something you\u2019d like? You only had to ask.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Scarlett\u2019s lips as she regarded Maria. After a deliberate pause, she said, \u201cNow that you mention it, Maria, I have a bit of a craving. I\u2019d like some agneau aux haricots verts farcis.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she named the dish\u2013an exceedingly labor\u2013intensive one requiring the meticulous stuffing of a fine lamb mousse into individual hollowed\u2013out green beans\u2013her eyes held a deceptively gentle, harmless look.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maria knew full well Scarlett was creating a difficulty for her. But she simply nodded. \u201cOf course, Mrs. Stewart. I\u2019ll prepare it for you right away.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, she turned and hurried toward the kitchen. Scarlett was seizing the opportunity presented by Xavier\u2019s presence to subtly assert her position, if only for the moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once Maria had left the room, Xavier turned to Scarlett, his brow slightly furrowed. \u201cScarlett, isn\u2019t it rather excessive to demand such an elaborate dish from the staff at this hour?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it?\u201d Scarlett replied evenly. \u201cMaria often takes great pride in preparing gourmet meals, no matter the time. She seems to genuinely enjoy the craft.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier didn\u2019t pursue the matter further. But Scarlett, as if struck by a sudden thought, turned to Vincent. \u201cYou know, I just remembered Grandfather is particularly fond of Consomm\u00e9 Royale, isn\u2019t he? Since Maria is already in the kitchen, perhaps she could prepare a portion for him as well?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:06 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 308 A Test of Power\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u3001, (65)\u2018\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
She directed the remark pointedly at Vincent, watching as his expression subtly darkened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier himself waved a hand in refusal. \u201cIt\u2019s far too late for such a rich soup. Not good for the digestion at my age.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent seized on this, offering Scarlett a thin smile. \u201cGrandfather is right. Perhaps you should take his advice. Late\u2013night meals should be light.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett knew he was intervening on Maria\u2019s behalf, but she held her ground, her tone light yet insistent. \u201cBut I\u2019m still feeling a bit peckish. And besides, didn\u2019t you always tell me not to skip meals?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Editorial Board: Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.<\/p>\n
Silent Dreams Never Die \u2014 Author: John Miller 308 Chaphapte8308 A Test of Power\u00a0 65\u00a0 Fin\u00a0 HearticahngXhai Xavier was at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-impossible-condition-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27672","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27672"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27672\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27672"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27672"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27672"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}