Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent tightened his grip on his fork. Before he could speak, Xavier interjected, \u201cThat\u2019s right, Scarlett\u2013speak freely in front of me. If Vincent has treated you unfairly, I\u2019ll make sure he answers for it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Whether Xavier fully meant it or not, his words brought a faint warmth to Scarlett\u2019s heart.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She offered a small, tired smile. \u201cThank you, Grandpa.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then she turned her gaze back to Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His handsome features were taut with tension.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett could guess what he was afraid she\u2019d say, but she continued calmly, \u201cAt the kindergarten outing today, Vanessa used a very cruel word toward another child. What do you think should be done about it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, some of the tightness left Vincent\u2019s expression.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a pause, he asked, \u201cWhat did she say?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett met his eyes. \u201cShe called him a bastard.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent went still, as if he couldn\u2019t quite believe it, and said nothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlett wasn\u2019t letting it go. \u201cWell, Vincent? What should the consequence be?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned the question back on her. \u201cWhat do you think it should be?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett clenched her jaw. \u201cA public apology. And no dinner tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent frowned. \u201cIs that really necessary?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she replied without hesitation. \u201cIt is.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a child who had lost his mother, being called that was a deep, reopening wound.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Vincent simply waved a hand dismissively. \u201cWhat if I don\u2019t make her apologize?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had expected that. \u201cIt\u2019s your choice. She\u2019s your daughter as much as mine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s face darkened. \u201cShe\u2019s just a little girl. Do you want to punish her into the ground?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Scarlett said coldly. \u201cShe deserves to face consequences.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:11 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 334 A Fiery Clash\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s voice rose. \u201cScarlett, you\u2019re her mother. Do you hear what you\u2019re saying?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Since their argument began, Xavier hadn\u2019t been able to get a word in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching them go back and forth, he wasn\u2019t sure whom to chide first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
B\u00a0<\/p>\n
64\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett looked at Vincent\u2019s anger\u2013twisted face and started to stand, but a sudden warm rush between her legs made her sink back into her chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The cramping in her lower abdomen was growing sharper. Cold sweat beaded on her skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even so, she kept her voice steady. \u201cIf this were before, no matter how much it hurt you to see it, I would\u2019ve made her apologize. But now\u2026 it\u2019s up to you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, she pressed a hand to her stomach and pushed up from the table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But after only two steps, she froze.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Looking down, she saw several vivid streaks of blood on her calf.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Heat rushed to her face\u2013how humiliating, to have this happen here, now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before she could react further, her vision dimmed, and everything went black.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett crumpled to the floor, the blood on her leg smearing the polished wood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment she fell, Vincent was on his feet. He crossed the room in quick strides and knelt beside her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gently, he tapped her cheek. Her skin was alarmingly pale, almost without color.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A sudden panic gripped him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without a word, he scooped her into his arms and carried her out of Ravenshade Villa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Xavier followed slowly with his cane, unable to keep up. \u201cVincent!\u201d he called. \u201cCall me when you get to the hospital!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI will, Grandpa!\u201d Vincent\u2019s reply trailed behind him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Scarlett\u2019s eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was Vincent standing by the window, smoking.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She couldn\u2019t tell how many cigarettes he\u2019d gone through\u2013the whole room was thick with the smell.\u00a0<\/p>\n
213\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:11 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 334 A Fiery Clash\u00a0<\/p>\n
A64\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
The stale smoke made her nauseous. She wrinkled her nose. \u201cVincent\u2026 could you outside?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her own voice startled her\u2013hoarse and ragged, barely recognizable.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent stubbed out the half\u2013finished cigarette in the ashtray.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once the ember died, he walked to the bedside and sat in the chair.\u00a0<\/p>\n
smoke\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression was cold and serious. \u201cScarlett,\u201d he said, his voice low. \u201cTell me the truth. What really made you faint?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett studied his face\u2013the searching, suspicious look in his eyes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wasn\u2019t entirely sure what he meant, but the persistent ache in her abdomen told her this wasn\u2019t just her monthly cycle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still, she held her ground. \u201cIt was cramps. That\u2019s all.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s pupils narrowed. He leaned closer, dropping his voice. \u201cThink carefully. Is there anything you\u2019re not telling me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u3002\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 334 Finished\u00a0 Vincent tightened his grip on his fork. Before he could […]<\/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-27698","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\/27698","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=27698"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27698\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27698"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27698"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27698"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}