Chapter 342 A Provocative Livestream Bargain\u00a0<\/p>\n
(6\u0f23 )\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Faced with such a vulgar comment, most streamers would likely ignore it. But Claire didn\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After carefully reading the remark, she repeated it aloud, then replied with a bright, unbothered smile, \u201cYour username is \u2018Damian\u2018. I\u2019ve heard you have quite the rivalry with someone named Vincent here in Rivergate. Tell you what\u2013if you can snatch a major, long- term project from Vincent, one he\u2019s heavily invested in, then I might just meet you in person\u2026 and let you get a whiff of my perfume.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
When Zachary heard Claire\u2019s self\u2013deprecating reply, he didn\u2019t feel disgust\u2013instead, a faint smile touched his lips.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maybe others wouldn\u2019t grasp her meaning, but he did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent was one of the most powerful figures in the city. Who would dare\u2015or even be able\u2014to cross him?\u00a0<\/p>\n
On one level, Claire was deflecting an unwelcome advance. On another, she was issuing an indirect, impossible rejection.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet her playful tone made it sound almost as if she\u2019d really go through with it under those absurd terms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Thinking this, Zachary\u2019s smile widened. He drained the wine in his glass and looked back at Claire\u2019s face on the screen. Softly, he said to himself, \u201cYou know\u2026 I\u2019m actually tempted to try.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the hospital room, Scarlett lay weak and exhausted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, the night was lively and loud.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent sat in the most exclusive booth of an upscale lounge. Bass\u2013heavy music pulsed through the space.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the dance floor, young men and women moved under the swirling lights.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside the booth, Vincent had already finished more than a bottle of red wine, pouring glass after glass.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A heavy, frustrated ache sat in his chest\u2013one he was trying to drown.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel was the last of their group to arrive. Seeing Vincent nearly two bottles in, he leaned toward Harris. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on with him?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:12 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 342 A Provocative Livestream Bargain\u00a0<\/p>\n
A63\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harris shook his head but kept his voice low. \u201cLucy had a high\u2013risk exposure during a surgery today. I think it\u2019s eating at him.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel had already heard about it from Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He looked at Vincent with concern, then leaned over and clapped him on the shoulder. \u201cLucy started post\u2013exposure prophylaxis right away. It\u2019s not over yet\u2013there\u2019s still hope. Try not to let it consume you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent looked up. His eyes were bloodshot.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a moment, he just nodded. \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel thought the reassurance might help, but Vincent\u2019s mood only seemed to darken.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned back to Harris. \u201cIs there something else bothering him?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harris frowned, sensing it too. \u201cI\u2019m not sure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel ventured a guess. \u201cCould it be about Scarlett?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harris shook his head. \u201cUnlikely. There were never real feelings there. Why would he be over her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who else?\u201d Daniel pressed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe Vanessa\u2026 or Sabrina?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
upset\u00a0<\/p>\n
At Sabrina\u2019s name, Daniel replied simply, \u201cSabrina\u2019s always been gentle. She\u2019s stayed by his side all these years without pushing for anything more. That says enough about her character. I doubt she\u2019s the reason.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Harris fell silent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a pause, he said, \u201cJust leave him be. He\u2019s been like this since I got here\u2013won\u2019t say a word no matter what you ask.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Daniel nodded in agreement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent had drunk deeply. After finishing the second bottle, he opened a third.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But halfway through it, he suddenly stood up. Without a word, he turned and headed for the exit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing him leave, Daniel and Harris instinctively moved to follow.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Luke and Naomi appeared, stepping into Vincent\u2019s path.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:12 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 342 A Provocative Livestream Bargain\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVincent, you heading out already?\u201d Luke asked bluntly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent paused, slightly surprised. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGrandpa was worried about you,\u201d Luke said. \u201cSent me to check in.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Na lingered quietly behind Luke, keeping her distance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent just grunted in acknowledgment. \u201cI\u2019m going to the hospital to see someone. You stay here with Daniel and Harris. Have fun, but don\u2019t stay out too late\u2013go home straight after.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing hospital, Luke\u2019s heart began to race.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He searched Vincent\u2019s face. \u201cWhich friend are you visiting?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without much thought, Vincent answered, \u201cMy wife.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
At the word \u201cwife\u201c, Luke\u2019s composure cracked. A jolt of panic ran through him, and he nearly stumbled where he stood.\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 342 Chapter 342 A Provocative Livestream Bargain\u00a0 (6\u0f23 )\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Faced with […]<\/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-27706","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\/27706","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=27706"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27706\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27706"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27706"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27706"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}