\u0b2e\u0b41 \u0b2c\u0b4d\u0b33 63\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian recognized Scarlett\u2019s subtle cue for him to leave, but he remained stubborn. \u201cI\u2019ve already passed the meeting to my deputy. It can go ahead without me. My priority today is to accompany you to the dinner tonight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Having said that, and to preempt any objection from Scarlett, he turned to Nathan and Violet with a disarming smile. \u201cI\u2019m sure Nathan and Violet would feel better knowing you weren\u2019t going alone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett grew flustered. \u201cDamian, you\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian responded with a faint smile, his eyes holding a determined, possessive glint.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett thought that, given Nathan\u2019s protective nature, he would never agree to let Damian\u00a0<\/p>\n
stay.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But to her surprise, Nathan simply said, \u201cThen go upstairs and rest first.\u201d He then turned to a member of the household staff. \u201cPlease show Mr. Langley to the guest room.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The attendant complied, leading Damian upstairs. Once he was gone, Scarlett turned to Nathan with a frown. \u201cWhy did you let him stay?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan looked at her, his tone serious. \u201cBecause, for tonight at least, he can keep you safe.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I-\u201d Scarlett started to protest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nathan cut her off gently but firmly. \u201cJust this once.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reluctantly, Scarlett conceded.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At five in the afternoon, Nolan\u2019s car pulled up at the entrance to Theron Manor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After receiving his call, Scarlett slipped a long coat over her fitted evening dress and headed downstairs. She hoped to leave quietly, but as she reached the staircase, the door to the guest room swung open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Theron, forgetting something?\u201d Damian\u2019s voice was low, tinged with amusement, yet Scarlett could detect a thread of irritation beneath it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Feeling a pang of guilt, she turned to face him, her eyes avoiding his directly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her discomfort, Damian smiled and closed the distance between them. As he neared, he lowered his voice. \u201cEven if you leave without me now, I\u2019ll just find my own way there later. Why go to the trouble?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:14 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 361 Leaving No Room for Escape\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett said nothing and continued down the stairs, Damian following closely behind.\u00a0<\/p>\n
63\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before they even reached the front door, Scarlett could see Nolan\u2019s car through the sidelights. He stood beside it, looking strikingly handsome in a black wool coat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A fine, misty drizzle fell outside\u2013the kind that dampens everything slowly. Though it was just past five, the gray sky had already brought an early dusk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan stood calmly by the car, holding a large, clear umbrella. When he saw Scarlett emerge, he lifted the edge of the umbrella slightly, and a warm, gentle smile spread across his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was something so inherently kind and steady about his presence in the soft rain that it felt reassuring.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a fleeting moment, a\u2013sharp, needle\u2013like pang struck Nolan\u2019s heart as he saw Scarlett step out with Damian close behind her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But as she approached, his expression softened back into its usual gentle warmth. He walked forward to meet her, holding the umbrella high.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When they met, Nolan tilted the umbrella completely over Scarlett, sheltering her from the drizzle. He looked down at her, his smile tender. \u201cScarlett.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked up and returned his smile. \u201cNolan.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before leaving, she had taken care with her makeup, using concealer to hide the faint remnants of bruising. To Nolan, she looked perfectly well.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He shifted the umbrella to his other hand, moving to stand beside her. \u201cLet\u2019s get you in the car.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
From the side, Damian rolled his eyes at Nolan\u2019s attentive gesture, muttering under his breath, \u201cWhat a performance.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett heard him and shot him a warning glare. In response, Damian deliberately turned his face away, refusing to meet her eyes or speak.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan heard the comment too but showed no irritation. He simply smiled faintly and repeated, \u201cScarlett, the car is this way.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett nodded. \u201cOkay.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Side by side, they walked toward the vehicle under the shelter of the umbrella. When they reached it, Nolan opened the passenger door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just as Scarlett was about to slide into the front seat, Damian, who had been trailing them, quickly stepped forward. He took gentle hold of her arm and smoothly guided her away from the door.\u00a0<\/p>\n
213\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:14 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 361 Leaving No Room for Escape\u00a0<\/p>\n
(63)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Turning to Nolan with a roguish half\u2013smile, he said, \u201cDarling can keep me company in the back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett tried to pull her arm free, but Damian\u2019s grip was firm yet gentle as he deftly ushered her into the rear seat instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It all happened so quickly\u2013a brief, fluid motion\u2013that Nolan barely had time to react before Scarlett was settled in the back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian then slid in beside her and rolled down the window, his handsome features framed against the evening light. He raised an eyebrow at Nolan, his tone laced with playful challenge. \u201cWell, Mr. Huntley? Shall we go?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u1320\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 361 \u0b2e\u0b41 \u0b2c\u0b4d\u0b33 63\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Damian recognized Scarlett\u2019s subtle cue for him […]<\/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-27725","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\/27725","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=27725"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27725\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27725"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27725"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27725"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}