:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 369 A Stubborn Defense of Pride\u00a0<\/p>\n
After Damian left, Vincent took a moment to properly assess the damage to Luke\u2019s face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was bruised and swollen, with a few open cuts here and there.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fortunately, none of it looked serious or life\u2013threatening.\u00a0<\/p>\n
62\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent felt a surge of frustration, but he kept it in check. He placed a hand on Luke\u2019s shoulder and said, \u201cWhatever grievance you\u2019re holding onto today, you\u2019ll have to swallow it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
In Rivergate, the influence held by Vincent and Damian was evenly matched, locking them in a stalemate where neither could gain absolute upper hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But compared to Damian, Vincent was far less reckless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian was the type who would burn everything down for Scarlett.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke\u2019s eyes were red\u2013rimmed. It had never occurred to him that there could be a problem even Vincent couldn\u2019t solve.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Vincent\u2019s phone buzzed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He pulled it from his pocket and saw Sabrina\u2019s name on the screen.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cVincent,\u201d her voice came through, \u201cdinner\u2019s wrapping up. Where are you? I\u2019ll come find you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a brief pause, Vincent replied, \u201cI\u2019m in the restroom area.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
From beside him, Luke immediately started shaking his head, signaling frantically for Vincent not to let Sabrina come.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke had always put Sabrina on a pedestal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If she weren\u2019t with Vincent, he\u2019d told himself more than once, he would have moved heaven. and earth to win her over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even though he knew he could never have her, his infatuation had only grown over time..\u00a0<\/p>\n
So the moment he heard Sabrina might come, panic set in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
If his goddess saw him like this\u2013beaten, bloody, and humiliated\u2013Luke felt he wouldn\u2019t be able to face her again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent wasn\u2019t fully aware of Luke\u2019s feelings for Sabrina; he simply thought Luke was being overly vain. So he still said into the phone, \u201cIt\u2019s fine, just wait for me in the lobby. I\u2019ll be right\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:15 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 369 A Stubborn Defense of Pride\u00a0<\/p>\n
there.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Sabrina replied before hanging up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent turned back to Luke. \u201cWash your face and come out with me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
62\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke refused instantly. \u201cJust go back. Don\u2019t worry about me. I can\u2019t go out there looking like this. Sabrina would\u2026 She\u2019d laugh at me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s expression remained steady. \u201cSabrina isn\u2019t like that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke dug in his heels. \u201cI\u2019ll leave after you guys are gone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Growing concerned, Vincent offered, \u201cI\u2019ll call Daniel to pick you up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Luke insisted, \u201cI\u2019ll get home on my own.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing he wouldn\u2019t be moved, Vincent didn\u2019t push further.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still, he made a quiet promise. \u201cI won\u2019t forget what happened today. Your payback will come later.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Luke gave a stiff, red\u2013eyed nod.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sensing his brother\u2019s shame and anger, Vincent lowered his voice. \u201cNaomi\u2019s been located. I\u2019ll text you the address. It\u2019s up to you whether you go see her or not.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With that, Vincent turned and walked out. Once in the hallway, he pulled out his phone and sent Luke the details.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alone in the restroom, Luke stared at the address on his screen, uncertainty washing over him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Should he go see Naomi, or not?\u00a0<\/p>\n
As dinner concluded, most of the guests had already filtered out of the restaurant.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina lingered in the lobby, waiting for Vincent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian was also still there, seated in one of the lounge chairs. When Sabrina glanced around, her eyes landed on him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was sitting quietly, his sharp profile and straight nose outlined in the soft lobby light.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was handsome, undeniably so\u2013enough to make Sabrina\u2019s pulse skip, despite everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
213\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:15 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 369 A Stubborn Defense of Pride\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was looking down at his phone, but seemed to sense her gaze. Slowly, he looked up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
When his eyes met Sabrina\u2019s, Damian\u2019s lips curved into a mischievous, knowing smile.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, Vincent appeared, walking toward them from the direction of the restrooms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina\u2019s attention snapped back to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
62\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Noticing her shift in focus, Damian\u2019s smile turned provocative. He rose smoothly and began making his way toward her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina saw him approaching, but instead of pleasure, a chill of fear ran through her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian was closer, so he reached her first.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing that Sabrina was deliberately avoiding his eyes, he deliberately raised his voice just enough to be heard clearly. \u201cYou\u2019re all sweetness and charm online, Ms. Monroe. How come in person you\u2019re acting like you don\u2019t know me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was doing this on purpose.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He simply didn\u2019t want Vincent to have a moment\u2019s peace.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Confronted with Damian\u2019s pointed question, Sabrina took a small step back. She looked up at him but offered no defense.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t that she didn\u2019t want to explain\u2013it was because Vincent was right behind her now, and she couldn\u2019t risk saying the wrong thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
One misstep could ruin everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent saw from a few paces away that Damian appeared to be confronting Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He quickened his stride, closing the distance rapidly, and moved to shield Sabrina behind him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His expression was cold as he addressed Damian. \u201cWatch your step, Mr. Langley.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina shrank behind Vincent, not even daring to peek out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing her reaction, Damian couldn\u2019t hold back a derisive smirk.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u5408\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
B\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 369 :\u00a0 Chapter 369 A Stubborn Defense of Pride\u00a0 After Damian left, […]<\/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-27733","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\/27733","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=27733"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27733\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}