Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing her daughter\u2019s complaints, Scarlett felt a fresh wave of helpless anxiety.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Soon, the taxi pulled up at the hospital entrance. Scarlett, with Vanessa still clutched in her arms, rushed inside, barely pausing to throw cash at the driver before hurrying straight to the Emergency Department.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As a pediatric surgeon herself, when the nurses wheeled Vanessa into a trauma bay, Scarlett followed right in.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A series of examinations and X\u2013rays followed. The results came back clear\u2013no broken bones, no visible trauma.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Fearful of missing something subtle, Scarlett asked the nurses to run a full blood panel and check Vanessa\u2019s vitals.\u00a0<\/p>\n
All the tests came back normal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa, listening to the doctors talk, kept up her complaints. \u201cMommy, my tummy really hurts. And my head is pounding.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett turned to look at her daughter on the gurney. Vanessa\u2019s cheeks were pink, her eyes wide and alert. She didn\u2019t look like a child in distress at all.\u00a0<\/p>\n
In that moment, putting the pieces together, a suspicion dawned on Scarlett. Vanessa was putting on an act.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Playing along, Scarlett put on a grave face and addressed the ER physician. \u201cWell, if all the scans are clear, I suppose we\u2019ll need to proceed with a more invasive exploratory procedure.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The doctor looked puzzled. \u201cWhat did you have in mind?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAn exploratory laparotomy,\u201d Scarlett said, her tone deliberately clinical. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to open the abdominal cavity to visually locate the source of the pain. It\u2019s the only way to be certain.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before the doctor could express his surprise, Vanessa bolted upright. \u201cNo! Mommy, I want to go home! Now!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
That reaction confirmed it for Scarlett. She turned back to the medical staff, her expression softening into one of embarrassed apology. \u201cI\u2019m so sorry for the trouble. Please, give us a moment alone.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The doctors and nurses filed out, leaving mother and daughter in the quiet, sterile room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once the door clicked shut, Scarlett\u2019s posture changed. She looked directly at Vanessa, her voice\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/4\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:16 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 377 Vanessa\u2019s Painful Deception.\u00a0<\/p>\n
low but firm. \u201cWhy the act, Vanessa? Why the lies?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A 62\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa, seeing she\u2019d been caught, dropped the pretense. Her face scrunched into a defiant scowl. \u201cIt\u2019s none of your business.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The hostility in her tone took Scarlett aback, but she pressed on. \u201cDid something happen at school? Were you fighting with another child again?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa jutted out her lower lip. \u201cNo.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who was spitting at people?\u201d Scarlett asked, her voice rising slightly. \u201cAnd who was calling other kids bastards?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re so annoying,\u201d Vanessa shot back, her voice dripping with disdain. \u201cJust stop.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett felt her patience snap. \u201cRight now,\u201d she said through gritted teeth, \u201cI have half a mind to put you over my knee.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa didn\u2019t flinch. Instead, she leaned forward, almost taunting. \u201cSo do it then.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
She even tilted her head, presenting her cheek. \u201cGo on! Hit me!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing such brazen defiance, Scarlett\u2019s hand moved before she could fully think\u2013a sharp, stinging slap across Vanessa\u2019s cheek. The sound echoed in the quiet room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa froze, stunned. Then, as the shock wore off, a loud, wounded wail burst from her. \u201cWaaah!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Simultaneously, her small fist shot out and struck Scarlett hard in the abdomen. \u201cYou\u2019re a bad mommy! A bad, mean mommy!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The blow was sudden. Scarlett initially just registered the impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A second later, a sharp, nauseating pain bloomed deep in her core, stealing her breath. She couldn\u2019t suppress a pained gasp.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing the sound, Vanessa stared blankly for a second.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But seeing the genuine pain on Scarlett\u2019s face seemed to please her. Her tears stopped abruptly, replaced by a cold, hard glare. \u201cI wish you were dead.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A chill ran down Scarlett\u2019s spine. \u201cWho taught you to say something like that?\u201d she demanded sharply.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa pointed a trembling finger right at her. \u201cYou did! You taught me!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Blind anger surged through Scarlett. Her hand rose again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
214\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:16 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 377 Vanessa\u2019s Painful Deception\u00a0<\/p>\n
62\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
This time, Vanessa was ready. She ducked nimbly out of reach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett, having thrown her weight into the swing that didn\u2019t connect, stumbled forward off- balance.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The edge of the hard hospital gurney caught her squarely in the same tender spot Vanessa had\u00a0<\/p>\n
hit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She straightened up slowly, already breaking out in a cold sweat from the pain.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vanessa watched, not a trace of remorse in her eyes. Instead, she climbed to her knees on the bed, drew her foot back, and kicked out\u2013aiming once more for Scarlett\u2019s stomach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The connection was weak but precise. Scarlett doubled over, a wave of weakness threatening to buckle her knees.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At that exact moment, the door to the trauma bay swung open.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before Scarlett could even see who it was, Vanessa scrambled off the bed and flew across the room, throwing herself into the newcomer\u2019s arms.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent caught her, lifting her up. Vanessa immediately framed his face with her hands, her voice a masterpiece of wounded innocence. \u201cDaddy! The bad mommy hit me!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s gaze shifted from his daughter\u2019s tear\u2013streaked face to Scarlett, who was still hunched over, pale and breathing heavily.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a heavy pause, his voice was flat. \u201cWhy would you hit her?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The question, so devoid of context, sparked a bitter laugh from Scarlett. \u201cI\u2019m starting to regret ever having her.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The \u201cher\u201d was unmistakably Vanessa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent heard the bitterness. \u201cWhat\u2019s the point of saying things like that?\u201d he asked, his voice low and controlled.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His calm demeanor only stoked Scarlett\u2019s fury. \u201cIf I had known my own daughter would turn out like this,\u201d she said, her voice rising, \u201cI would have done anything to avoid bringing such a cruel, spiteful child into this world!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The words were harsh, cutting. Vincent\u2019s frown deepened. \u201cThat\u2019s enough. She\u2019s just a child.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing him immediately take Vanessa\u2019s side, shielding her from any consequence, Scarlett could only shake her head, a sarcastic, weary smile touching her lips. \u201cYou keep protecting her like this, Vincent.,One day, you\u2019re going to live to regret it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/1\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:16 Wed, Jan 14\u00a0<\/p>\n
Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer\u2019s Begs\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 378 Waking in Damian\u2019s Care\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 377 Finished\u00a0 Hearing her daughter\u2019s complaints, Scarlett felt a fresh wave of […]<\/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-27741","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\/27741","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=27741"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27741\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27741"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27741"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27741"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}