Chapter 384 A Cold Rejection on Campus\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian slumped back into the chair. He raised a hand and gave his own cheek a light, frustrated smack. \u201cI hate how hung up on her I am.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
57\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing this, Ruth let out a soft laugh. \u201cThe devoted ones don\u2019t always get rewarded, you know. Sometimes the players come out ahead.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Damian didn\u2019t want to listen to such cynicism. He covered his ears childishly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The motion made him think of Scarlett again\u2013specifically, of how he\u2019d bitten her earlobe hard before leaving.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just the memory brought a slight, grim sense of satisfaction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
*****\u00a0<\/p>\n
Early the next morning, Sabrina emerged from the research lab, having finally wrapped up the preliminary phase of her project.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She had pulled an all\u2013nighter, but the data had checked out, sparing her the nightmare of starting over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stepping into the hallway, she spotted Nolan not far off.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He seemed to have just come from Thomas\u2018 office. He held a document folder under his arm, and his long wool coat accentuated his tall, straight posture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A thick, damp fog blanketed Rivergate in the winter morning, settling like a fine mist on Nolan\u2019s shoulders.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He walked through the haze, his figure distinct and composed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
For a moment, Sabrina\u2019s heart gave an involuntary flutter.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before Nolan could reach the main doors, a young woman stepped into his path. \u201cNolan,\u201d she\u00a0<\/p>\n
said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked very young, with a sweet, earnest face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan stopped, \u201cCan I help you?\u201d he asked politely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The girl held out a small, neatly wrapped package, her cheeks flushing. \u201cNolan, I\u2026 I made these cookies. I thought you might like to try them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina, watching from a short distance away, understood the gesture perfectly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:54 Wed, Jan 14 ..\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 384 A Cold Rejection on Campus\u00a0<\/p>\n
:.\u00a0<\/p>\n
57\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan clearly did too. Still, he offered a gentle but firm refusal. \u201cThat\u2019s very kind, thank you. But I\u2019m afraid I\u2019m not much for sweets.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
With a brief, polite nod, he made to move past her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was then that Sabrina couldn\u2019t contain herself any longer. She smoothed her hair and called out, \u201cNolan!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hearing her voice, he turned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing it was Sabrina, a flicker of surprise crossed his features, quickly replaced by cool detachment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As he stood there, Sabrina walked slowly toward him. She was tall and carried herself with a confident grace that made the younger girl seem diminutive in comparison.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Nolan\u2019s gaze remained icy. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d he asked, his voice devoid of warmth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was obvious\u2013his tone was even colder when addressing Sabrina than it had been with the cookie\u2013bearing student.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina faltered slightly. His demeanor chipped away at her poised confidence. Yet she pressed on, tentatively. \u201cI was wondering if you\u2019d like to get something to eat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan looked at her. \u201cI prefer to eat alone,\u201d he stated flatly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The other girl hadn\u2019t left, and Sabrina, undeterred, tried another angle. \u201cLet me treat you. As a thank you for suggesting the research topic for my project.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan didn\u2019t miss a beat, not even to avoid a potentially awkward implication. \u201cMr. Newman asked for my input. I was helping him, not you.\u201d The distinction was clear and pointed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The young student, who had initially felt overshadowed by Sabrina\u2019s presence, now seemed almost reassured by Nolan\u2019s bluntness toward her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing that he offered her no quarter, Sabrina\u2019s composure finally cracked a little. \u201cNolan, you\u00a0<\/p>\n
He cut her off. \u201cIf there\u2019s nothing else, I should be going.\u201d He turned to leave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Instinctively, Sabrina reached out and caught the sleeve of his coat. \u201cNolan,\u201d she asked, her voice dropping, \u201cdo you despise me now?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned back, his expression cold. \u201cYes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina froze, staring at him in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:54 Wed, Jan 14 ..\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 384 A Cold Rejection on Campus.\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
57\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
He met her gaze without flinching. \u201cThere was a time when I admired your talent. You played the piano beautifully\u2013it was captivating. But the things you\u2019ve done\u2026 I think you know them better than anyone. I don\u2019t need to list them.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina stood silent, rendered wordless.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing no point in further conversation, Nolan turned again and walked out of the building.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still unwilling to let it go, Sabrina called after his retreating figure, \u201cIs it because of Scarlett? Is that why you hate me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nolan didn\u2019t answer. He didn\u2019t even break his stride.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Watching his back disappear into the grey morning fog, a corrosive mix of anger and jealousy churned within Sabrina.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was all because of Scarlett. Nolan, who had once regarded her with such appreciation, now looked at her with contempt.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She stood there for a long moment, her chest tight with fury.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, forcing herself to calm down, she walked out of the main university gates into the misty morning.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The moment she stepped onto the sidewalk, she saw it\u2013Vincent\u2019s car, idling by the curb.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There was a time, not so long ago, when the sight of his car would have sent her hurrying toward it with eager anticipation.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
W\u00a0<\/p>\n
3\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:55 Wed, Jan 14 \u00b7\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 384 Chapter 384 A Cold Rejection on Campus\u00a0 Damian slumped back into […]<\/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-27748","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\/27748","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=27748"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27748\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}