Chapter 386 A Dangerous Gamble\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire nodded. \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
57\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett could no longer stay lying down. She pushed herself upright, holding the phone closer. \u201cAre you out of your mind?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A faint, resigned smile touched Claire\u2019s lips. \u201cA deal\u2019s a deal. Someone actually pulled it off.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cJust because some random person on the internet fulfilled your silly challenge, you have to go through with this?\u201d Scarlett\u2019s voice was thick with worry.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire sighed, the sound heavy through the speaker. \u201cMy whole career is online, Scarlett. I made a public promise. If I back out now, the backlash will be worse. My credibility will be ruined.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow do we make sure you\u2019re safe, then?\u201d Scarlett pressed, her mind racing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire thought for a moment. \u201cText me every ten minutes. If I don\u2019t reply within a couple of minutes, call the police.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though every instinct screamed against it, Scarlett saw no other way. \u201cAlright,\u201d she agreed reluctantly. \u201cFine.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
They talked a little longer before ending the call.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At five o\u2019clock that evening, a text from Claire arrived. \u201cHeading out now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
True to her word, Claire sent periodic updates every few minutes, brief messages confirming her location and status.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Anxious, Scarlett spent the evening glued to her phone, refreshing the screen constantly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
At 6:24 PM, the updates stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ten minutes passed with no word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Filled with dread, Scarlett immediately called the police.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It was futile. Without concrete evidence of a crime or a longer period missing, they couldn\u2019t file a report. Her alarm was dismissed as premature.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Panic mounting, Scarlett dragged herself from bed, ignoring her own fatigue, and got into her\u00a0<\/p>\n
car.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She left Theron Manor, driving while repeatedly trying Claire\u2019s number. Every call went through\u2013but no one ever picked up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:55 Wed, Jan 14 d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 386 A Dangerous Gamble\u00a0<\/p>\n
457\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she navigated a quiet, tree\u2013lined side road, a car suddenly appeared ahead, parked at an angle that partially blocked the lane.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett braked to a halt, her phone still pressed to her ear. Still no answer.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She looked\u00a0<\/p>\n
Impatient, she pressed her hand to the horn.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The other vehicle was facing hers. With the narrow road, she had no choice but to wait.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the horn blast faded, Scarlett peered through her windshield at the car ahead. The driver\u2019s seat was empty, but the vehicle itself\u2026 It was rocking slightly. A steady, rhythmic motion.\u00a0<\/p>\n
There were clearly people inside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She waited another minute, then hit the horn again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Still no movement. Frustration overrode her patience. She unbuckled her seatbelt and got out.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As she approached, the scene inside the other car became clear through the tinted windows. Vincent and Sabrina were in the back seat.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sabrina was curled against Vincent, her face buried in the curve of his neck. She appeared to be biting him, or kissing him fiercely.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent had his head bowed, his handsome features tense, a muscle ticking in his jaw. One of his large hands had slipped under the hem of Sabrina\u2019s shirt, moving against her bare back.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He seemed to be losing his restraint. He lifted his head, his fingers grasping Sabrina\u2019s chin, tilting her face up to his-\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just then, a sharp rap sounded on the window beside him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent froze. He turned his head, and the look in his eyes was glacial.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He pressed the button, and the window slid down. When he saw it was Scarlett, his eyes narrowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s face was a mask of cold detachment, forcibly ignoring the intimate scene she\u2019d interrupted. \u201cYou\u2019re blocking the road. Move your car.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent\u2019s brow furrowed slightly. \u201cYou even find your way to a place this secluded?\u201d he asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett frowned, confused. \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
20:55 Wed, Jan 14 d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 386 A Dangerous Gamble\u00a0<\/p>\n
:\u00a0<\/p>\n
A mocking smile touched his lips. \u201cAre you sure you weren\u2019t following me?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A disdainful snort escaped her. \u201cYou flatter yourself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
57\u00a0<\/p>\n
457\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finished\u00a0<\/p>\n
Vincent raised an eyebrow, a challenge in his gaze. \u201cAnd if I don\u2019t move? What will you do about it?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing,\u201d Scarlett said flatly.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She turned on her heel and walked back to her car. But inside, a reckless, furious resolution had crystallized.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Sliding back into the driver\u2019s seat, she took a deep, steadying breath, her hands gripping the wheel until her knuckles turned white. A terrifying calm settled over her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She made her decision.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Starting the engine, she shifted into drive. With her eyes fixed ahead, she slammed her foot down on the accelerator.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her car shot forward, aimed directly at the side of Vincent\u2019s vehicle.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact, not caring about the consequence. If this was it, then so be it. At least in this moment, there would be no room for regret.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The engine roared as she floored the pedal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Amidst the noise, her heart was unnervingly still.\u00a0<\/p>\n
On the other side of the road, Vincent had just settled back into the driver\u2019s seat when he saw Scarlett\u2019s car lurch forward, accelerating straight toward him with terrifying intent.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1.1K\u00a0<\/p>\n
a\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 386 Chapter 386 A Dangerous Gamble\u00a0 Claire nodded. \u201cYeah.\u201d\u00a0 57\u00a0 Finished\u00a0 Scarlett […]<\/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-27750","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\/27750","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=27750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27750\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}