He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 537

Scarlett had waited in the car for a few minutes, and when they didn't come out, she walked back to the house.

The moment she poked her head in, she noticed a profound, unspoken understanding passing between Julian and her mother. She had no idea what they had been talking about.

"Coming! We're heading out now."

They chimed in unison.

Soon, the three of them were on the road to Sutton City.

When they arrived at Mercy International Hospital, Julian's parents, Dominic Croft and Elara Chapman, were already waiting by the main entrance, pushing Dawn in a stroller.

In just a few days, Dawn had noticeably filled out. Her cheeks were rosier, and her big, bright eyes looked more alert and adorable than ever.

Dominic and Elara had specially bought a brand-new premium stroller, outfitting it with a soft woven mat, a plush pink blanket, and an array of dangling toys.

But that wasn't all—Elara had purchased over a dozen sets of designer baby clothes and tiny shoes, every single piece screaming luxury and care.

Seeing these little details filled Scarlett's heart with overwhelming gratitude.

The stark contrast only highlighted the cold, venomous cruelty of Yardley's family.

What kind of twisted morals did it take to be so obsessively misogynistic? What kind of vile upbringing produced people who would call an innocent infant a curse and a bastard?

Dawn was the most innocent person in the world.

It was her parents who brought her into this world.

Yet, every time Scarlett thought about how she had failed to protect her daughter from that toxicity, an agonizing physical ache tore through her chest.

Thankfully, they had crossed paths with Julian's family—people who exuded genuine warmth and kindness.

Watching Elara, Dominic, and Jacqueline completely dote on Dawn, cooing at her and calling her an angel... Scarlett felt her emotional walls dangerously close to crumbling.

Not wanting to cry, she forced a casual tone:

"Mom, Mr. Croft, Elara... Julian and I need to head to the Architecture Summit now."

She had spent years trapped on a pedestal of judgment, constantly criticized, picked apart, and deemed unworthy.

She had almost forgotten what it felt like to simply be accepted.

Scarlett looked at him, her voice thick with emotion:

"Thank you. You're the first person in my entire life to ever say that to me."

She sniffled softly. "Even my mom never said things like that... though I don't blame her. She was just trying to keep us alive back then."

The emotional floodgates opened, and Scarlett found herself speaking about the past:

"I made it this far purely on spite. I've spent my whole life silently fighting against the world."

"When I was little, a teacher told me I was too introverted to sing on stage. So I went home, practiced until my throat was raw, signed up for the Bay City Children's Channel talent show, got on TV, and won an award. I practically slapped that teacher in the face and made her eat her words."

"In middle school, I struggled with math. My teacher told me I'd be lucky to get into a vocational school. But I refused to accept that. We couldn't afford a tutor, so I taught myself. I studied relentlessly, asked questions until people were sick of me, and by the final exams, I had the highest math score in the class. I shocked that teacher, too."