Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 160

Chapter 160 Chivalry in the Rain

零元

With Nolan and Scarlett around, Thomas might as well have been a completely different man -gone was his usual sharp, no-nonsense edge, and instead, he chatted with them like they were old friends, not just colleagues or academic acquaintances. No topic felt off-limits, and the meal unfolded into something thoroughly enjoyable.

Elsewhere in the restaurant, Vincent’s group had just finished their own meal and filed out of their private room. Vincent headed straight for the host stand to settle the bill, his focus on the tab in front of him, so he didn’t even glance toward the main dining area where Scarlett and the others sat.

But Sabrina and Daniel, who followed right behind him, spotted Scarlett’s table the second they stepped into the main

space.

Scarlett had her back to the front desk, so she had no idea Vincent’s group had emerged. Nolan and Thomas, though, noticed them right away—but even that didn’t make them pause their conversation.

They were deep in a lively discussion, and Nolan, for one, had no interest in letting outsiders ruin the easy mood they’d built.

“Dr. Newman,” Nolan said, leaning in slightly, “I’ve been digging into a new research topic lately, and it’s really promising. Once Scarlett wraps up her master’s and gets accepted into your doctoral program, I was thinking we could team up on this project together.”

Thomas’ eyes lit

up instantly-his interest was piqued, plain and simple. “C’mon, don’t leave me hanging! What’s the topic? A good research idea’s meant to be shared, not kept under wraps. Scarlett’s still three years out from her doctorate; you can always brainstorm another topic for her by then.”

Nolan knew how passionate Thomas was about research, so he grinned and gave in. “Alright, fair enough.”

Not far away, Sabrina had caught snippets of Nolan and Thomas’ conversation, and the small lift in her mood from the meal vanished in an instant.

Why was Thomas so stern and dismissive with her, but so warm and amiable with Scarlett, who hadn’t even started her master’s yet? What did Scarlett have that she didn’t?

And Nolan was her senior, too! Why did he go out of his way to be so kind to Scarlett-even planning a research topic for her doctoral studies, like it was no big deal?

Sabrina had spent weeks poring over endless academic papers, scrolling through journals late into the night, and still hadn’t found a single feasible topic for her own work. So why did Scarlett get one handed to her on a silver platter?

1/4

14:53 Sat, Jan 10

Chapter 160 Chivalry in the Rain

Finished

Resentment bubbled up inside her, hot and sharp, and when she looked at Nolan and Thomas, her eyes were hard with quiet anger.

Daniel, oblivious to the storm brewing in Sabrina’s head, suddenly let out a small “oh” of understanding. “So that’s the ‘other commitment’ the old fossil was talking about earlier.”

Sabrina’s voice was thick with sarcasm, sour and bitter. “Nolan’s always been Dr. Newman’s star pupil-his pride and joy. Of course he gets special treatment.”

Daniel rolled his eyes, but he couldn’t argue with her logic, so he just shrugged and stayed quiet.

Meanwhile, Sabrina’s mind was racing. If only I can get Nolan to help me like that. If he’d just point me in the right direction, I wouldn’t be stuck floundering with my research anymore.

By then, Vincent had finished paying the bill. He turned back to Sabrina, his tone casual. “Sabrina, let’s head out.”

That one word-“Sabrina”-carried across the dining area, and Scarlett heard it, too. But she didn’t so much as twitch, let alone turn around. She just picked up her water glass, and took a slow sip.

Sabrina perked up at Vincent’s voice. She hurried over, slipping her arm through his and pressing herself close. “Okay, let’s go.”

As Vincent started toward the exit, his gaze swept lazily over the main dining area—and when it landed on the table where Nolan and Thomas sat, his steps froze for half a second. He’d instantly recognized the woman with her back to him. It was Scarlett.

The pause was so subtle most people wouldn’t have noticed it, but Sabrina did.

“Vincent, what’s wrong?” she asked, turning to face him and deliberately blocking his line of sight to Scarlett. She didn’t want any other woman lingering in his view, even for a second.

Vincent snapped his gaze away from the table, his expression smooth again as he looked down at Sabrina. “Nothing. Just thinking about something. Let’s go.”

Sabrina tightened her grip on his arm, pressing her body even closer to his, and walked with him toward the door.

Once Vincent’s group was gone, Scarlett went right back to discussing medical topics with Thomas and Nolan.

But the restaurant had large floor-to-ceiling windows, and the street outside was clearly visible –and when she turned her head just a little, she saw Sabrina walking arm-in-arm with Vincent, their steps in perfect sync, their bodies pressed close. They looked like the picture of a happy,

2/4

14:54 Sat, Jan

Chapter 160 Chivalry in the Rain

harmonious couple-like they belonged together.

Finished

A bitter, hollow feeling settled in Scarlett’s chest. She pressed her lips into a thin line, forced her gaze away from the window.

When the meal finally ended, Scarlett reached for her wallet, ready to split the bill-but Nolan waved her off, insistent.

By the time they stepped outside, a light, misty rain had started to fall.

Nolan glanced up at the sky, then turned to Thomas. “Dr. Newman, let me drive you home. It’s pouring.”

Thomas laughed, shaking his head and declining politely. “No need, Nolan-thank you, though. I’ll take the bus.”

Nolan knew Thomas well enough to know he meant it–he loved those small, simple moments of everyday life in his free time. So he didn’t push.

Just then, the bus they’d been waiting for pulled up to the stop. Thomas grabbed his briefcase, gave them both a warm smile, and climbed aboard.

Scarlett and Nolan stood on the curb, waving until the bus pulled away. “Goodbye, Dr. Newman!”

As soon as the bus was out of sight, the rain picked up.

Nolan borrowed a large umbrella from the restaurant, holding it over both of them as they started walking toward the parking lot.

The rain had made the roads slick, and cars zoomed past, sending up sprays of water from the puddles.

Scarlett was walking on the outer edge of the sidewalk, and any passing car could easily splash her, drenching her clothes.

Nolan reacted before she even had time to realize the danger. He held the umbrella steady with one hand, then wrapped his other arm around her waist, pulling her gently but firmly into his side. Just as he did, a car sped by, and a wave of dirty water splashed exactly where she’d been standing a second earlier-soaking the lower half of his coat instead.

Rivergate City had been rainy for days now, and the roads were still slick and slippery. But with Nolan’s arm around her, not a single drop of rain touched Scarlett.

3/4

14:54 Sat, Jan 10

Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer’s Begs