Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 23

Chapter 23 A Cold Call

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The teacher always said, “If you mess up, own up to it. That way, you might still walk away with a gold star.”

Scarlett had no idea what was going through Vanessa’s head-and honestly, she didn’t care to play guesswork. If Vanessa didn’t want to answer the phone, Scarlett wasn’t about to badger her into it. Just as she reached to end the call, Vincent suddenly dropped his voice, sharp and cold. “Vanessa Stewart.”

He used her full name. That was a dead giveaway-he was furious.

Vanessa had always been a little scared of Vincent. She flinched at the sound of her name, but still mumbled defiantly, “Dad, Mom’s the one who messed up! She didn’t even say sorry to Sabrina. I’m not taking her call.”

Scarlett heard every word, and confusion washed over her. “What are you talking about?” she blurted out, her voice tight with frustration.

Vincent tore his glare away from Vanessa and snapped back into the phone, “What do you think?”

Before Scarlett could wrap her head around his words, a soft, warm voice-Sabrina’s-filtered through from Vincent’s side. “Vanessa, time for your bath. You’ve got school bright and early tomorrow.”

That was the last straw. Scarlett didn’t even bother hanging up gently-she just ended the call, her fingers trembling.

She stood at her vanity, her legs suddenly wobbly, like the floor beneath her had shifted. She had to grip the edge of the counter to keep from stumbling, her reflection in the mirror looking pale and unsteady. Vanessa’s words had cut her deep-sharp, like a knife to the chest. What had she done, exactly, to make her own daughter think she was the one in the wrong?

And Vincent? Sabrina? The thought of them made her sick to her stomach. She’d barely stepped away from being Vincent’s wife, and they were already acting like they belonged together-shacked up, like she’d never even existed. Vincent probably “worked overtime” in Sabrina’s bed, she thought bitterly. With her? He’d only ever given her those rushed, cold three minutes, like she was an afterthought.

The next morning, Vincent rolled out of bed and headed downstairs, only to find Vanessa already picking at her breakfast. He slid into a chair at the table, but didn’t so much as glance at her-his jaw tight, his mood still sour from the night before.

Vanessa kept her head down, poking at her toast, well aware Vincent was angry. She’d ignored Scarlett’s call on purpose last night, and even though Vincent hadn’t yelled or punished her, his

15:30 Sat, Jan 3

Chapter 23 A Cold Call

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silence was louder than any scolding. After he’d hung up, he hadn’t said goodnight, hadn’t checked on her-nothing. She knew that look, that cold shoulder. He was mad. Really, truly mad.

“Dad…” she finally whispered, turning her head toward him slowly, her voice soft, like she was tiptoeing around a minefield.

Just then, Vincent’s phone rang. He didn’t even acknowledge Vanessa-he just grabbed the phone and swiped to answer. It was a call from Stewart Manor, his grandfather, Xavier’s number flashing on the screen.

Xavier’s voice boomed through the speaker, gruff and full of irritation. “You and Scarlett haven’t brought Vanessa to see me in six months! My birthday’s coming up, and I’ve got plans with the guys-but what, if I didn’t call, you’d just let this old man rot alone? You’re even gonna take away my chance to see my great-granddaughter and granddaughter-in-law now?”

Xavier had always been short-tempered, but he held all the power in the family. He’d built the Stewart Group from the ground up-without him, they’d never be the most influential family in town. Vincent had grown up living with Xavier, and their bond was tight-closer than with anyone else. If it hadn’t been for Xavier’s insistence, Vincent would’ve never agreed to marry Scarlett, not even if she’d held a knife to his throat. But when Xavier spoke, Vincent had no choice but to listen.

Hearing Xavier’s hurt, sharp words, Vincent let out a half-hearted chuckle, his tone softening a little. “We’ll swing by when we get a free minute, Grandpa.”

Xavier wasn’t having it. “A free minute? When’s that gonna be, Vincent? Don’t feed me that garbage. I want a real date. If you don’t bring your wife and my great-granddaughter over here, don’t bother showing your face again.”

Vincent was used to Xavier’s dramatic threats, but he still frowned, knowing he couldn’t brush this off. “How about in the next couple of days?”

Xavier didn’t care about his excuses. “Tonight,” he barked, firm and final.

Vincent hesitated, his mind racing-tonight was supposed to be…

He started to say something, “Tonight might be a little-”

But Xavier cut him off, his voice sharper than ever, “If you wanna let me die alone in this big house, then fine. Go right ahead.”

Then he hung up, the line going dead with a click, loud enough to echo through Vincent’s phone.

Vincent stared at the screen for a second, silent, his jaw set. When he finally set the phone down, Vanessa had scooted her chair closer, her eyes wide. “Dad, was that Great-Grandpa?”

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Chapter 23 A Cold Call

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They were father and daughter, after all-grudges between them never lasted long. Vincent finally looked at her, his expression softening a touch. “Yeah. He says he wants to see you.”

Vanessa’s face lit up, her legs swinging back and forth under the table. “Yay! I haven’t seen him forever-I miss him so much!”

Xavier had always spoiled Vanessa rotten. Whatever she wanted-her favorite snacks, the latest toys, even silly little trinkets-he’d get it for her without a second thought. Vincent had always thought Xavier coddled her too much, which was why he didn’t take her to Stewart Manor very often.

Watching Vanessa’s excitement, Vincent decided to be upfront. “Mom’s gonna come too.”

Vanessa’s smile faded instantly. She pouted, crossing her arms. “Then I don’t wanna go.”

Vincent didn’t push her-instead, he pulled out the one card he knew would work. “If you don’t go, Great-Grandpa’s gonna be really sad. You don’t wanna make him upset, do you?”

Vanessa’s resolve crumbled right away. She sighed, nodding slowly. “Okay… I’ll go with you, Dad.”

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15:31 Sat, Jan 3

Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer’s Begs