Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24 Reluctant Visit

Vincent offered a faint, tight smile and said nothing more.

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By the time breakfast was halfway done, he pulled out his phone and dialed Scarlett. He rarely reached out to her first-even more, he hadn’t saved her number with a name. He’d just memorized the last few digits, scrolling through his call log until he found the right one.

The phone rang, and Scarlett picked up within seconds.

“What do you want?” Her voice was sharp, edged with impatience-like she didn’t have time for whatever he was calling about.

Vincent paused for a split second, as if weighing his words, before finally speaking. “Grandpa wants us to come to Stewart Manor tonight. He said he misses Vanessa… and you.”

Scarlett was behind the wheel at that moment, driving to work. When she heard his words, she froze for a heartbeat, her hands tightening on the steering wheel. Then she replied, her voice quiet and a little hoarse, “Got it.”

She wasn’t agreeing for Vincent, or even for Vanessa. She was doing it for Xavier-for the kindness he’d always shown her. She owed him that much. Xavier was the only one in the entire Stewart family who’d ever treated her like a real person, not just a trophy wife or Vanessa’s mother. That was a debt she’d never forget.

Vincent wasn’t surprised she’d said yes. He just added, “I’ll come pick you up this afternoon.”

Scarlett didn’t hesitate. “No need. I’ll drive myself.”

That caught Vincent off guard. Normally, if he’d offered to pick her up, she would’ve been over the moon-so happy she might’ve even teared up. But now? She sounded calm, almost detached, like his offer didn’t matter one way or the other.

He didn’t push it. Instead, he said, “Then swing by and get Vanessa on your way.”

Scarlett’s answer was quick. “It’s not on my way. You get her.”

She knew Vincent probably couldn’t even name the hospital where she worked, let alone find it. Her workplace and Vanessa’s preschool were on complete opposite sides of town-if she detoured to pick up Vanessa before heading to Stewart Manor, she’d be stuck in traffic for hours. But that “not on my way” line was just an excuse. The real truth? Scarlett didn’t want to get too close to Vanessa anymore.

She’d risked her life to give birth to that little girl. She’d stayed up with her through fevers, read her bedtime stories every night, and tried to be the best mom she could. But now? All Vanessa cared about was herself-siding with Sabrina, ignoring her calls, even calling her the one who

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Chapter 24 Reluctant Visit

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“messed up”. If her own daughter didn’t care about her, why should she keep bending over backward for nothing? Besides, she thought bitterly, Vanessa probably didn’t even want her to pick her up anyway.

Vincent went quiet on the other end, but Scarlett had already ended the call.

Outside, the driver waited by the car, but Vanessa hadn’t left yet. She’d hung back, hovering near the door, waiting for Vincent to finish his call. She was still mad at Scarlett-mad about the fight with Sabrina, mad that her mom wouldn’t apologize-but a tiny part of her had hoped Scarlett might try to make things right. Then she’d heard Scarlett tell Vincent she wouldn’t come pick her up, and that anger flared up again. It didn’t matter if she’d wanted Scarlett to pick her up or not-her mom had said no before she even asked. That stung.

Vincent slipped his phone into his pocket and noticed Vanessa still standing there. He frowned, confused. “Why aren’t you in the car yet?”

Vanessa pouted, her lower lip sticking out. “Mom’s so spoiled, and it’s your fault, Dad.”

Spoiled? Vincent blinked. He’d never spoiled Scarlett-not once. He’d barely even shown her kindness. But he didn’t bother arguing with a kid. He just sighed and said, “Go to school. I’ll pick you up this afternoon.” With that, he straightened his tie and headed upstairs, leaving Vanessa alone.

Vanessa sat at the kitchen table for a minute longer, kicking her legs. When she finally hopped down, she muttered under her breath, so quiet only she could hear, “Hmph. I don’t even want a mom like that.”

**

***

By six o’clock that evening, Scarlett was just about to clock out of work when a child with a broken leg was wheeled into the ER, screaming in pain. The injury looked serious-compound fracture, the nurse said-so Scarlett stayed late to help the on-call doctor stabilize the leg and prep the kid for surgery. By the time she was done, it was past seven.

She changed out of her white coat, grabbed her bag, and hurried downstairs, then drove straight to Stewart Manor. Even with her foot on the gas, it was already past eight when she pulled into the driveway.

The housekeepers spotted her the second she walked through the door and swarmed over, greeting her warmly-“Mrs. Stewart, you’re here! Shall I get you a cup of coffee?”

Scarlett smiled and shook her head, thanking them as she made her way toward the main hall.

Just as she reached the doorway, Xavier’s loud, angry voice boomed out. “Scarlett’s still not here, and you didn’t even think to call her? What woman wants a man who can’t be bothered to check in? You’re as cold as a block of wood, Vincent! Who would ever like you?”

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Chapter 24 Reluctant Visit

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Inside, Vincent sat on the leather couch, head down, scrolling through his phone-business news, by the look of it. It was anyone’s guess if he was even listening to Xavier. Either didn’t react-no eye roll, no sigh, nothing.

way,

he

Vanessa sat at a small table in the corner, playing a game of solitaire with a deck of cards. When she heard Xavier yelling at Vincent, she looked up and said, her voice serious for a kid her age, “Great-Grandpa, it’s not Dad’s fault! Mom’s just late ’cause she forgot the time. Dad cares-he just doesn’t show it.”

Scarlett heard Vanessa’s words from the doorway, but she didn’t flinch. This was how her daughter was now—always taking Vincent’s side, always making excuses for him, even when he was wrong. She’d gotten used to it, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. So much for her “little angel. More like a little traitor.

She didn’t want to listen to Vanessa defend Vincent anymore, so she stepped into the hall, her shoes clicking against the marble floor.

Xavier saw her instantly and jumped up from his chair, hurrying over. “Scarlett! There What took you so long tonight?”

you are!

Scarlett forced a soft smile, explaining gently, “We had an emergency patient at the hospital— little kid with a broken leg. I couldn’t leave until we got him sorted.”

Vanessa heard Scarlett’s voice and stiffened, her hands freezing mid-card. But she didn’t turn around. She sat there, back straight, waiting-waiting for Scarlett to come over, to greet her first, to apologize. This was Xavier’s house. Scarlett wouldn’t dare ignore her here. Even if she had to fake it, she’d at least pretend to care.

But Scarlett didn’t even glance in her direction. It was like Vanessa wasn’t there at all.

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Awakened Housewife ignore Betrayer’s Begs