Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 278

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Sabrina held Vanessa close and gently stroked her cheek. “This is all my fault, sweetheart. I’m the one who made you sick.”

Vanessa shook her head. “No, it’s not you. My immune system just isn’t very strong.”

Tears welled up in Sabrina’s eyes, her voice thick with remorse. “If I had known you’d get this sick, I never would have let you come to the hospital. Please don’t be upset with me.”

Vanessa raised a small hand and wiped Sabrina’s tears away. “I’m not upset with you, Sabrina. I’ll be back to my usual self in a couple of days.”

Sabrina managed a weak smile and brushed Vanessa’s hair from her forehead. “You’re such a sweet girl.”

Vanessa wrapped her arms around Sabrina again, clinging to her tightly.

Vincent watched them, a slight smile on his face though his tone held a hint of admonishment. “Vanessa, Sabrina isn’t fully recovered herself. You shouldn’t squeeze her so hard.”

Hearing that, Vanessa immediately loosened her grip.

Seeing his daughter’s slight deflation, Vincent picked up the insulated lunch bag. “Look what Sabrina made for you–a special ‘get–well‘ lunch.”

Vanessa’s face instantly brightened. “Wow, I’ve never tasted your cooking before, Sabrina! Daddy, let me try it right now.”

Back at Ravenshade Villa, Sabrina was usually occupied with her research, and meals were typically handled by Lily.

Seeing Vanessa’s excitement, Sabrina felt the need to lower expectations. “Don’t get your hopes up too high, sweetie. I don’t cook very often. It might not be that great.”

Vanessa didn’t seem to care. She looked eagerly at Vincent. “Come on, Daddy, open it!”

Vincent complied, unzipping the bag and lifting out a container. Inside was a thick, creamy fish soup, though it was dotted with small, charred flakes floating on the surface.

Even so, Vanessa didn’t show any sign of distaste. She picked up a spoon, took a sip, and immediately felt a strange, almost metallic tingling on her tongue. She couldn’t help but frown slightly.

Scarlett had remained in the room, standing in an inconspicuous corner near the window.

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Chapter 278 A Rival’s Comfort

She watched Vincent, Vanessa, and Sabrina gather around the bed.

They looked like a perfect, loving family of three.

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Vanessa’s polite effort despite the questionable soup twisted something inside Scarlett. Though the soup looked utterly unappetizing, Vanessa drank two big spoonfuls to be nice.

After swallowing, she smacked her lips and said to Sabrina, “It’s really good, Sabrina. I’d love to have it again sometime.”

Scarlett saw it all clearly. A numbing ache spread through her chest. A simple bowl of poorly made soup could bring Vanessa such visible joy, while her own efforts seemed to go entirely unnoticed.

Standing there, she felt utterly superfluous–a joke no one was laughing at.

She couldn’t take it anymore. Unclenching her hand from the fabric of her pants, she turned and walked quietly out of the room.

When Vanessa glanced up, she caught sight of her mother’s retreating back.

Even though this was what she thought she wanted, a peculiar, hollow feeling settled in her chest at the sight–a faint but persistent sting she couldn’t quite name.

She pushed the feeling away and looked up at Vincent, finally noticing the bandage on his forehead. “Daddy, what happened to your head?”

“It’s nothing,” Vincent replied smoothly. “Just an accidental bump.”

Scarlett, stepping into the hallway, heard his answer. She knew he wasn’t trying to preserve her image in their daughter’s eyes–he just wanted to avoid further drama.

After leaving the hospital, Scarlett took a cab back to the hospital where she worked and withdrew her request for leave.

She worked through the entire afternoon.

In the evening, she stayed an extra half hour to finish up some charts.

As she was leaving, a colleague invited her to grab dinner.

By the time she returned to Theron Manor, it was already past eleven.

Vincent hadn’t called once since she’d left the hospital where Vanessa was staying that morning, and Scarlett hadn’t asked about Vanessa’s condition either.

Henry and Dianą had retired for the night hours ago.

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Chapter 278 A Rival’s Comfort

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A light was on in Nathan and Violet’s room, but they weren’t inside–likely still downstairs.

Clara, too, had gone to bed early.

Mindful of waking anyone, Scarlett moved through the quiet house on silent feet.

Once in her bedroom, she didn’t even bother to shower. She simply collapsed onto the bed and was asleep almost instantly.

The sleepless night followed by a full workday had drained her completely.

Some time later, she drifted into a feverish half–sleep. Her whole body felt like it was burning

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She touched her skin–it was clammy with sweat yet radiating heat.

She swallowed, and a raw, cutting pain shot through her throat.

Every limb felt weighted with lead, and her eyes were sore and swollen behind their lids.

Scarlett knew what this was. She’d been infected and was now running a fever herself.

She tried to summon the strength to get up and search for some fever reducers, but her body was too heavy, too weak to even lift herself from the mattress.

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