Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 319

Awakened Housewife: Ignore Betrayer’s Begs

Chapter 319 Power Play

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Given this, when Vincent made his threat, Thomas still couldn’t believe he would actually follow through.

Perhaps sensing Thomas‘ skepticism, Vincent simply stood up. He looked down at the seated professor, Itis tone final. “Mr. Newman, I assure you, this is no joke. If you choose not to believe me, time will tell. The future of several key research initiatives at the foundation rests entirely on your decision.”

With that, he guided Sabrina out of the private room, leaving Thomas sitting alone in stunned silence.

Not long after, Thomas‘ phone rang. He answered to hear the strained voice of a project coordinator. “Mr. Newman, I’m afraid the shipment of the new spectrometers and lab equipment… It’s been halted.”

Confused and alarmed, Thomas demanded, “What do you mean, halted? On whose authority?”

“Orders from the top, sir,” the coordinator replied, sounding helpless. “The funding source has flagged the procurement. There’s nothing we can do.” The call ended abruptly.

Sitting in the now–chilly, empty dining room, a cold realization settled over Thomas. He picked up his phone again and dialed Vincent’s number.

Vincent answered promptly, a note of smug satisfaction in his voice. “Mr. Newman. Have you reconsidered?”

Thomas was seething. “Vincent, this is an academic institution, not your personal fiefdom. You can’t strong–arm scholarship.”

“My terms are simple,” Vincent replied coolly. “You will instruct Nolan to develop a viable, publishable research framework for Sabrina. The execution of the experiments and the writing of the dissertation, she will handle herself.”

Thomas let out a short, bitter laugh. “To elevate a woman, you resort to tactics this underhanded, Vincent? You are more pathetic than I imagined.”

Vincent fell silent, offering no defense to the personal jab.

When he didn’t speak, Thomas pressed on, his voice heavy with disdain. “Sabrina lacks the intellectual foundation to operate at that level. Even if you use your influence to hoist her up, the only certainty is that her fall will be from a much greater height.”

Then, Thomas hung up. He knew Vincent had him checkmated, for now. But that wasn’t the true tragedy. The real loss was that this shortcut for Sabrina would lead to a far shakier

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Chapter 319 Power Play

foundation than any path built on genuine merit ever could.

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That same afternoon, just as Scarlett was finishing her shift, Nolan came to find her at the hospital.

“Dinner?” he asked.

After a brief moment of thought, Scarlett nodded. “Alright.”

She had promised to treat him to a meal after Vincent had abruptly summoned her away from her parents‘ house. Since she was free tonight, it seemed like a good time.

At an upscale, modern fusion restaurant, Nolan handed the menu to Scarlett. She gently pushed it back toward him. “Nolan, this is my treat. Please, you order.”

Hearing this, Nolan simply smiled and took the menu back without argument.

After he had placed their order, Scarlett glanced up to signal a server and saw the heavy curtain at the entrance being swept aside. A couple walked in.

The man was Damian. Handsome, with the build of an athlete, his expression was one of open, lazy charm.

Beside him was a woman in a cream–colored slip dress under a tailored camel coat. Her makeup was impeccable. Damian’s arm was draped casually over her shoulders.

As they entered, they turned several heads. Scarlett recognized the woman from television and magazine covers. She was a rapidly rising starlet, the current “it girl” of the moment.

Of course. Damian changed companions as often as he changed his Italian loafers. Beautiful women were never in short supply around him.

And what was she, Scarlett, in that lineup? Nothing. A fleeting, forgettable blip.

As Damian and the actress passed their table, Scarlett was looking down at her phone. Nolan, seated beside her, was carefully pouring warm water from a carafe into her glass.

Once the glass was full, he nudged it toward her. “The air in the city is so dry this time of year. This might help.”

Only then did Scarlett look up at him, forcing a small, polite smile. “Thank you, Nolan.”

Damian, his hand now resting possessively on the small of the actress‘ back, seemed to be in no hurry. Whether he was deliberately moving slowly or was too absorbed in their whispered exchange, he didn’t proceed to a table immediately.

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Instead, he engaged in some very public, very intimate flirtation right there in the aisle.

The restaurant was busy, but Damian displayed no concern for an audience. He pulled the actress closer, his hand firm on her waist as she melted against his chest with a practiced sigh.

“Mr. Langley, you’re being awfully bold… holding me so tight right here,” the actress purred, her voice a low, provocative tease. “Aren’t you worried I might… make a scene?”

Her own hand drifted, tracing a suggestive line along his abdomen through his fine sweater.

Damian’s smile widened into a wolfish grin. He looked down at her, his voice dropping to a murmur that was, unfortunately, still perfectly audible. “Pressed against me like this, darling, who else would be making a scene but you?”

He followed this with a rich, unrestrained laugh that drew a few more glances.

They were standing mere feet from Scarlett’s table. Every word, every intimate nuance, carried clearly to her ears.

Noticing the tight line of Scarlett’s mouth, Nolan reached over, his brow furrowed with concern. “Are you alright? You’ve gone a bit pale.”

Scarlett shook her head slightly, summoning another faint smile. “I’m fine. Really.”

Nolan could tell her mood had shifted, though he didn’t connect the change to Damian’s dramatic entrance.

And in truth, Scarlett wasn’t overwhelmed by heartbreak. Remembering the moments when she had actually been moved by Damian’s gestures, she now felt nothing but foolish derision for her own naivete.

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