Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 529

Chapter 529 A Heart-to-Heart

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Finished

Zachary and Felix drove the group up to a small cabin perched near the top of a hill.

The view from up there was something else. They could see most of Rivergate laid out below.

Even in the middle of the day, the city in the distance still had that kind of quiet sparkle to it, almost cinematic.

The air up here was clean and cool-the kind that made they feel like they could actually breathe again.

Once Scarlett stepped out of the car, her mood lifted a little.

She still smelled like she’d spent the night at the bottom of a bottle.

Damian caught a whiff of it and frowned. “You hit the booze first thing in the morning?”

His mouth was always like that-flippant, never serious. But honestly? Scarlett thought he was decent, in his own way.

He wasn’t Vincent. Yeah, his words could get under your skin, but he never actually did anything that crossed a real line. He’d helped her more than once.

Still, the thought that all that kindness was originally meant for Melinda? That sat heavy in her chest.

Damian noticed her expression flicker from something almost light to something not. “What’s wrong? You mad at me?”

He stepped closer, tilting his head down to catch her eyes.

She gently pushed him back. “I’m gonna go help with the stuff.”

And just like that, she pulled herself out of his space.

Scarlett headed to the trunk to help unload, but Zachary waved her off. “Scarlett, go chill. Felix and I got this.”

She glanced around. “Then I’ll start on the tents.”

Before she could even move, Damian already had the tent bag in hand.

He started trying to unfold it, but the motion meant stretching his arms out wide, and Scarlett immediately tensed up-his injury.

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12:41 Fri, Mar 6 M

Chapter 529 A Heart-to-Heart

She crossed over and stopped him. “I’ve got it.”

She took the tent right out of his hands.

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Zachary had just set down the last cooler when he caught the exchange. He looked up with a grin. “Damian, Scarlett’s really looking out for you, huh. Why don’t you just surrender already?”

Damian shot him a look. “Didn’t ask for your opinion.”

Zachary snorted. His eyes drifted to Claire, who was setting out stuff for the BBQ, then back to Scarlett. “Scarlett, leave the tents to us. Go help Claire with the veggies.”

The way he said Claire so casually made Scarlett pause. She glanced at Zachary and caught the faint, almost sheepish smile on his face.

It caught her off guard.

After everything Claire had been through, Zachary was still right there. Still chose to stay.

And if he could be that kind of friend-principled, steady-then maybe Damian was genuinely decent too.

The thought hung there for a second.

Then she blinked it away. “Okay.”

She started walking toward Claire but caught a glimpse of Zachary and Felix fumbling with the tent poles. She turned back. “Let me help.”

No one had asked Damian to do anything-he was still nursing that shoulder.

Before Zachary could say no, Damian reached out and caught her wrist. “You go relax. Setting up tents is guy stuff.”

She tried to pull free, but his grip held. She turned and glared. “Let go.”

Damian blinked at her. “What’s wrong with holding your hand?”

Scarlett realized she was overreacting. She softened, just barely. “Nothing.”

But Damian had already caught the red rims around her eyes. His tone shifted. “Are you actually mad at me?”

He stepped in closer, pulling her hand gently toward him. His gaze wasn’t teasing anymore-it was searching.

She shook her head, voice tight. “No. It’s on me.”

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