Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 583

But inside, she was a mess.

Right then, she felt like she'd stolen something that wasn't hers to take. This—whatever this was between them—it wasn't meant for her. It should have belonged to Melinda.

Scarlett stayed quiet, and Damian slowly relaxed. Still pressed against her, he nibbled gently on her ear and murmured, "I'm getting sleepy, babe."

"Then sleep," she said softly, not pulling away.

He rested his chin on top of her head, his voice muffled against her hair. "Tomorrow, after your surgery, I swear—when you open your eyes, I'll be the first thing you see."

She hummed in response. "Okay."

He nuzzled into her hair. "You smell so good, babe. I wish I could just hold you like this forever."

Not long after, his breathing evened out.

Scarlett stayed curled against his chest without moving. But for some reason, her eyes filled with tears, and they spilled over, one after another. She didn't know why. Her chest just felt heavy. Uneasy.

Outside the hospital room, Melinda leaned against the wall, pressing her hand over her mouth to muffle the sobs. But the tears kept coming, streaming down her face, heavy and unstoppable.

She'd heard Damian say it before—insist, even—that he liked Scarlett. She'd never believed it. Not really.

Not until now. Not until she'd seen it with her own eyes. That scene. The intimacy.

Now she understood. He wasn't joking.

He'd actually fallen for Scarlett.

But Melinda was the one who'd saved him. That closeness should have been hers.

Her free hand curled into a tight fist at her side. Her whole body trembled. Her heart burned with envy.

Why did Scarlett get so much?

Hatred and resentment churned inside her. She pulled out her phone and snapped a few photos through the window. Then she turned and walked away.

Damian belonged to her. She wasn't giving up.

*****

That night, at Stewart Manor.

Lucy spotted him and hurried over. "Hey, Vincent."

He glanced at her, offering a small smile. "You've lost weight."

She sighed dramatically. "Medical school's no joke. Look at me—I pull night shifts and my hair's falling out in clumps."

His expression shifted. "You're a Stewart. You don't have to push yourself like this."

There was real concern in his eyes.

Lucy blinked, caught off guard. She looked up at him.

After a beat, she said quietly, "If I stop pushing, Mom and Dad will start pushing me to get married. I don't want that. Not yet."

Vincent frowned, his voice gentle but firm. "I know you're worried they'll set you up with someone you don't like. But what about Harris?"

Lucy's face tightened. "Vincent, Harris and I are just friends. Why would you even put us together like that?"

Vincent stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I'm looking out for you. Harris is a good man. Spend more time with him, and you'll see—he's the kind of guy who actually cares about the person he's with. Marry him, and you won't have to deal with all the drama. Think about it. Once you've made up your mind, I'll make the introduction."