Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 620

But on Friday, when he walked into the courthouse at the time specified on the summons, he spotted Felix sitting at the defense table.

Felix was there to represent Nathan, and Nathan himself sat in the plaintiff's seat.

Vincent's status had suddenly shifted from plaintiff to defendant.

The moment he saw Felix, Vincent's suspicion hardened into certainty—Scarlett and Damian's relationship ran deeper than either of them let on.

Their circles weren't that large. Vincent ran with Daniel and Harris; Damian kept company with Zachary and Felix. Everyone knew everyone.

In the gallery, the Therons sat together, every single one of them present.

Once the proceedings began, Felix laid out a careful case. Piece by piece, he presented evidence showing that Nathan had only thrown that punch because Vincent had insulted his parents first.

He submitted video footage. He produced witnesses. The chain of evidence was clean and complete.

Then Felix cited precedent—multiple similar cases where the person who'd acted in defense of family had walked away with no charges.

Vincent sat in the defendant's seat, caught completely off guard. He hadn't prepared for this. And even if he had, he knew he couldn't match Felix's command of the courtroom.

When Felix finished, the judge turned to Vincent.

"Is what the other side presented accurate, Vincent Stewart?"

Vincent lifted his head. For a moment, he just looked at the judge. Then he said flatly, "They have witnesses. They have video. What else is there for me to say?"

In the end, with Felix's thorough preparation, the judge ruled Nathan not guilty and ordered his immediate release.

But because Nathan had thrown the first punch, the judge required him to pay Vincent appropriate compensation.

The amount came to two thousand five hundred and four dollars.

When he heard the number, Vincent let out a short, humorless laugh.

He turned his head slowly, his gaze sweeping over the gallery. Calm. Cold. Searching.

In one glance, he found Scarlett.

Their eyes met across the room. He didn't speak, didn't move. But the silence between them said more than any words could.

An invisible pressure radiated from him, filling the space.

Scarlett understood immediately what that look meant.

He was warning her. Did she think this meant she'd won?

She knew Vincent too well. This wasn't over.

When the judge announced the verdict, applause rippled through the gallery. Diana and Henry were both crying. But Scarlett and Violet, though relieved, kept their faces carefully controlled.

Scarlett looked at his back, then slowly pushed herself to her feet. She balanced on one crutch, her leg stiff and uncooperative.

When she reached him, she pulled a stack of cash from her bag.

Before the trial, Felix had walked her through the possibilities. Either Nathan served time, or he walked but paid compensation.

Felix had been confident—ninety percent chance of acquittal. So she'd come prepared.

She held out the money, not bothering to count it. "This is your compensation."

Vincent stared at the cash in her outstretched hand. For a long moment, he didn't move. Didn't take it. Didn't leave.

So she let go.

The bills fluttered to the ground, scattering across the floor.

She kept her eyes on him, though they were red-rimmed now.

He stared back, contempt written across his face. "Trying to humiliate me?"

Tears welled in Scarlett's eyes. She thought of her parents standing outside his gate in the cold. Of the way he'd thrown money at them. Of everything.

Her voice was quiet, but it held.