Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett) novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77 The Morning After

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Finished

Vincent and Sabrina stood beneath the spectacular fireworks display, both tilting their heads back to watch the brilliant colors explode across the night sky. From behind, their silhouettes against the shimmering backdrop looked like a perfectly matched couple.

[Oh my god, look at all those fireworks! They must be going on forever, right?]

[I heard the show lasted a full thirty minutes, and every sequence was completely unique.]

[That must have cost an absolute fortune!]

[Not as much as you’d think, actually. My family’s in the pyrotechnics business. For a display of that scale and duration, I’d estimate around ten million dollars.]

[Ten million? That’s how the ultra-rich live, I guess. Just the fireworks alone cost more than I could earn in my entire lifetime.]

As she scrolled through the news coverage, Scarlett finally understood why Vincent hadn’t returned to Ravenshade Villa that night.

No matter how demanding his schedule, Vincent typically made it a point to be wherever Vanessa was. The fact that Vanessa was home alone while he was absent could only mean he was engaged in something he deemed exceptionally important.

Scarlett had never imagined that his “exceptionally important” engagement was throwing an extravagant birthday celebration for Sabrina.

He had actually left their young daughter at home, unsupervised, for this.

The thought sent a sharp, bitter pang through her. Then another, more visceral thought struck her- perhaps at this very moment, Vincent and Sabrina were entangled in an intimate embrace, lost in passion.

On a romantic night like this, fueled by champagne and fireworks, it would be a wasted opportunity not to consummate the atmosphere.

The more her mind conjured these images, the more a burning sensation prickled behind her eyes. She couldn’t suppress the choked sob that escaped her lips, and silent tears began to trace paths down her cheeks.

The sound of her quiet crying stirred Vanessa from her sleep. The little girl rolled over and mumbled drowsily, “Mom, can you please not play on your phone in the middle of the night? The light and the noise are keeping me awake.”

Scarlett quickly switched off her phone, plunging the room into darkness. “I’m sorry, sweetheart,” she whispered. “I’ll go sleep in the guest room.”

Vanessa, already halfway back to dreamland, simply rolled over again, completely missing Scarlett’s soft apology and promise.

Scarlett sat up in the dimness, staring at Vanessa’s sleeping form for a long, long time.

Remembering how Vanessa had claimed Vincent was “working late” the previous night, she found the

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Chapter 77 The Morning After

situation tragically laughable.

To Vanessa, it was painfully obvious whose feelings and reputation were deemed more worthy of protection.

Finished

Ultimately, Scarlett slipped out of bed and left Vanessa’s room, seeking the solitude of the guest room.

She spent the entire night awake there, relentlessly scrolling through every article, photo, and video detailing Vincent and Sabrina’s very public celebration.

As the first hints of dawn painted the sky, Scarlett abandoned any pretense of sleep. She rose and mechanically began preparing breakfast for Vanessa.

She made a simple oatmeal and fried a few sticks of churro, the fried dough Vanessa usually enjoyed.

Once everything was ready and laid out on the dining table, Scarlett went back upstairs to gently wake Vanessa and help her with her morning routine.

After Vanessa had washed up and dressed, mother and daughter descended the stairs together.

Just as they entered the dining room, Lily’s voice rang out from the main entrance, “Good morning, Mr. Stewart. Good morning, Ms. Monroe.”

Scarlett froze for a fraction of a second. When she looked toward the doorway, she saw a stunningly attractive couple stepping inside, bathed in the soft morning light.

Sabrina, who must have spotted Scarlett immediately, discreetly released her hold on Vincent’s arm just before they crossed the threshold.

Scarlett watched their entrance without flinching. Vincent looked utterly relaxed, a faint, contented smile playing on his lips. Sabrina’s cheeks were flushed a delicate pink, her entire demeanor radiating a glow that suggested she had been very thoroughly and recently satisfied.

Scarlett’s gaze dropped, and she noticed a new, exquisite pale green/emerald bracelet adorning Sabrina’s wrist. It caught the light, sparkling with an undeniable, expensive sheen.

Vincent didn’t even glance in Scarlett’s direction as he entered. Instead, he addressed Lily directly. “Prepare some nutritious dishes for this afternoon. Sabrina had a rather… strenuous night. She needs something restorative.”

Lily’s face paled slightly at the blatant implication, but she could only bow her head and reply, “Yes, Mr. Stewart.”

Scarlett was a woman of the world; she understood perfectly well what Vincent’s words-and Sabrina’s glowing appearance-signified.

On a night like the one they’d just had, such an outcome was almost inevitable.

When Vanessa saw Sabrina return, she instinctively tried to pull her hand free from Scarlett’s grasp, but Scarlett held on just a little tighter.

Vanessa didn’t struggle further. Instead, she beamed at Vincent. “Dad, you must be so tired from working so late! You should go get some rest. Mom is taking me to school today.”

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Chapter 77 The Morning After

Vincent walked over and affectionately ruffled Vanessa’s hair. “You’re a good girl, Vanessa.”

Vanessa nuzzled into his palm like an affectionate kitten. “I’ll always be good for you, Dad.”

Then she turned her attention back to Scarlett. “Mom, let’s eat breakfast now. I’m hungry.”

Scarlett looked down at Vanessa’s upturned face, a fresh ache piercing her heart.

Finished

Was Vanessa, even at her young age, already learning to cover for her father, constructing an elaborate pretense that he had been working rather than spending the night in another woman’s arms?

“Mom?” Vanessa shook Scarlett’s arm gently when she seemed to drift away.

Scarlett snapped back to the present, forcing a soft smile onto her lips. “Yes, of course. Let’s eat.”

Vanessa led Scarlett to the table. While Scarlett was busy serving the oatmeal into bowls, the little girl quickly turned and blew a discreet, affectionate kiss in Sabrina’s direction.

Scarlett caught the gesture out of the corner of her eye but said nothing.

She placed a bowl of the plain oatmeal in front of Vanessa. “Here you go, sweetheart. Eat up.”

Vanessa glanced down at the simple, unadorned oatmeal and her face fell slightly. “Mom, isn’t there anything else to go with this? It’s a bit plain.”

Scarlett didn’t answer Vanessa’s question. Instead, her gaze shifted to Vincent, who was just about to escort Sabrina upstairs. Her voice, clear and firm, cut across the room. “Vincent. I need to speak with you. Now.”

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Awakened Housewife ignore Betrayer’s Begs.