Damian had always kept a humble, deferential posture around Nathan, but for once, he tilted his chin up firmly, all trace of deference vanishing from his eyes.
Scarlett stood tucked behind Damian. On instinct, she reached out and tugged lightly at the hem of his blazer.
He felt the small pull, dropped his arm, and curled his fingers around her clammy palm without hesitation.
Holding her hand steady, Damian fixed his calm gaze on Nathan and spoke.
"Please take back those harsh things you said about Scarlett. She's never done any of what you accused her of. If anyone has to bear responsibility for this mess, it's me."
Right after his words landed, Nathan's frigid voice cut through the room.
"Mr. Langley, I'm disciplining my own sister. You have no right to meddle in our family business."
Unfazed by the sharp retort, Damian tightened his grip around Scarlett's hand right in front of Nathan. She strained hard to pull free, yet couldn't slip out of his hold no matter how much she struggled.
Scarlett wriggled behind him to break loose, but Damian stood rooted firmly before her like a solid boulder, tall and unyielding.
Nathan's mocking taunts rolled off Damian without stirring his calm demeanor, though his reply rang with unshakable resolve.
"I may hold no legal standing here, but I love Scarlett. I won't stand by and let anyone insult or mistreat her—not even you."
Nathan let out a scoff of disdain at his confession.
"Finished with your speech?"
Damian softened the sharp edge in his bearing as he stared into Nathan's face.
He answered softly, "For now, yeah."
Nathan turned his gaze away from him yet kept talking.
"I won't stand in the way of you two dating, but only if Scarlett chooses this relationship of her own free will."
A bright smile broke across Damian's face. "Don't worry. She will."
Nathan spun back toward him sharply, voice sharp with reprimand. "But at least right now, she hasn't agreed."
Damian said, "And like you said, it's just that she hasn't agreed yet."
Nathan's words caught in his throat, flustered. "You—"
Before he could finish his sentence, Violet, who'd been watching the whole dispute from the upstairs landing, stepped down the staircase one slow step at a time. She drew near and broke up the tension.
"Enough bickering. Are we ever going to grab lunch? The rest of us are starving even if you're not."
Her remark was clearly aimed at Nathan, and he fell silent immediately—Violet's words always carried weight with him.

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The readers' comments on the novel: Awakened Housewife Ignore Betrayer's Begs (Scarlett)
Can you, please,update the story? Pleaseeeeee...
Can’t wait for more chapters...