Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 102

During Scarlett's time at the Howard Manor, she had only seen George during her first few days there. She rarely visited him.

So when she stepped out of the car in front of the main building, the security guard seemed surprised.

"Ms. Seymour," the security guard greeted her respectfully.

Scarlett nodded in response. "I need to see Mr. Howard."

She was promptly escorted to the tea room, where a servant brought her a cup of floral tea and a pastry. 

Scarlett had little interest in the pastry and merely glanced at it without touching it.

About four minutes later, George entered. He was wearing his home attire—an ivory robe with subtle embroidered patterns.

"Grandpa," Scarlett stood and greeted him.

George gestured for her to sit. His attitude toward her wasn't particularly warm, but it wasn't cold either. 

After a month of interaction, he had found her reasonably well-behaved, which had somewhat improved his opinion of her.

"What brings you here?" In the past month, Scarlett had rarely sought him out. Her sudden visit today clearly indicated she had something specific to discuss.

George didn't mind Scarlett having requests—in fact, he preferred it. What he feared most was someone with no desires at all.

"I've bought a house and plan to move out tomorrow or the day after," she said directly after only a moment's consideration.

Surprised by her intention to distance herself, George paused briefly as he reached for his teacup, then continued the motion smoothly. "Why this sudden decision to move out?"

The Howard Manor offered excellent living conditions—many would do anything for the chance to live there permanently. 

Yet Scarlett was different. After just one month, she was already making arrangements to leave.

"I still have work. I thought moving closer to the company would be more convenient." This was entirely truthful.

George understood that the Howard Manor's location was somewhat remote, making daily commutes inconvenient.

Although he wanted to keep Scarlett at the Manor to demonstrate the Howard family's gratitude, he couldn't bring himself to confine someone against their will. He nodded in agreement.

"I didn't consider that, my mistake," George even admitted.

Hearing this, Scarlett quickly responded, "No, it's my own situation. It has nothing to do with you, Grandpa."

Her considerate response pleased George, prompting him to inquire further. "What kind of house did you buy? In which area?"

She knew this was information the Howard family could easily discover, so there was no benefit in concealing it. Scarlett explained the details candidly.

"A pre-owned house?" George frowned immediately upon hearing this, clearly displeased.

Scarlett was momentarily taken aback, then quickly explained, "Although it's pre-owned, it's practically new—built just last year. It's in excellent condition, and the previous owners barely lived in it."

However, George wasn't concerned about the comfort of the house. His only concern was how others would perceive the Howard family if this became known.

Scarlett's explanation did nothing to improve George's expression. Instead, he called for his security officer.

"Call Seb and tell him to clear his schedule for tomorrow. He'll take Scarlett to buy a house."

He spoke so naturally that Scarlett initially thought he was referring to some minor purchase. But she had clearly understood his words.

"That's not necessary, Grandpa. I—"

She immediately tried to refuse, but George cut her off. "A second-hand house would make us a laughingstock."

With that single sentence, his position was crystal clear.

Scarlett suddenly realized the house wasn't meant as a gift for her, but rather for the Howard family's reputation. 

Her expression froze momentarily, and she stopped protesting. "Thank you, Grandpa."

George waved dismissively. "You may go now. It's getting late."

A driver from the main house took Scarlett back to Westcourt Garden. 

The longer she stayed at the Howard Manor, the more aware she became of the vast gulf between her world and Sebastian's. 

She began to understand why David and the others had been so excited about marrying into the Howard family.

The Seymour family mansion, where generations had lived together, was itself an enormous villa beyond the reach of most ordinary people. Yet it was only a third the size of the Howard Manor's main building.

This disparity couldn't possibly be bridged by a single generation's business efforts. 

Moving away from the Howard Manor was partly due to the inconvenient commute, but also because, after witnessing this vast difference, Scarlett had developed a clearer self-awareness. 

She understood there could never be any real possibility between her and Sebastian.

She had no yearning for material luxury. In fact, after experiencing life at the Howard Manor, she felt uncomfortable, knowing none of it truly belonged to her.

Her phone chimed with a message notification, lighting up the screen.

Scarlett removed the arm covering her eyes and reached for her phone. The message was from Sebastian:

[1 PM, picking you up downstairs.]

The message was brief, with nothing else added.

Scarlett looked at it for a moment before replying with a simple "Confirmed."

She set the phone aside, catching it in her peripheral vision. 

She couldn't help but laugh self-mockingly. Wasn't this the kind of exchange that happened between a superior and subordinate?

---

Scarlett requested a half-day off from Orion for the afternoon. When he learned she was going house-hunting, a meaningful smile appeared on his face.

"Is that so? The Howard family seems quite attentive to you."

Scarlett smiled. They were indeed attentive, though how much genuine care was behind that attention remained uncertain.

When Sebastian arrived to pick her up, he was driving himself. Seeing the Maybach parked at the curb without movement, Scarlett guessed Mark wasn't present.

She approached the car and opened the door. As expected, Sebastian himself was behind the wheel.

"Where's Mr. Rogers?" Scarlett asked with relief as she got in.

They had rarely been alone together recently. Normally, there wouldn't be incidents like what had happened in the changing room, but Sebastian often took liberties when driving her back to the Howard Manor. 

During those times, Mark would silently raise the privacy partition, allowing his boss to indulge himself.

Today, with Sebastian driving personally, such behavior seemed unlikely, which immediately put Scarlett at ease.

"He had something to attend to," Sebastian answered simply, starting the car. "Do you have any preferences?"

The question seemed abrupt, but Scarlett understood his meaning.

"Anything is fine," she replied, not wanting to choose. After all, the house was merely something to silence gossip—it wasn't really hers.

Sebastian glanced at her from the driver's seat, his eyes clear. "Are you unhappy?"

Surprised by his concern, Scarlett hesitated before shaking her head. "No, just a bit tired."

She had eaten lunch in the cafeteria before coming down. Normally, she would be taking a nap in her office at this hour, but today she had to go house-hunting instead.