Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 110

"You know about this?" Chris was momentarily stunned by her direct question, but quickly became anxious.

Scarlett absently fidgeted with a desk ornament. "How could I not know about something so dramatic?"

Chris clicked his tongue but said nothing.

"I'm her replacement, aren't I?" Scarlett asked, already knowing the answer, her voice trembling.

Hearing this, Chris couldn't resist lighting a cigarette. As a race car driver, he shouldn't smoke, but he wasn't in racing season, and an occasional cigarette wouldn't hurt. 

Besides, his troubled mind needed some relief.

"You're you. Not anyone's replacement," Chris said, eyes closed as he inhaled the nicotine.

His reassurance made Scarlett feel slightly better, though her eyes remained dim. She toyed with the bobblehead on her desk. "I don't like him."

Chris paused, then nodded. "Right. You don't like him. You're just using him."

A conversation full of psychological suggestion.

"I want barbecue and beer tonight," Scarlett pouted, unconsciously slipping into a childish tone.

Chris smiled, pleased by her manner. "Sure, I'll arrange it."

After hanging up, Scarlett stared into space for a while before finally finding the energy to work.

---

The barbecue dinner was arranged at Chris's estate. He sent someone to pick up Scarlett, so she didn't drive herself.

As she entered the main building, she ran into Ethan, who was there to take Dennis home.

"Letty!" Ethan was delighted, not expecting to see Scarlett twice in one day.

Scarlett, completely surprised by his presence, paused before nodding. "Mr. Watson." Then she looked at Dennis. "Dennis."

Ethan wasn't pleased with the formal address. "Why so distant with me?" He moved closer, persistent. "Just call me Ethan, okay?"

Scarlett ignored him.

Chris approached then, fresh from a workout. His form-fitting training clothes revealed his toned abs. Seeing Scarlett, he smiled. "You're here?"

Then he noticed Ethan standing close to Scarlett. Raising an eyebrow in displeasure, he stepped forward to separate them.

Ethan was annoyed, but before he could speak, Chris said, "I'll take a shower. Follow the butler for now."

The statement was ambiguous. Ethan's eyes widened, but he didn't want to say anything inappropriate in front of Scarlett. He waited until she left before speaking.

"Didn't you warn me not to crave her? But you've already made your move!"

He was so agitated he almost misspoke.

Chris rolled his eyes. "I invited her for dinner. Would you like to join us, Mr. Watson?"

"Absolutely." Ethan wouldn't miss any opportunity. He agreed and immediately headed in the direction Scarlett had gone, leaving Dennis and Chris behind.

Chris watched him leave. Scar deserves better than Sebastian, he thought. Ethan might be a bit dense, but he's decent overall.

"What? Are you trying to set up Ethan with Scarlett?" Lost in thought, Chris was startled by Dennis's low voice beside him.

"Is that a problem?" Chris looked at him.

Dennis frowned. "Not necessarily, but Ethan's too clueless. I don't think he's good enough for her."

Chris rubbed his brow, seemingly troubled. "You're right."

Since Ethan was staying for dinner, Dennis had to stay as well. During the meal, the conversation inevitably turned to Adeline's return.

"Where is Adeline staying now that she's back? The Morgan family disappeared long ago," Ethan said, drinking tea with Chris and the others.

With so many men present, Scarlett had planned to avoid alcohol, but at the mention of Adeline, she opened a beer and took a sip.

Ethan noticed. "You're drinking?"

Chris, aware of her mood, didn't stop her. "Let her drink. I'll take her home later."

"I can drive her," Ethan immediately offered.

"Not a chance," Chris refused flatly.

Scarlett downed half a glass of beer in one go. The alcohol hit her quickly, but she shook her head and the dizziness subsided. Chris handed her a skewer of grilled squid.

The conversation continued.

"She definitely won't be staying at the Howard Manor. Mr. George Howard can't stand her," Dennis mumbled through a mouthful of food prepared separately by the kitchen.

Scarlett looked up, wanting to ask more but remembering her position, she took another drink instead.

"But Sebastian doesn't mind her," Ethan added. "After that incident with Edith, I doubt George can dictate Sebastian's marriage anymore."

He clearly had insider information.

Chris looked at him. "What do you mean?"

"Haven't Orion and Sebastian been getting along lately?" Ethan lowered his voice, mysterious and gossipy. "I heard the Howard Group's stock dropped significantly because of that incident."

"Sebastian apparently confronted George about it, saying he didn't need his father's input on his marriage. The old man probably felt he was in the wrong this time, so he didn't object."

Scarlett listened intently, growing increasingly frustrated. She drank more beer because of it.

---

That evening, Sebastian arrived at 5 Skylake Road but didn't find Scarlett. He called Mark, who quickly called back.

"Ms. Seymour left work in a car from the Wright family and went to Chris's estate. She appears to still be there."

Sebastian's face instantly darkened. He swirled his whiskey glass, the ice cubes clinking. "Get the car ready."

As the dinner ended, Chris was driving Scarlett home when he spotted a Maybach hidden in the shadows near the road. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately hit the brakes.

In the passenger seat, Scarlett lurched forward from the sudden stop. Her dizziness from the alcohol intensified, though she remained half-conscious. 

The alcohol had made her more docile, her voice sticky with drowsiness. "What's wrong?"

Ethan and Dennis in the back seat asked the same question.

Chris didn't answer. He watched as someone exited the Maybach's rear seat, followed by the driver. When they approached, Chris lowered his window. "Mr. Howard."

Ethan saw Sebastian and frowned, not understanding why he was there, seemingly waiting to intercept them.

Sebastian looked at Scarlett in the passenger seat. She saw him too but turned away. His eyes narrowed. Scarlett wasn't being obedient at all.

"Get out," he ordered.

Chris, remembering the look he'd seen that day, tensed. "Mr. Howard, I'll take Scarlett—"

But Sebastian didn't give him a chance to finish. He opened the car door and in an instant had Scarlett cradled in his arms. The position was intimately possessive.

Scarlett leaned against him, surprisingly compliant.

Ethan watched, uncomfortable. He immediately jumped out of the car. "Let her go!"

Sebastian turned to look at him, as if seeing him for the first time. He assessed Ethan up and down. "Mr. Watson, you should grow a brain."

The insult was blatant. Ethan moved to punch him but was quickly restrained by Chris, who had rushed over.

"It's fine, let him take her. She's his sister after all—nothing will happen," Chris said pointedly, emphasizing the word "sister."