Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 12

Scarlett's fingers dug deep into her palm, her nails nearly breaking skin.

Looking at Edith's smug face and remembering Sebastian's cold words, she suddenly felt utterly exhausted. What was the point of resisting? Her struggles were like an ant trying to topple a tree—ridiculous and pathetic.

She took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in her throat and the anger in her heart. Slowly raising her head to meet Edith's gaze:

"Fine."

That single word drained all her strength.

Edith smiled with satisfaction, like a victorious peacock, and turned to leave on her high heels, leaving behind the heavy scent of expensive perfume.

Scarlett sat in the empty cubicle, looking at the gray sky outside. Her eyes stung. She picked up the cold coffee from her desk, walked to the trash can, and threw it away without hesitation.

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The next day, thick cashmere carpets covered the floor of Cartier's VIP room.

Edith sat on a velvet sofa, holding a diamond ring the size of a pigeon's egg, turning it this way and that in front of the mirror, her smile nearly spilling over.

"Seb, do you like this one?" She turned her head, her voice sickeningly sweet, as if coated in honey.

Sebastian sat in a single armchair opposite her, documents spread across his lap. He barely responded with a sound, not even looking up from his papers, "As long as you like it."

Edith's smile froze momentarily before returning to normal, as if long accustomed to his indifference.

She turned back to the mirror, admiring it to herself, "This 'Eternal Heart' is truly beautiful. There are only three in the whole world."

Scarlett stood in the corner, holding Edith's Hermès bag, the strap cutting into her fingers.

She wore faded jeans that seemed out of place in this glittering room, like an intruder amid the luxury surrounding her.

This was her "job" now—accompanying Edith to choose a wedding ring, carrying bags, running errands, being a complete lackey.

After trying the first style, Edith asked the clerk to bring a second, then a third.

With each one, she would pose in front of the mirror for ages before turning to ask Sebastian, always receiving the same "If you like it" response.

She seemed to revel in it, like a peacock displaying its feathers, flaunting her happiness.

When she tried the fourth style—a platinum ring set with small diamonds in a relatively simple design—Edith suddenly removed it and beckoned to Scarlett, her tone unexpectedly friendly.

"Scarlett, come here."

Scarlett didn't move, wariness flashing in her eyes.

"Scarlett, please," Edith's voice grew softer, with a hint of playfulness, as if showing Sebastian her "generosity." "I think this ring is a bit plain. Try it on for me—maybe it'll look different on you."

She extended the ring toward Scarlett, deliberately brushing her fingertips across the back of Scarlett's hand.

Sebastian finally looked up from his documents, his gaze falling between the two women. He said nothing.

Scarlett had no choice but to step forward and extend her hand.

Edith slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

The ring was clearly too large, wobbling loosely on her slender finger as if about to fall off.

"It seems a bit big," Edith feigned surprise, covering her mouth while mockery lurked in her eyes.

"But then again, Scarlett isn't used to wearing such expensive rings. These things might just get damaged on her. Unlike me—I'll be attending all sorts of events with Seb, so these 'burdens' are necessary."

Scarlett's fingers curled slightly, the ring digging painfully into her knuckle.

She tried to remove it, but Edith held her hand in place, smiling at Sebastian. "Seb, don't you think it's a shame? If this ring were a size smaller, it might actually suit Scarlett."

Sebastian's gaze lingered for two seconds on the ring on Scarlett's finger. The wobbling diamond made her hand look even paler and more delicate.

His Adam's apple moved almost imperceptibly before he looked away and instructed the clerk, "We'll take the first one."

No comment, no reaction, not even another glance at them—as if the interlude had never happened.

Edith's smugness deepened. She patted Scarlett's hand lightly. "Did you hear that? Seb prefers the first one. Take it off quickly—don't lose it."

Scarlett yanked off the ring and thrust it back into Edith's hand before returning to her corner. She picked up the heavy bag again, her fingertips white from the strain.

In his eyes, she wasn't even worth a single comment.

As they were leaving the jewelry store, Edith deliberately stumbled slightly on the steps at the entrance, dropping her bag on the ground.

She let out a small cry, her face showing feigned distress. "I'm sorry, Scarlett, but this dress is fitted and I can't bend over easily. Could you pick that up for me?"

Her tone carried just the right amount of apology, but her eyes stared directly at Scarlett with an unmistakable command.

Passersby cast curious glances their way as Edith displayed a well-timed look of helplessness.

Scarlett stood motionless.

The sunlight was harsh. She could see the gleaming bag on the ground and the calculating light in Edith's eyes.

"Scarlett?" Edith called again, her voice softer. "Please? Would you mind?"

Sebastian stood nearby, hands in his pockets, his profile against the sunlight making his expression unreadable.

Scarlett took a deep breath and bent down.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch the bag strap, she glimpsed a pair of polished black shoes from the corner of her eye—Sebastian's.

He stood less than two feet away, looking down at her as she stooped like a maid to pick up the deliberately dropped bag.

His shoes were immaculately clean, the toes pointing toward her. He made no move to step forward, no gesture to intervene.

When her fingertips touched the strap, the cool leather felt like a branding iron.

Scarlett gripped it firmly, lifted the bag from the ground, and turned to hand it to Edith. Her movements were quick and efficient, her face expressionless.

"Thank you, Scarlett." Edith accepted the bag with a gracious smile, though her fingers wiped the strap as if it had been soiled.

Once inside the car, Edith immediately nestled against Sebastian, resting her head on his shoulder, her voice cloying, "Seb, you're so good to me. You knew I liked the first ring. I was worried you might think I was being too picky."

The car was quiet except for Edith's occasional sweet talk and the honking from outside.

Scarlett kept her gaze fixed on the window. The street scenes rushed by in a blur, like a hazy film.

The shopping bag in her hand was crushed from her grip, the handle leaving deep red marks on her palm.

So this was what he wanted to see.

To see her trampled under Edith's feet, humiliated to dust, left without the strength to fight back.