Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 128

Ethan quickly took hold of Scarlett's arm as she swayed. "That's enough. Look at you—completely drunk. I'll take you back."

The faint scent of champagne lingered around her, leading Ethan to assume she'd simply had too much to drink. He completely missed the panic in her eyes.

Though she'd been tipsy before, this was entirely different. Scarlett felt as if her body were on fire, heat rising to flush her already beautiful complexion with an alarming glow. Even the corners of her eyes had turned red.

"No, it's not..." she tried to pull away, but her fingers had no strength. They merely brushed against his forearm, the slight curve of her fingertips like a small brush against his heart.

Ethan exhaled deeply, feeling an uncomfortable tightness in his abdomen as her soft warmth against him made his face burn.

"I-I'll take you back," he stammered, not bothering to analyze her condition as he led her toward the exit.

Had he been more observant, he would have noticed how different this was from her previous experiences with alcohol.

Across the room, Sebastian's gaze remained fixed on the doorway where they had vanished. His fingers tightened around his glass for a moment before slowly relaxing.

Adeline slipped her arm through his, glancing toward the door with a flash of satisfaction before speaking in an intimate tone. "What's wrong? You seem tense."

Sebastian drained his champagne, his Adam's apple bobbing as he lowered his gaze to suppress his irritation.

"Nothing," he replied, his face maintaining its usual coldness while his peripheral vision quickly scanned the room.

Just then, Sylvia approached with obvious agitation, heading straight for Adeline. "Where's Scar? She was with you just now!" Her accusatory tone nearly cut through the banquet hall's noise.

Adeline started at the public confrontation. She had no desire to become a suspect—if Sebastian discovered her scheme, it would damage his impression of her irreparably.

"I don't know," she responded, feigning innocence as she gently held Sebastian's arm. "Wasn't she just talking with Mrs. Barnett? I left midway—Sebi can confirm that."

Sebastian observed her reaction but chose not to expose her. "That's right. Addie has been by my side for some time," he confirmed, his steady voice making Adeline secretly sigh with relief.

But Sylvia grew more anxious. "Then where could Scar have gone? Bash, she's your adopted sister!"

Sebastian set down his empty glass, his fingertips lightly tracing the rim as irritation flashed in his eyes. "This is the Howard Manor. What could possibly happen to her here?" His retort left Sylvia speechless.

Adeline moved closer to offer comfort. "Sebi, Sylvia is just worried..."

As her hand reached for his arm, Sebastian subtly avoided her touch. His gaze swept across the crowded hall, his expression somber as he sent a message on his phone.

"Even in your concern, you should maintain decorum," he said unhurriedly. "This is the Howard family's territory. If you want to find someone, contact the butler—don't cause a scene here."

Taking the hint, Sylvia hurried off to find the butler.

Adeline maintained her smile, inwardly pleased. Even if they checked security footage, they wouldn't find anything incriminating.

But before her satisfaction could last, Sebastian spoke again. "Scarlett is Grandfather's newly adopted granddaughter. If anything happens to her, neither of us could bear the consequences."

His words carried both warning and insinuation, freezing Adeline's smile. "Sebi, what do you mean? Surely nothing bad has happened to Scarlett?"

Sebastian studied her for a moment, his eyes revealing nothing.

Just as Adeline thought she had misunderstood, a server approached. "Mr. Howard, Mr. Rogers is waiting for you. He says there's a project that requires your personal attention."

Sebastian gave Adeline one last look. "When the party ends, the driver will take you home," he said, stopping her from following.

Watching his retreating figure, the satisfaction in Adeline's eyes faded to unease. Had Sebastian seen through her plan?

She bit her lip, a flash of ruthlessness crossing her eyes. 'Ethan, you'd better make the most of this golden opportunity!'

---

In the parking lot, Ethan supported Scarlett toward his car. She grew increasingly restless, clearly uncomfortable, with tears now forming at the corners of her reddened eyes.

"So hot..." she whimpered, her voice fragile. Her luminous skin gleamed under the streetlights, the emerald jewelry accentuating the porcelain quality of her neck.

Ethan looked down and swallowed hard. 'God, please, stop testing me!' he silently prayed.

Scarlett squirmed against him, trying to pull away but lacking the strength to do so. Her consciousness was slipping rapidly.

The heat inside her body grew increasingly intense, making her lean into Ethan instinctively, seeking relief.

"Sebastian... I feel so awful..." she cried out, unaware of how Ethan's body instantly stiffened at the name.

Ethan pressed his lips together, unable to suppress the bitterness in his throat. His palm gently patted her back, the softness under his hand offering no comfort to his heart.

"I'll take you to the hospital," he said, finally realizing something was seriously wrong. He knew Scarlett was proud—she would never call out Sebastian's name with such dependency if she were in her right mind.

Just as he was about to lift her into his arms, a faint footstep sounded behind him—a sound carrying such unmistakable coldness that it made the hair on his neck stand up.

He whirled around to see Sebastian standing in the shadow of a nearby tree, watching them with an icy expression, the pressure around him terrifyingly low.

"Ethan." Sebastian lit a cigarette, the smoke obscuring his features as he spoke in a voice more biting than the autumn wind. "Let her go."

His leather shoes crunched on fallen leaves as he approached, bringing the scent of tobacco mingled with crisp cedar.

The moment Scarlett fell into Sebastian's arms, her reaction transformed completely. Recognizing his familiar scent, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, crying with closed eyes and seeking his kiss.

"Sebastian... I feel so..." she whimpered, unable to articulate how she felt, only that she needed to be close to him—almost as if she wanted to melt into his body.

Sebastian dropped his cigarette and gripped her chin, claiming her lips. From the corner of his eye, he watched Ethan's face drain of color, a flash of pain crossing his features.