Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 131

Adeline approached Scarlett with a smile, reaching for her collar. "Look at you, sweating all over and still trying to deny it."

Before Scarlett could dodge, Adeline tugged her collar open, revealing various shades of red marks on her neck. Though Scarlett quickly pulled her collar back, the damage was done—everyone had seen them.

George's expression darkened as he stared at Scarlett, who couldn't meet his eyes.

"Scarlett, what exactly is going on here?" As an experienced man, he immediately recognized what those marks meant and could guess what kind of passionate encounter had caused them. It also explained her reported illness.

George valued female chastity, and with this revelation, his impression of Scarlett plummeted once again.

Adeline feigned concern while inwardly triumphant. "What happened here? Are there still this many mosquitoes in fall?"

She watched Scarlett's silent, downcast figure with satisfaction before adding softly, "I saw Scarlett leaving with Ethan Watson last night. She didn't have these marks then, so I assume..."

"It wasn't him!" Scarlett cut her off, recognizing Adeline's intentions. But when George asked who it actually was, she fell silent again.

The culprit himself remained quiet, merely blowing on his tea, seemingly oblivious to the storm brewing around him.

"Scarlett, there's no shame in being involved with Mr. Watson," Adeline said, maintaining her gentle facade while gloating inwardly. "What's there to hide?"

Scarlett gave her a cold look while mentally scrambling for a way out of this increasingly difficult situation. Just as she was considering revealing her relationship with Sebastian, Libbie entered with someone in tow.

"Mr. Howard." The newcomer greeted George first before acknowledging the others. Scarlett trembled slightly upon hearing his voice, raising her head just enough to see Ethan's face.

Adeline pounced immediately. "Mr. Watson, perfect timing! Wasn't Scarlett with you all night yesterday?"

Ethan, who had come looking for Scarlett because of last night's events, regarded Adeline with scrutiny.

When he hesitated, George pressed, "Ethan, tell us the truth. If she was with you, we need to discuss marriage arrangements."

Scarlett's face fell as she subtly shook her head at Ethan, her meaning clear. Everyone focused on him, missing her gesture.

"She wasn't," Ethan stated flatly, knowing Scarlett had no interest in him and refusing to take advantage.

Adeline froze, then angrily exclaimed, "Impossible! I saw you leaving with her..." She stopped mid-sentence, realizing further details would only hurt her case.

Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief, but Ethan's next words sent her heart racing again: "I did leave with Ms. Seymour, but someone picked her up at the parking lot."

Though Scarlett had lost her memory of the previous night, all evidence suggested Sebastian was the one who had picked her up.

But she didn't want to expose their relationship—Sebastian showed no signs of wanting to marry her, and even if he did, her background wouldn't pass George's scrutiny.

Besides, Sebastian had personally escorted Adeline to the birthday banquet, and Adeline's previously tarnished reputation had miraculously transformed into that of a model socialite in just one afternoon—something nearly impossible without his influence.

"Picked up? By whom?" Adeline immediately asked, internally panicking. George looked over too, clearly curious about the answer.

Ethan had moved to Scarlett's side and noticed her deathly pale face. She turned slightly, tugging at his sleeve—her meaning obvious.

A wave of pity washed over him. He'd long known about Scarlett's protectiveness toward Sebastian, and it made him think even less of the man. What kind of man leaves his woman to face such a situation alone?

Disgusted, he had no desire to expose their relationship against Scarlett's wishes. "Chris Wright picked her up," he answered.

Everyone knew Chris and Scarlett had a good relationship, though not romantic. George merely seemed confused. "Chris?"

Adeline, however, broke into a smug, triumphant smile. "Mr. Wright was playing cards at the Howard Manor until eleven last night. How could it possibly be him?"

Ethan's heart skipped a beat—he'd completely forgotten that detail. Scarlett was also alarmed, watching Adeline's expression with growing desperation.

Would she really have to admit Sebastian was the one? If she did, could she truly emerge unscathed?

But Ethan remained more composed than anyone expected. "If not Chris, then someone else from the Wright family. It was a Wright family car that picked her up," he stated firmly, as if it were the absolute truth.

Scarlett paused, suddenly wondering if someone from the Wright family had actually picked her up. But how would that explain the marks on her body?

George's face showed a hint of understanding as he glanced at Scarlett, whose lips had turned white with fear. He recalled the emerald jewelry set from yesterday's banquet. "You mean Shawn took her?"

Scarlett's mind snapped to attention, slowly lowering her head with furrowed brows. How had Shawn become involved in this?

"Mr. Howard, if you don't believe me, you can call Shawn and ask him yourself," Ethan suggested, recalling Chris's previous complaints.

George narrowed his eyes, seemingly weighing the truthfulness of this claim while Scarlett, tense throughout the entire exchange, felt a headache coming on.