Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 133

Adeline never imagined Sebastian had returned for her sake—she'd assumed he came for Scarlett after hearing about the confrontation.

Brightening at his words, she immediately stood to take his arm.

Sebastian shifted slightly, adjusting his sleeve, causing her attempt to fall short. He seemed to be smoothing out wrinkles from his hasty arrival, his lowered gaze lingering briefly on Scarlett's bare feet.

"What brings you here, Mr. Watson?" Sebastian asked, settling beside George rather than leaving right away. His cold gaze swept over Ethan, who instinctively avoided eye contact, the previous night's fear creeping back.

"He came for Scarlett, of course." Adeline showed no embarrassment from being rebuffed. Instead, she smiled more brightly and moved closer, practically melting against Sebastian's shoulder with deliberate softness. This time, he didn't pull away.

"Is that so?" he asked with measured calm.

Adeline leisurely recounted the entire situation, emphasizing the marks on Scarlett's body.

Scarlett's expression darkened as she listened. "I never realized you had such peculiar interests, Ms. Morgan. If you're so curious about these marks, perhaps you should ask the person responsible."

She emphasized the last words pointedly, glancing at Sebastian. Seeing his slight smirk, she scoffed and looked away.

Adeline's expression faltered. Unlike George, she wasn't easily fooled—she knew Sebastian had picked up Scarlett last night. That's why he was here today. But she hadn't expected Scarlett to somehow convince Shawn to lie for her.

"Surely we shouldn't trouble Mr. Wright with such matters?" Adeline managed, forcing a laugh.

"If you know it's inappropriate, why did you make a point of discussing it with Bash?" Scarlett refused to back down, her gaze sharp as she stepped closer. "Weren't you trying to make everyone think I'm some kind of—"

"Enough!" Sebastian's quiet but firm rebuke cut off her self-humiliation. His fingers had tightened at his side as he stared at her tense profile, eyes hardening at watching Scarlett repeatedly expose these intimate details.

His sharp command hit Scarlett like ice water, instantly extinguishing her anger.

She whipped her head toward him, the fierceness in her eyes quickly giving way to a misty sheen. "What's wrong? Am I saying something untrue? Everyone knows her intentions. Why are you still protecting her?"

Sebastian's Adam's apple bobbed as he suppressed his frustration.

"This isn't your place to speak," he said coldly before turning to George. "Grandfather, this is a minor issue that doesn't require your intervention. Please don't concern yourself with her affairs in the future."

George glanced at Scarlett without objection but offered a parting instruction, "Your sister has done well for herself—she's now Shawn's fiancée. Provide more staff for this house so the Wright family won't find it lacking."

Since Adeline hadn't mentioned Shawn's involvement, Sebastian smiled when he heard this, turning to look at Scarlett with unreadable emotions. "Is that so?"

George nodded. "Hard to believe, but Shawn confirmed it himself. If they marry, it would benefit the Howard family."

Outside later, he looked up at the sky with a light chuckle. "Who would have thought that Seymour girl would be so fortunate?"

After everyone left, Scarlett returned to her room with Libbie's assistance. The excessive stress had worsened her condition, and still affected by last night's drug, she'd developed a low fever.

"Ms. Seymour, Mr. Howard cares about you. He came back immediately after hearing the news," Libbie said softly as she tucked the blankets around Scarlett, who had drifted into a restless sleep.

"...No, Shawn isn't..." Scarlett mumbled, deep in her feverish dreams. Only there did she find the courage to deny the lie.

---

That evening, Sebastian came up from the garage and handed his coat to Libbie. "Where's Scarlett?"

"Ms. Seymour is still sleeping. Her fever just broke," Libbie sighed, watching Sebastian's expression carefully. "She's been restless, talking in her sleep."

Sebastian acknowledged this calmly. "Prepare dinner," he instructed before heading upstairs, disappearing before Libbie could even finish nodding.

When Sebastian entered the bedroom, only a dim night light illuminated the space. On the bed, Scarlett lay on her side, arms raised above her head—her favorite sleeping position.

Sebastian knelt on the edge of the bed, leaning forward to wrap an arm around her slender waist. "Scar."

Still deep in sleep, Scarlett barely reacted to his touch. Only when she heard his voice did she frown and wave her hand dismissively, like someone shooing away an annoying mosquito.

Sebastian didn't give her the chance to sink back into sleep. He took her hand and pulled her upright, then gently patted her back to soothe her moans of protest.

Scarlett slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Sebastian, she pouted and turned away.

"No," she muttered, her disgust and irritation seeming genuine.

Sebastian gazed down at her and pulled her closer. "Eat something before going back to sleep."

"I don't want to." Now more awake, Scarlett felt even more annoyed by his apparent concern. She pushed against his chin, trying to get away.

Though pushed back, Sebastian refused to let go. Instead, as she grew more insistent, he caught her hand and massaged it gently.

"You still need to eat, even when you're angry," he said, his voice unnervingly calm.

His calmness only deepened Scarlett's hurt feelings as she thought back to the day's events.

"I don't need you taking care of me. Ms. Morgan needs you more," she fought back tears as she spoke, biting her lip hard afterward.

Sebastian tilted her chin up, noting her watery eyes with a darkening expression. "Why are you crying?"

"What's it to you?" Scarlett snapped, pushing him away and getting out of bed with a scoff. "I have nothing to do with you anymore."

Sebastian's face hardened, though he laughed softly. "Then who do you have something to do with? Shawn?" His sarcastic tone made Scarlett clench her fists.

"That's none of your business," she replied coldly, knowing Shawn had merely helped her out of kindness and having no intention of involving him further.