Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 140

The man's question sent an instant chill down Adeline's spine. Cold sweat broke out as her face turned deathly pale.

Seeing her reaction, he released his hold and softened his tone. "Did I scare you? I'm sorry—I shouldn't have joked like that."

He helped Adeline sit up and drew her into his arms, but she remained rigid with tension. Her hands pushed against his chest, her voice trembling.

"H-how did you get in here? Sebastian's men—"

"His men are gone," he said, nuzzling the top of her head with his chin, eyes narrowing like a contented cat. "Apparently there was some issue with the overseas connection. He rushed to send Mark out."

Adeline felt momentary relief before anxiety crept back in. "This place has security cameras. You can't just—"

"Addie, are you afraid my brother will find out?" The man tilted his head, his gestures affectionate but his words cutting. "From what I understand, he hasn't been here for days, has he?"

Adeline pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

After holding her a moment longer, he released her and headed toward the refrigerator. "Got anything to eat? I'm starving."

Adeline remained frozen on the sofa, watching him move around the kitchen with familiar ease. She began nervously biting her nails, her anxiety reaching a peak.

From the moment she'd spotted him on the street that day, Adeline had known trouble was coming. Heaven knows how much effort it had taken to escape from this man before.

He found some steak and placed it on the cutting board to marinate. With his eyes downcast, he looked remarkably like Sebastian. 

If not for his casual athletic wear, he could easily have been mistaken for his cousin.

But he wasn't Sebastian. He was the son of Sebastian's second uncle—the illegitimate child that George despised: Graham Howard.

In the Howard family, the mere mention of his name would instantly chill the air, as if the name itself was a stain on their honor.

"Why are you here?" Adeline asked, clenching her fingers as memories of the tragedy from ten years ago surfaced. "What do you want?"

Graham looked up, and in that moment he no longer resembled Sebastian at all. "What do you think?"

Adeline's heart tightened. She knew the answer but refused to acknowledge it. "I don't know."

"Addie, we were both victims back then. We were just kids—how could we have been the instigators?" Graham waved a small knife casually through the air. "I'm a Howard too. Sebastian can't have all the good things to himself, can he?"

Adeline's teeth chattered. "But you killed—"

Her words were gently interrupted.

"Addie." Graham looked up, his eyes cold yet mesmerizing. "You had a hand in it too, didn't you?"

---

Scarlett hadn't slept well. Sebastian's silence in response to her questioning had left her tossing and turning all night.

Heading downstairs with a puffy face, she grabbed a mask from the cabinet in the foyer.

"Ms. Seymour, rough night?" Libbie immediately noticed her swollen eyes.

Scarlett nodded briefly. "I'll skip breakfast. I'm going to be late."

Libbie smiled, stopping her. "Ms. Seymour, it's Saturday."

Her sluggish brain finally caught up. "Oh... is it?"

"Sit down for a bit. There's fruit over there. I'll call for a beautician to come to the house." Libbie guided her to the sofa before turning to make the call.

The beauticians arrived immediately—three professionals plus two assistants. All five people worked to pamper Scarlett down to the last hair. 

Two worked on her nails, one on her face, another on her hair, and the last one fed her fruit.

When Teddy arrived, the sight momentarily short-circuited his brain.

Fortunately, Libbie spoke up, bringing him back to reality. "Mr. Parker, can I help you?"

Hearing the commotion, Scarlett tried to look, but was firmly pressed back down. "Ms. Seymour, please don't move yet. We're almost done."

So she could only lie there with her eyes closed, listening.

"There's an event at Howard Manor," Teddy's deep voice explained. "Mr. Howard sent me to pick you up, Ms. Seymour."

Hearing this, Scarlett instinctively wanted to curl her fingers, but remembered she was getting her nails done and forced herself to remain still.

"That might take a while," Libbie replied. "Ms. Seymour still needs some time."

By the time Scarlett was ready, a full hour had passed. Worried about the delay, she hurried Teddy once they were in the car.

But Teddy remained unhurried. "Being a little late today won't matter."

When they arrived at Howard Manor, Scarlett hadn't even entered the main hall when an angry shout erupted from the tea room: "Get out!"

The shout was accompanied by the sound of shattering porcelain.

Scarlett jumped, instinctively backing away. She recognized George's voice, and after her initial shock, curiosity got the better of her. 

She cautiously approached, peering through the slightly open door.

But the tea room had a partition—a walnut divider inlaid with colored glass that blocked the chaos inside from view. 

She could only make out tea spatters on a glass panel decorated with cherubs.

Suddenly, a large hand gently landed on her shoulder. She nearly screamed, her whole body tensing.

"What are you looking at?" came a familiar voice.

Scarlett turned to find herself staring into Sebastian's amber eyes. Her heart skipped a beat as she averted her gaze. "N-nothing. Grandpa seems angry."

Sebastian glanced inside, his voice soft and cold. "Someone's in trouble, it seems."

Hearing a rare note of satisfaction in his voice, Scarlett grew curious. "Do you know who?"

But Sebastian shook his head. "No idea."

Before she could press further, Sebastian steered her toward the main hall. "Rather than watching that drama, you should rest."

They entered the hall, behaving as properly as real siblings would.

"Bring out a bowl of milk granita," Sebastian instructed the butler as he sat on the redwood sofa.

Scarlett sat on the opposite side, deliberately keeping her distance. After last night's unpleasant parting, her emotions hadn't fully settled.

When the milk granita arrived, Sebastian immediately handed it to her.

Just then, Adeline hurried in, her hair disheveled. Seeing Sebastian, she instinctively tried to smooth her appearance. "Sebi."

Sebastian looked up, setting down his teacup. His voice remained neutral. "Addie, you're here. Sit down."

Adeline smiled and quickly took a seat close to him. Only then did she notice Scarlett with the milk granita.

"Is that milk granita? I love it. Is there more?" she asked eagerly.

The butler replied, "That was the last bowl, Ms. Morgan."

Disappointment flickered across Adeline's face before she turned to Sebastian.

Seeing this, Scarlett began to offer hers. "If you don't mind, Ms. Morgan—"

Before she could finish, Sebastian cut in. "You're going to give away something you've already eaten from?"