Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 146

Scarlett hadn't expected to encounter Sebastian and Adeline here.

Adeline hadn't bothered to lower her voice, so Scarlett easily heard her and turned to look. 

When her eyes met Sebastian's, her heart skipped a beat before she quickly averted her gaze.

"What is it?" Shawn asked, glancing in their direction.

Scarlett shook her head. "Nothing."

She couldn't ignore the figure beside Sebastian. Just yesterday, he had been so cold to Adeline, yet today they were out together. 

Thinking of what she'd told George this morning, Scarlett found the situation painfully ironic.

Her presence here with Shawn was pure coincidence. Earlier that afternoon, Scarlett had been driving to the Howard Group Building to handle her newly assigned project when her car suddenly got a flat tire.

It happened without warning. The car swerved left, and the steering wheel jerked in her hand. Beside her, Hatty screamed at the loud bang.

Despite the piercing scream in her ear, Scarlett remained focused. She frowned slightly, gripped the wheel with both hands to correct their course, and gently applied the brakes while releasing the accelerator.

The road wasn't busy, and they weren't traveling particularly fast, keeping everything manageable. 

Scarlett stayed calm, and the vehicles behind them, noticing the flat tire, began braking and moving aside.

With this coordination, Scarlett successfully brought the car to a stop near the roadside greenery. The hazard lights came on as the car settled.

"Ms. Seymour..." Hatty's voice trembled with fear. "I thought... I thought we were going to die..."

Scarlett gave her an amused glare as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "Don't be ridiculous. We were only going 30 mph. Wait in the car."

She retrieved the warning triangle from the trunk and placed it about thirty feet behind the car.

As she walked back, dialing traffic police, a black Volkswagen pulled up beside her, its rear window lowering.

"Ms. Seymour."

The familiar voice made Scarlett look over. Seeing Shawn, she paused briefly before greeting him. "Mr. Wright."

Shawn glanced at the car with hazard lights and recognized it as Scarlett's. "Had an accident?"

"No, just a flat tire," Scarlett replied, noticing the government plates on his Chevrolet. "Official business, Mr. Wright?"

"Something like that," Shawn nodded, then added, "Just finished, actually."

By now, Scarlett had reached her car. Hatty, who had been sitting on a nearby step, ran toward her.

"Ms. Seymour!"

She called out, then noticed Shawn stepping out of the car ahead. She immediately straightened her posture. "Good afternoon, Mr. Wright!"

As Scarlett's assistant, Hatty had seen Shawn before but only from a distance. She hadn't expected to meet him in these circumstances and became visibly nervous.

"Relax. I was just passing by and thought I might help," Shawn said, noticing her anxiety.

Meanwhile, Shawn's driver approached from the front, on the phone and crouching to examine the flat tire.

Scarlett hesitated. "That's not necessary. I've already called the police. I can handle—"

Shawn gently cut her off with a wave of his hand. "Your car looks new. The tires shouldn't fail unless punctured by something sharp."

As he spoke, the driver seized an opportunity to retrieve a sharp rock from the road.

The rock was sizeable—likely from a nearby construction site.

"Poor road conditions fall under government responsibility," Shawn explained calmly, taking the rock from his driver.

Scarlett nodded. "I'm aware of that."

While they talked, the driver had already photographed everything and later submitted the evidence when the police arrived.

With Shawn's help, the incident was resolved quickly. Scarlett wouldn't even need to pay for the repairs.

"I can drive you to the Howard Group Building. It's on my way back to City Hall," Shawn offered after learning their destination.

Despite their initial refusal, Shawn insisted. So Hatty sat in the front passenger seat while Scarlett joined Shawn in the back.

The journey passed in silence.

Only after Scarlett had exited at the Howard Group Building did Shawn send her a message:

[I have two vouchers for the restaurant on the cruise ship. Would you honor me with her company tonight?]

Scarlett instinctively ignored this dinner invitation.

She didn't reply for hours, only remembering the message after finishing her project coordination.

Shawn hadn't sent any follow-up messages.

In the end, Scarlett accepted his invitation—especially after receiving a call from Howard Manor asking about her departure time, with George planning to pick her up from work! 

Between these two options, Scarlett naturally chose Shawn.

But she never expected to encounter Sebastian and Adeline here, with their tables right next to each other by the window, one behind the other.

When being seated, Scarlett instinctively chose the position furthest from Sebastian's table. Yet when she looked up, she found herself directly facing him. 

Though at separate tables, they were seated opposite each other—a simple glance up would meet the other's eyes.

Shawn handed her a menu, giving Scarlett an excuse to shift her focus.

The cruise ship restaurant was known for its high-end cuisine, run by perfectly synchronized twin brothers. Every dish was like a carefully crafted work of art, beloved by diners.

Scarlett had often heard Edith boast about this restaurant, but now, looking at the menu, she found herself uncertain what to order.

A waiter stood by, waiting for her selection.

In contrast to Scarlett's indecision, Adeline moved with practiced efficiency. Within minutes, she had elegantly handed back her menu.

She glanced back at Scarlett, who was still deliberating over soup options.

"Having trouble deciding, Scarlett? Perhaps I could help you choose?" she offered with a haughty expression, her tone condescending.

Scarlett looked up briefly. "No need, Ms. Morgan. I appreciate your kindness, but I'll manage."

Sebastian spoke up then. "She has a male companion. She doesn't need your help, Addie. Don't insert yourself."

His tone was flat but carried a hint of contemptuous mockery.

Hearing this, Scarlett felt her mood sour. She shot him a glare but then, as Sebastian had suggested, turned to consult with Shawn instead.

Sebastian caught Scarlett's glare and frowned slightly. Remembering Adeline's tear-filled eyes earlier, his mood darkened. Those eyes should have looked at him that way.

"Mr. Wright, do you prefer clear soup or cream-based?" Scarlett asked, her voice loud enough for those at the adjacent table to hear.

Sebastian's gaze lingered on Scarlett as she leaned toward Shawn. Irritation surged within him. His fingers unconsciously touched the glass of lemon water on the table, its cool surface bringing him a moment's calm.

He took a sip, using the glass to hide his clenched jaw. That ungrateful girl, always defiant with him!