Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 147

"Either is fine. I'm not picky," Shawn replied promptly.

A few minutes later, Scarlett finally completed her order. The meal ended quickly as well.

The cruise ship offered after-dinner entertainment, but Scarlett wasn't interested. She chose to leave directly in Shawn's car while Sebastian and Adeline stayed behind.

Sebastian leaned against the ship's railing, a cigarette between his fingers, watching as Scarlett and Shawn departed. 

Scarlett wore a knee-length skirt that day, looking both gentle and sophisticated. The sea breeze pressed the fabric against her legs, outlining their slender shape.

Her hair tousled by the wind, she tried simultaneously to smooth her skirt and fix her windblown locks—disheveled yet undeniably beautiful.

Sebastian took a drag from his cigarette as he watched Shawn open the car door and Scarlett quickly slide inside. 

Only after the Chevrolet had left the shore did he extinguish his cigarette on a nearby trash can.

Half an hour later, Sebastian received a message: [Ms. Seymour has arrived home.] The text was accompanied by a photo showing Scarlett changing her shoes at her doorway.

From the waterfront to Skylake Road was indeed about a thirty-minute drive.

Sebastian pocketed his phone just as Adeline returned from the restroom. 

She noticed his quick movement, a shadow passing through her eyes, but still approached with an affectionate demeanor. "Sebi, shall we go?"

Sebastian nodded and turned to lead the way downstairs. Adeline's face darkened momentarily before she followed.

When they reached Sunset Lake Villa, Adeline got out and immediately noticed a motorcycle parked by the roadside. Her expression froze as she quickly turned to say goodbye to Sebastian.

She had tried every possible tactic to get Sebastian to stay at Sunset Lake Villa that night, but he remained firmly seated in the backseat, showing no intention of getting out. 

His gaze lingered briefly on the motorcycle, but he asked no questions, pretending not to notice.

"Get some rest," he said simply.

The Maybach quickly drove away, heading onto the bridge.

Sebastian watched the scenery fly past as he unfastened his watch and tossed it into the storage compartment. "Has the incentive been delivered?"

"Yes, it's been taken care of," Mark promptly answered, then added, "Mr. George Howard has figured out the plan. Graham will begin an internship within the company next week."

"Keep watching him. If Michael checks out, let him handle Graham," Sebastian said with his eyes closed, his voice steady.

"Yes, sir."

---

At Skylake Road Number One, Sebastian had a drink before bed when he received a call from Orion.

"Mr. Howard, it's been a while," the caller said casually.

"We saw each other just days ago," Sebastian replied, leaning back on the sofa. "Things are sensitive lately. Don't call unless it's important."

Orion hurried to continue, fearing Sebastian might hang up. "It is important. Mrs. Myers has uncovered something. She asked me if there was a woman named Becky Seymour at The Heptagon Club back then."

The Heptagon Club was a Howard family enterprise.

"I'll have someone look into it," Sebastian agreed.

Orion's voice carried a hint of amusement. "You might want to take this seriously. It's Diana Seymour's alias."

At this name, Sebastian's fingers paused their tapping on the armrest, though his voice revealed nothing. "Understood."

"Also, I heard she ran away with some token that could confirm her identity if found," Orion said, a woman's voice faintly audible in the background.

Sebastian was about to hang up but found himself curious. "What kind of token?"

"A necklace," Orion answered quickly, but then the sound of intimate contact came through the line.

Sebastian immediately ended the call.

Orion hadn't noticed. He lightly slapped the woman in his lap, chuckling as he told her to get lost, then continued speaking into the phone, "I heard it had a crescent-shaped pendant, though that's not certain. Those things are pretty common."

When he received no response, he checked his phone to find that Sebastian had hung up minutes ago.

"This kid and his prudish act," he muttered, tossing the phone aside.

---

Over the next couple of weeks, everyone remained busy with their own affairs.

Scarlett encountered Adeline during her third visit to the Howard Group Building to confirm final designs. Adeline had come to see Sebastian.

"Scarlett, do you have time for coffee?" Adeline asked with a smile.

Scarlett, who considered their relationship strained at best, naturally declined.

But Adeline grabbed her hand, swinging it playfully. "Scarlett, please do me the honor!"

She acted as if they were close friends.

Scarlett frowned, wanting to refuse, but people were watching. 

Adeline gradually moved closer and whispered in her ear, "Ms. Seymour, as you've surely noticed, Sebi is completely devoted to me."

Her words carried unmistakable boasting and smugness.

Scarlett immediately looked at her, a flash of sharpness in her eyes that made Adeline flinch.

For some reason, Adeline thought Scarlett's gaze bore a striking resemblance to Sebastian's. 

But she dismissed the thought. In her mind, Scarlett was just an illegitimate daughter of the Seymour family, a pawn used by George to maintain his reputation—someone easily manipulated.

With this conviction, Adeline's smile grew even more disingenuous. "Well, Scarlett, what do you say?"

Scarlett's expression remained calm, her eyes resting lightly on Adeline's face as her lips curved slightly. "Since you insist, I'll see you shortly."

She waved her temporary access card. "I have matters to attend to first. I'll be going now."

"Great, see you at the coffee shop across the street." Adeline nodded, finally releasing Scarlett's hand.

As Adeline headed for the coffee shop, news of the encounter quickly reached Mark's ears, practically in real-time.

---

The executives were currently in a meeting.

Sebastian was naturally among them, but interestingly, so was Graham.

Though seated at the far end, this was a shareholders' meeting—everyone present needed to own at least one percent of the company's shares to attend.

The ten people in the room held most of the shares, with Sebastian owning the largest portion at twenty-five percent. The other attendees collectively held about forty percent. 

The remaining thirty-five percent were firmly in George's hands.

"Bash, I apologize for offending your eyes so early in the morning," Graham said flippantly, displaying his one-percent shareholding.

Though just one percent, it granted him certain rights, including year-end dividends.

Sebastian glanced up coolly, his eyes indifferent and calm, before looking down at his tea again. "Grandfather dotes on you, giving you pocket money."

He clearly thought nothing of Graham's one percent.

Graham wasn't offended; he even smiled as he pressed Sebastian for more. "Is that so? Then what do you plan to give me, my dear big brother? My one percent seems rather pitiful."

"One should learn to be content," Sebastian replied, effectively shutting him down.

Graham's expression shifted slightly, his voice deepening. "If I were content, would I have a place here at all?"