Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 159

Sebastian hid a smile behind his glass as he listened to Michael's assessment. Seeing his amusement, Michael offered his own soft laugh.

"He doesn't understand our relationship," Michael said. "These behind-the-scenes maneuvers were predictable."

"But he's using Scarlett," Sebastian replied, his smile fading, eyes darkening.

Michael glanced toward the stairs. "You've taken good care of Scar. Thank you for that."

"You're welcome." Sebastian's expression remained neutral as he accepted the gratitude.

"It's dangerous out there. I won't be taking Scar away—she's safest with you." Michael understood the landscape perfectly. His arrival wasn't meant to calm things down but to stir the waters further.

Sebastian's grip on his glass loosened slightly, the whiteness in his fingertips returning to normal. "Good," he said, his voice low.

After a moment of silence, he changed the subject. "Mrs. Myers next door—do you remember her?"

"Mrs. Myers?" Michael frowned, clearly not recalling.

"Logan Myers' wife, Tiffany Myers," Sebastian prompted.

Recognition dawned on Michael's face. "Yes, I remember her. What about her?"

Michael tensed slightly. When he'd had his accident years ago, Logan had offered assistance that nearly cost the Myers family their business.

Sebastian finished his drink and set down the glass. The unmelted ice cubes clinked against the sides. "Recently, Orion and I came across a pocket watch that belonged to Wesley Seymour. We entrusted it to the Myers family."

Michael frowned. "Another wild goose chase?"

"Not this time. The watch is genuine." Sebastian's fingers tapped lightly on the armrest. "We tracked it to someone in The Heptagon Club—a woman named Becky Seymour."

Michael's expression froze.

"I see you know her," Sebastian continued evenly. "Mrs. Myers discovered that this Becky has connections to the Seymour family, though someone deliberately concealed them."

He crossed his legs, reaching instinctively for cigarettes that weren't there. Remembering why, his craving subsided slightly. "Not many people could keep secrets from both our families. The late Richard was one of them."

Michael exhaled deeply, his eyes lowered before lifting again. He knew Sebastian had figured it out.

"How much do you know?"

"Not much. Just bits and pieces." Sebastian reached for a mint from the coffee table, unsatisfied with its bland low-sugar taste.

"Grandfather was trying to protect her," Michael began, but Sebastian cut him off.

"Protect her by allowing the Second Branch of the Seymour family to brand her an illegitimate child? What a brilliant plan." Sebastian was never one to mince words, especially regarding Scarlett.

Michael sighed. "I agree Grandfather went too far, but Scar's situation was truly precarious. If others had known her identity, her very survival would have been questionable."

Despite his simmering anger, Sebastian closed his eyes briefly at this revelation.

"If you could uncover this, others probably know as well," Michael said gravely. "Scar shouldn't be seen in public too often."

Sebastian rubbed his temple. "You think I don't know that?"

"Good. Is Mrs. Myers the one who returned from Aquilonia?" Michael asked.

Sebastian glanced at him sideways. "Weren't you at their wedding?"

"I was just a child," Michael replied with an amused look. "You expect me to remember?"

Sebastian didn't respond.

"The Myers family can be trusted," Michael continued, his tone softening, "but it's best not to pursue anything related to Wesley right now. His close friend was found dead in his own estate."

Sebastian's typically impassive eyes widened. "Dead?"

Michael nodded grimly. "The killer remains unknown, but clearly they realized Wesley's assets weren't with him. They'll be looking domestically now."

Intelligence suggested Wesley had visited Lumaria shortly before his death.

"They'll have a harder time operating here," Michael said, watching Sebastian's darkening expression, "but what if they send someone with nothing to lose?"

Sebastian's brow furrowed. "I'll pass this information to the Myers family."

Seeing Sebastian wouldn't push further, Michael nodded. "I was right to entrust Scar to your care."

He'd known Sebastian since childhood and understood that his cold-mannered friend rarely invested himself emotionally in anything—yet he seemed to make an exception for Scarlett. 

Michael had been certain of this ever since finding Scarlett in Sebastian's private quarters.

That's why, even on the plane leaving the country, with blood obscuring his vision and broken fingers, he had clutched Sebastian's coat and pleaded, "Take care of Scar for me!"

---

Sebastian watched Michael walk toward the elevator, remembering their last meeting ten years ago when the normally gentle Michael had shouted at the top of his lungs—about Scarlett.

He remained on the couch as night fell, darkness gradually seeping into the corners of the living room, competing with the soft glow of the floor lamp. 

The wall clock ticked softly in the background.

Finally, he stood and put on his coat, the hem sweeping through the air in a graceful arc.

"Mr. Howard, are you going out?" Libbie asked, surprised.

"I'm returning to Number One," he replied, his collar still up, partially obscuring his face. "Tell Mike in the morning that he's welcome to stay here."

Libbie acknowledged with a simple "I will."

Sebastian strode out, his mood unsettled. 

Upon arriving at Number One, he immediately reached for the drawer at the entrance, finding it empty. 

Only then did he remember having all cigarettes removed after learning of Scarlett's pregnancy.

His throat itched with craving, intensified by the turmoil in his mind. Frowning, he walked to the living room and sat down.

The thought rose unbidden: he was truly despicable.

His expression darkened as he grabbed a handful of dried fruit to chew. 

That year, when saying goodbye to Michael—who despite being covered in blood had only talked about Scarlett—the young man had revealed his feelings plainly.

Sebastian had recognized it immediately, because he felt the same way.

Michael had trusted him with Scarlett, and he had unethically... done something inexcusable.

"Inexcusable?" As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Sebastian laughed softly, full of contempt.

Images flashed through his mind: Scarlett's flushed cheeks, her wet, pleading eyes. 

He licked his lips. No, it wasn't inexcusable—it had been mutual desire between them.

But then he remembered how she had looked at Michael earlier that evening, and his expression darkened again.

Her heart belonged to Michael, not him.