Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 167

Twentieth floor, the Howard Group Building.

Corporate headquarters was hosting the quarterly strategic review meeting today. Not only were division presidents required to attend, but the chairman himself would be present.

An hour before the meeting, staff bustled about testing equipment and arranging materials. Even the break area had been stocked with extra beverages and snacks.

Sebastian arrived ten minutes before the start time.

Accompanied by Mark and other assistants, he walked from the elevator toward the conference room while a steady stream of people briefed him—one finishing just as another began.

"Mr. Howard, Mr. Parker on the phone."

Sebastian had barely taken his seat when Mark, who had answered the call at the door, entered with a grave expression.

"Speak," Sebastian said calmly, taking a sip of water.

Mark swallowed nervously and leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Ms. Seymour is at Magnolia Health Services, planning to terminate the pregnancy..."

He spoke the final words so softly—afraid to say them yet worried Sebastian wouldn't hear—that he had to force them out.

As expected, before he could finish, Sebastian fixed him with an icy stare.

Mark immediately held his breath.

"Stop her. Bring her here," Sebastian ordered, his voice hard as his fingers whitened around the teacup. His jaw clenched, his eyes swirling with anger and a barely perceptible panic.

The emotions ran so deep, like currents beneath ice, threatening to break through the surface at any moment.

He closed his eyes, took a breath to compose himself, and added a final instruction, "Now!"

---

Blood Testing Department, Magnolia Health Services.

Scarlett had just finished her blood draw and was waiting for her results when she heard commotion from the corridor to her left.

Looking up, she locked eyes with Teddy as he strode through the doorway.

Her scalp tightened with alarm. Abandoning any thought of waiting for test results, she grabbed her bag and ran.

Despite the corridor being filled with people, the private hospital was spacious, and no one wanted to block the tall bodyguard's path. Scarlett found herself at a disadvantage.

"Ms. Seymour."

Teddy effortlessly caught her wrist. Holding her with one hand, he tilted his head toward the microphone clipped to his collar. "Target secured. Meet at the entrance."

From his words, Scarlett knew several people had come for her.

Her face turned ashen. At the thought of her secret being exposed, her stomach clenched painfully. She gripped Teddy's muscular forearm, her voice trembling. "My stomach hurts..."

Teddy's eyes sharpened. He immediately took her to an examination room.

"She's too agitated. Don't upset the mother-to-be. Take this medication daily," the doctor said efficiently, writing a prescription in mere moments.

The medicine arrived equally fast, brought by one of Teddy's men barely a minute later.

Under Teddy's watchful eye, Scarlett took the medication. Some color returned to her face, though anxiety still gripped her heart despite her outward composure.

She was quickly escorted from the hospital.

Teddy's earlier commotion had created quite a disturbance, and his men were now dealing with the aftermath.

Leaving the main building, Scarlett suddenly remembered Chris. Looking around for him, she spotted him being escorted out by two burly men, each gripping one of his arms.

Clearly there had been a confrontation. Chris's voice carried clearly to where Scarlett stood.

"Where's Scarlett? What have you—"

Whatever he said next was muffled, but after someone pointed in her direction, Chris finally spotted her.

He ran toward her, but Scarlett was already being ushered into a car. She could only press against the window, watching Chris's figure as he chased after them.

Scarlett felt utterly helpless.

To make matters worse, Teddy, driving the car, casually offered her a box of snacks.

"Ms. Seymour, please."

Scarlett didn't refuse. Opening the box, she found traditional pastries.

"There's water beside you," Teddy added.

But Scarlett didn't eat. She merely glanced at the food before setting it aside. "Where are you taking me?"

"To Mr. Howard," Teddy answered honestly.

He glanced at Scarlett in the rearview mirror, a hint of admiration in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to be so resolute about terminating the pregnancy.

If they hadn't been watching her so closely these past weeks, the child would likely already be gone.

Scarlett wasn't surprised by his answer. She made a small sound of acknowledgment but said nothing more.

At the Howard Group Building, Teddy escorted Scarlett directly to the twenty-fifth floor via the chairman's private elevator.

"Mr. Howard is still in his meeting. Please wait a moment, Ms. Seymour."

Rather than being placed in a waiting room, she was led straight into Sebastian's office.

Food continued to arrive throughout her wait.

But Scarlett had no appetite. The offerings remained untouched on the coffee table.

When Sebastian entered, his gaze swept over the untouched food before settling on Scarlett. "Not hungry?" he asked evenly.

His question received no response.

Scarlett turned away, her action clearly conveying her attitude.

"Why terminate the pregnancy?" Sebastian leaned against his desk, his expression neutral, his tone flat—as if this were merely a routine inquiry.

Scarlett had expected a more heated confrontation. Was this all?

He truly doesn't care, she thought fleetingly.

Taking a deep breath to suppress the ache in her throat, she hardened her voice. "How is it any of your business?"

"My child, not my business?" Sebastian seemed almost amused by her response. He lowered his head, then looked up at her. 

Sunlight from the floor-to-ceiling windows illuminated his amber eyes, creating a warmth laced with coolness. "Scarlett, what kind of logic is that?"

Scarlett bit down hard on her teeth, lowering her head to avoid his gaze. Still, tears fell despite her efforts. "It... was never your concern!"

Her voice broke with poorly suppressed sobs, her shoulders trembling with each breath. Even her thick autumn clothing couldn't hide her fragile frame.

Seeing this, Sebastian's shoulders slumped. Like a deflating balloon, the hard edge around him softened.

He walked over and knelt before her, one hand supporting her lower back while the other gently pulled away her tear-wiping hand. 

His voice softened uncharacteristically. "Don't cry. It's not good for your health. Let's talk properly, alright?"

Despite his gentleness, Scarlett remained unmoved. "There's nothing to talk about. I won't have this baby."

"Why?" Sebastian's voice dropped even lower. The hand at her back unconsciously tightened, his fingertips feeling the softness beneath her autumn clothing before he hastily relaxed his grip, afraid of hurting her.

Scarlett bit her lip and turned away, her voice shaking. "I won't let my child be born illegitimate too."

Her words struck Sebastian like an ice pick to the heart. His hand froze against her back, and the softened aura around him instantly hardened again.

Sebastian inhaled sharply. The trace of panic in his eyes disappeared, replaced by something deeper. Even his voice carried disbelief. "You think... I would let our child be illegitimate?"