Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 182

In the rural central region of Seraphim, an Alfa Romeo traveled along a country road.

The car windows framed the passing scenery like an ever-changing series of oil paintings.

Scarlett leaned against the window, experiencing a peaceful serenity she hadn't felt in a long time, along with a sense of disbelief.

Just an hour ago, she had been touring the Vanderlyn Institute of Fine Arts under Teddy's surveillance. Now she sat in an ordinary car, driving down an unnamed country road in Seraphim.

"Hungry?" Chris leaned over, asking softly.

Scarlett shook her head, turning her gaze from the scenery. "Where are we going?"

"First to Vesperia, then we'll take a private jet to Thalassia," Chris explained, his plan clearly defined. As he spoke, his gaze briefly rested on Scarlett's abdomen before continuing, "If you don't want to keep the baby, we can arrange for a termination procedure in Thalassia."

His words struck at the heart of Scarlett's dilemma.

She hesitated, unable to respond immediately.

"There's no rush. We have plenty of time," Chris reassured her, then continued outlining their plans. "If you want to have the baby, that's fine too. The Wright family certainly has the resources to raise a child."

Hearing this, Scarlett couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. "What? You're planning to be the baby's father?"

Chris scratched his head. "I'll pass on that. Sebastian would kill me if he found out."

At the mention of Sebastian, Scarlett's expression dimmed slightly. Her voice softened, filled with unmistakable melancholy. "Do you think he'll come after us?"

"No," Chris shook his head without hesitation. "The Howard family only has real influence back home. They have some overseas market presence, but nothing compared to the Wright family."

His words carried a hint of arrogance, but they weren't without foundation.

After all, the Howard family, due to George's military and political background, didn't have strong control internationally. Their family's development had always focused domestically.

The Wright family, while having Shawn in politics, had originally been merchants. The two aspects didn't conflict with each other.

Moreover, Chris's second brother had been managing companies abroad and rarely returned home. Domestic policies had virtually no impact on him.

It was precisely because of this that Chris dared to take Scarlett away on such short notice.

Sebastian might be all-powerful in Lumaria, but abroad, the Wright family held more sway.

The car stopped several hours later.

They couldn't cross the border directly today and would need to spend the night at a motel near the border.

To prevent Sebastian's people from catching up, Chris had gone to great lengths to mislead them. The upcoming border crossing would determine whether they could truly escape Sebastian's tracking.

After all, if Sebastian was determined to check border crossings, he would certainly find them.

Just as Chris anticipated, Sebastian had already turned his attention to border crossings.

[No changes in border crossing records yet.]

Reading Teddy's latest message, Sebastian frowned deeply, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of his phone.

By now, nearly three hours had passed since Scarlett's disappearance.

Three hours...

Enough time to reach a country's border.

Which country would they go to?

This question lingered in Sebastian's mind, but he didn't rush. Instead, he maintained the calm of a cat stalking a mouse.

His finger slid gently across the tablet's map, where central Seraphim's road network resembled an intricate spider web, extending toward the borders of surrounding countries.

Sebastian wasn't concerned about them leaving by air.

Any flight they took would instantly expose their whereabouts—clearly not what they wanted. Therefore, land routes made more sense.

His gaze first fell on the Vesperia border. From the Vanderlyn Institute of Fine Arts, three hours would be sufficient to reach the border near Montelisse. If Chris intended to go to Vesperia, this route would be the most direct.

But soon, Sebastian's attention shifted to Sorenvale. Going there would avoid the standard Schengen Area checks. If they wanted to avoid detection, Sorenvale's country roads might offer better concealment.

His fingertips tapped lightly on the desk as his thoughts settled.

He sent a message to Teddy: [Watch the Montelisse border with Vesperia and the Sorenvale border. Seek assistance if necessary.]

Just as this message was sent, Mark knocked on the study door.

"Mr. Howard, Mr. George Howard is asking for you."

"I understand."

Sebastian rose and walked out, smoothly picking up and putting on his coat as he passed the seating area, his movements efficient and precise.

At Howard Manor, with winter approaching, thick wool carpets had been laid along the corridors of the main building, muffling any footsteps. The wall sconces had been changed to emit a warm yellow light, making the space visually comfortable.

Sebastian removed his coat and handed it to the approaching butler.

He looked up toward the corner at the end of the corridor, where the butler had just come from.

"My grandfather didn't go out tonight?" he asked, seemingly casually.

The butler bowed respectfully. "No, Mr. George Howard wasn't feeling well today, so he stayed in."

Sebastian nodded. Since George hadn't gone out, the source of information could only be George's own people.

With Graham now being investigated by federal authorities and Adeline behaving herself at Eaglecrest Hill, the only reason George would summon him at this hour had to be about Scarlett.

He wasn't sure what George knew. His fingertips rubbed together slightly as he rounded the corner, approaching the entrance to the tea room.

A guard waited at the door. Seeing Sebastian, he nodded slightly. "Mr. George Howard is waiting for you inside."

Sebastian nodded, raising his hand to knock lightly on the wooden door. George's slightly hoarse voice came from within.

"Come in."

The voice sounded different than usual, suggesting something significant had occurred.

Sebastian's eyes darkened as he formed his own theories.

He pushed the door open, moved past the partition, and slightly bowed his head to the old man sitting in the redwood armchair. "Grandfather."

George looked at his grandson with half-open eyes. His typically imposing face now showed subtle traces of fatigue. He raised his hand, pointing to a wooden chair nearby, his voice even hoarser than before. "Sit down."

Sebastian complied, observing George's expression. He suspected George already knew but didn't speak first, waiting for George to reveal what he knew.

"Do you have feelings for that Seymour girl?" Though phrased as a question, George's confident gaze showed he already knew the truth.

Sebastian lowered his gaze to the lukewarm tea on the side table. "You know, then."

His tone remained calm, without any attempt to hide.

Although George had suspected upon first hearing the news, receiving confirmation from Sebastian's own lips still left him momentarily dazed.

He opened his mouth, his breath long and slow. "You hid it well..." George looked up, his gaze piercing. "She's not suitable for you. Withdraw your people and let her go."