Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 205

Hearing this, Scarlett's eyes widened with obvious confusion.

From this description, it sounded like Adeline's interactions with Sebastian had been purposeful from the very beginning.

The thought flashed through Scarlett's mind, but she didn't voice it aloud.

She'd never liked Adeline, right from the start. And the reason, naturally, had everything to do with Sebastian. Though she hated to admit it, Scarlett's feelings for Sebastian were real. As her rival, Adeline would never earn her affection.

Because of this, Scarlett knew she was biased against Adeline. This thought might just be her prejudice speaking, so she chose to remain silent. Even if she disliked the woman, she didn't want to assume the worst about her.

However, Chris cheerfully voiced exactly what she'd been thinking. "Everyone's saying Adeline returned from abroad specifically to hook up with the Howard family. Some even claim it's a honey trap specifically targeting Sebastian."

Scarlett pressed her lips together, a flash of vindictive satisfaction crossing her mind before her rational side pushed it away.

"Whatever people say, Sebastian is clearly devoted to her. Just look—he's got me locked up here to carry his baby. How considerate of him," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. The more she heard, the more she believed in Sebastian's deep feelings for Adeline. Even the luxury hospital room around her now seemed repulsive.

"Well, at least he set you up in a nice room," Chris remarked, raising an eyebrow teasingly. From what he could see of the hospital bedroom in Scarlett's camera frame, he could guess the caliber of the accommodations, even without seeing the rest.

Hearing his teasing, Scarlett's mouth turned down. "Looks like I have no choice but to have this baby."

Her words were filled with resignation, without a trace of anticipation for the child.

Chris fell silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "By the way, Adeline left the country yesterday."

Scarlett froze, a bad feeling washing over her. "Why did she go abroad? Where... where did she go?"

"I don't know exactly, but she left right after Sebastian."

Chris ran his fingers through his hair, a flash of frustration crossing his face.

He had previously thought Scarlett's story was a joke or just a rumor. But now, with Adeline and Sebastian leaving the country one after another, and Scarlett being arranged to stay abroad during her pregnancy—putting it all together, wasn't this a plan to take the child from its mother?

But if that was the case, Chris couldn't understand why Sebastian would allow those rumors about Adeline to spread. Was he trying to give her a plausible reason for leaving the country?

On the surface, it looked like Adeline couldn't handle the domestic gossip and fled abroad. In reality, she was going to have a baby—a baby currently growing in Scarlett's womb.

Was Adeline going abroad to set up a cover story, only to return with the baby after its birth, pretending it was hers?

As someone from a powerful family, Chris was no stranger to such schemes. Once the thought occurred to him, it seemed increasingly plausible. His expression instantly grew serious.

Scarlett had reached the same conclusion. She sniffled, fighting back tears, while the pain in her heart grew sharper.

"She... she came for the baby..." Her voice trembled, completely out of control. "They all did. I... I don't want to have this baby."

Chris's brow furrowed as he listened, his eyes reflecting her pain, his voice shaking. "Then don't have it."

"But how?" Scarlett laughed, an ugly laugh that was half-crying.

Chris had no answer to this question.

Back home, the Wright family's international influence was limited due to Shawn's political career. They usually relied on Shane for overseas matters. But now, Shane was firmly on Sebastian's side.

Chris wanted to help but had no idea how to even begin.

Scarlett broke down crying. She felt increasingly hopeless. In this unfamiliar foreign country, she would give birth to a child under the watchful eyes of strangers.

Chris wanted to comfort her but didn't know what to say.

Finally, with a soft sigh, he ended the call.

At the same moment, on the first floor of St. Mary's Hospital, red-haired Benjamin followed his friend into a stretch Lincoln parked at the hospital entrance.

His light-brown-haired friend observed Benjamin's expression as he took a bottle of soda from the mini-fridge and handed it over. "Hey, what happened? Was that not the girl you've been looking for?"

Benjamin took the water, his fingers on the cap, about to twist it open when his friend's question made him pause.

"No," he shook his head, speaking softly. After a long pause, he twisted the cap open and took a sip, then tilted his head back for a long gulp, like a fish desperate for water. He drained the entire bottle in one go, let out a long breath, and finally continued, "No, she is."

His friend's eyes widened at these words. "She is? She IS?"

He raised his hand, shaking his head, running his right hand through his hair. His eyes were wide as he looked around, then immediately back at the hospital, pointing with his left hand. "Then why are you leaving? She's right there! I mean, you've been looking for her for years!"

Benjamin wasn't looking at him. His gaze was fixed on the empty bottle in his hand. "Yes, I've been looking for her for many years, but..."

His brow furrowed slightly, and his fingers suddenly tightened around the bottle. The plastic deformed in his palm with a short crunch.

Sebastian's words still echoed in his ears.

Benjamin knew exactly what changes would occur in her life if the truth came out.

"Keeping these secrets is like carrying a bomb that could explode at any moment! How much has your family suffered because of it?" His friend immediately understood Benjamin's hesitation. His voice rose sharply, filled with urgent frustration. "The person you've been looking for is right there!"

He pointed at the hospital again, his finger trembling. "You should give her what's rightfully hers! Throw the mess back where it belongs! That's the only way you'll truly be free! Do you really want to be tied down by this crap forever, never able to breathe freely?"

His friend's urgent reprimands rang in his ears, but in Benjamin's mind, all he could see was the girl lying in the hospital bed.

Benjamin already knew why she was in the hospital—he'd learned the reason from the hotel's front desk.

Though he hadn't seen the Lumarian man, Benjamin guessed he must be connected to that incident. Even before the information was confirmed, the man had already taken action.

It was easy to imagine how much trouble the girl would face if her identity was revealed. It might even cause her to follow in her ancestors' footsteps.

Benjamin was keeping his father's promise, but not to put a girl in danger.

"Enough, Kevin." His head remained lowered, but his voice was firmer than before. He looked up at his friend's slightly reddened eyes, took a deep breath, and said calmly, "This is the Cooper family's oath."

Kevin froze, staring into Benjamin's eyes. His shoulders suddenly slumped. "Yes, of course it is."