Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 209

"What happened back then was for my second uncle. The Morgan family and Sophia had complex motives. The Howard family was like a fortress—letting them continue would only hide their predatory ambitions deeper. To remove them completely, we needed a reason."

Sebastian spoke calmly, slowly revealing thoughts he had kept buried for years.

Surprised by this revelation, Scarlett paused briefly before furrowing her brow, quickly spotting the inconsistency. "You say it was for your second uncle? But didn't he die anyway?"

Sebastian's eyes suddenly darkened. His fingertips quietly clenched at his side, knuckles turning white. He remained silent for several seconds before speaking, his voice carrying a barely detectable hoarseness. "People don't always act according to the original plan..."

Sebastian didn't finish. He quickly fell silent again. Though his expression remained unchanged, it was clear that his mind was in turmoil.

Watching him, Scarlett felt doubts growing like vines in her mind. She opened her mouth, but her thoughts remained tangled, leaving her lips parted without a sound.

From Sebastian's words, it wasn't hard to deduce that the death of the Howard family's second son seemed to be an accident, and his supposed relationship with Adeline was merely part of some plan.

Scarlett was skeptical of this explanation, yet a flicker of hope rose within her. But Chris's words still echoed in her ears. Those words were practically the best evidence of Sebastian's deep feelings for Adeline. Yet now, Sebastian not only denied this relationship but even linked it to strategic planning.

Seeing Scarlett's continued silence, Sebastian spoke again. "If I truly had feelings for Adeline, why haven't I sought her out once in these ten years?"

Their conversation had gradually transformed into a debate. Sebastian's voice grew calm again, his eyes deep and bright, his words subtly leading. He seemed reluctant to speak too plainly, as if deliberately hiding something.

Scarlett perceived this keenly. She looked up, her eyes equally bright but filled with contemplation and inquiry. Her gaze traveled across Sebastian's face, trying to find any hint of the emotion he was concealing. 

But she couldn't find it. His face showed only calculated intelligence, suggesting he had no feelings for Adeline—that it had been manipulation from the beginning.

Scarlett didn't know how to answer Sebastian's question. She couldn't think of a response, or perhaps there was one, but subconsciously she didn't believe it, so it could never be spoken aloud.

"Even if I did seek her out after ten years, why have I never publicly declared her as my girlfriend or fiancée?" Sebastian asked again, not waiting for her answer.

This question made Scarlett pause once more. She blinked, thinking carefully. It seemed true that she had never heard Sebastian publicly acknowledge any relationship with Adeline. Realizing this, the scales in her heart shifted again.

But before this wavering balance could tip completely, a sharp ringtone sliced through the quiet space like an arrow striking the heart, causing a jolt of anxiety. Both immediately looked toward the source—Sebastian's private phone on the nightstand.

Scarlett instinctively glanced at Sebastian. He had already risen to answer. Seeing the caller ID, his brow furrowed slightly before quickly smoothing out. "What is it?" he answered.

They were close enough that Scarlett caught the beginning of the conversation. "Ms. Morgan, she..." The voice was familiar—Teddy's voice.

She paused, her gaze following Sebastian as he stood. He rose naturally, seemingly deliberately moving away from Scarlett's "eavesdropping," though it might have just been an unconscious movement.

Scarlett's gaze continued to follow Sebastian, her eyes blazing with obvious curiosity and wariness. Her stare was so intense that Sebastian couldn't help but notice. He glanced back at Scarlett before quickly looking away, as if the glance had been accidental.

"I understand. Have their people help. I'll get there as soon as possible." Sebastian's voice was steady but carried an undercurrent of urgency.

Scarlett silently withdrew her gaze, pulling a nearby pillow into her arms—the one Sebastian had been using. It seemed clear now that he wouldn't need it anymore.

Sebastian's call ended quickly. He put the phone in his pocket and looked at her with a completely calm expression. Seemingly forthright, he voluntarily explained the call's content. "Adeline landed in Seraphim a day ago. There are people behind her who intend to harm you."

Scarlett looked up at him, her expression flat. She appeared completely disinterested in what he was saying, her eyes even carrying a hint of mockery. She hadn't missed the unconcealed urgency in Teddy's voice during the call. 

Adeline had only just arrived in Seraphim, and Teddy, who had been by her side until recently, was immediately assigned to her. The level of concern was unmistakable.

Scarlett thought of Sebastian's earlier words, which she had almost believed. She found it laughable but didn't laugh. She just tilted her head, watching him, wondering what excuse he would come up with next.

"I sent Teddy to monitor her movements. Now she's attempting suicide, and I need to go to Virella Island," Sebastian said as he approached, his tone deepening, his expression serious. "The forces behind her haven't been identified yet. She can't die right now."

He sounded so convincing. Scarlett inwardly scoffed, giving a light laugh as she avoided his touch. Her tone lilted upward, the corner of her mouth lifting. "I understand."

Scarlett was actually easy to read. Sebastian could tell exactly what she was thinking from her expression. Knowing that Scarlett didn't believe a word he said, Sebastian felt helpless. But with the urgent situation at Virella Island, he could only gently ruffle her hair before leaving.

The weight of his hand and the feeling of her disheveled hair lingered, but Scarlett felt only absurd irony. She raised her hand, methodically fixing her hair, each movement a silent rejection.

Sebastian's figure disappeared through the doorway. As the door closed, Scarlett's false smile instantly vanished, replaced by a deep, bottomless coldness. She hugged the pillow against the headboard, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the subtle pattern on the pillowcase, her mind replaying every word, every expression Sebastian had just shown.

"The forces behind her haven't been identified yet. She can't die right now."

Those words stuck like a thorn in her heart. Adeline couldn't die... was it because she had value to Sebastian, or because Sebastian truly cared for her? The thought had barely formed before Scarlett extinguished it herself. She smiled bitterly, hugging the pillow tighter. Even if there were some feelings there, what difference would it make?

What she wanted to avoid wasn't just the relationship between Sebastian and Adeline—it was Sebastian's entire world. 

Scarlett slowly slid down from the headboard, her heart sinking gradually, becoming calm, though tears still seeped from the corners of her eyes.