Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 210

The private airfield on Virella Island echoed with the lingering roar of a jet that had arrived suddenly in the dead of night. 

Sebastian, dressed in a black coat, had already taken his seat in the waiting sedan. Everyone in the car remained silent. Sebastian's face was grave, his eyes dark and unfathomable. Even he, who typically maintained rigid control over his emotions, struggled to preserve his outward calm.

The car didn't enter the estate grounds but drove past them toward the hospital ahead.

"Mr. Howard." As soon as Sebastian stepped into the hospital, Teddy approached. The situation had been so urgent that he hadn't even changed out of his bloodstained clothes.

Sebastian's gaze lingered on the bloodied garments for just a moment before he looked away, continuing forward at a measured pace. "How is she?"

His voice was low, tinged with anger rather than concern.

Teddy kept his head down as he walked alongside. "She's stable for now, but she cut too deep. The tendons in her wrist were severed. Though we got her help quickly, still..."

Though he didn't finish, the implications were clear.

Sebastian gave a cold laugh. "She certainly has courage."

His words carried both mockery and fury. Teddy, feeling the pressure of Sebastian's displeasure, tensed inwardly. He raised his eyebrows slightly to ease his nervousness, then took a deep breath. "Yes, I didn't anticipate that either."

Readily admitting his mistake was one of Teddy's strengths.

Sebastian didn't respond. His gaze fell on a sign near the elevator as his mind flashed back to what he'd seen in the bathroom earlier that night—Scarlett curled in the bathtub, so still her breathing was barely visible. 

In that moment, he'd thought she'd done something foolish. His hands had trembled with fear for the first time.

Thankfully, it had been just his imagination. Now, hearing about Adeline's suicide attempt, Sebastian felt nothing, yet his mind instinctively returned to Scarlett in the bathtub. An indescribable emotion churned in his chest. 

Thank goodness she had only been asleep.

"Mr. Howard, the elevator is here," Teddy's reminder pulled him back to reality.

Sebastian closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, only cold composure remained. He stepped into the elevator, with Teddy and the others following.

In the fourth-floor hospital room, Adeline lay with her eyes closed, thick bandages around her wrists. The monitoring equipment beeped rhythmically beside the bed. Sebastian stood scanning her form with an icy gaze.

"When will she wake up?"

His voice was cold, his tone flat, as if he wasn't particularly concerned about the answer. But Teddy knew that when Sebastian asked a question, it immediately became a top priority.

"It shouldn't be long," Teddy estimated, recalling the doctor's diagnosis. "Certainly before tomorrow."

This answer clearly satisfied Sebastian. He nodded and turned to leave. "Notify me when she wakes."

Sebastian left the hospital and had just returned to the estate when a woman threw herself into his arms.

"Jacob!" She had a strong Seraphine accent, her voice soft and affectionate.

Seeing her, Sebastian's lips curved slightly upward. After exchanging cheek kisses, he addressed her. "Aunt Olivia."

"My goodness, you've grown so quickly." Olivia looked him up and down fondly. "Look at you. Marco tells me you're going to be a father?"

At this, Sebastian's expression dimmed. He instantly thought of Scarlett's attitude, which gave him a headache. "That's... not certain yet, but I believe so."

Hearing this, Olivia sensed something was off, but knowing too little to probe further, she simply smiled. "Is that so? I think you'll definitely make a wonderful father."

"I appreciate your confidence," Sebastian nodded with a slight smile.

"By the way, who is that woman? Causing such a scene in the middle of the night—utterly improper," Olivia remarked as they walked side by side. Her smile faded somewhat as she mentioned the night's events.

Sebastian's expression didn't change as he glanced down at the floor. "Someone who still has some use. Her death would have been... inconvenient."

Olivia had heard bits and pieces from Marco. She raised an eyebrow, somewhat smugly. "I know what you're trying to do, but getting information from her mouth won't be easy."

This was undoubtedly true, but Sebastian knew his aunt well. She was no clinging vine dependent on Marco. In her youth, her reputation had even slightly outshone his. 

Though she had gradually stepped away from the spotlight after marriage, she remained heavily involved behind the scenes. For this reason, Olivia's bringing up the subject was certainly more than idle chat.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, smiling as he asked, "Aunt Olivia, do you have any suggestions?"

At his question, a glint of cunning flashed in Olivia's eyes. She stopped walking and turned to face him. "If you want to get her to talk, force alone won't work."

She loved creating suspense. Sebastian raised his eyebrow slightly but didn't respond, silently waiting for Olivia to continue.

"Still so serious. Jacob, when will you learn to play along?" Olivia pouted, complaining with a reproachful look.

Sebastian lowered his head. "Uncle Marco does enough of that. I know you're too kind to make me wait long."

"Such a sweet talker." Olivia laughed softly, then composed herself and continued thoughtfully. "You need a gentler approach. You know, people in despair often reveal hidden potential. Let her see a glimmer of hope, and you're more likely to get what we want."

She paused, raising an eyebrow and looking at Sebastian with amusement in her eyes. "I know you're clever. You've probably already thought of this, haven't you?"

This wasn't just an idle guess. Sebastian's face showed no contemplation as he listened calmly. "Aunt Olivia's suggestion is quite apt," Sebastian said, his lips curving almost imperceptibly, his tone even yet warm with affection.

Olivia smiled, changing the subject as she patted his arm. "You'll handle this well, I'm sure. But don't focus only on external problems. The person you care about—you should talk to her properly too."

Sebastian's eyes flickered slightly. He didn't respond verbally, only nodding once before turning to leave. Olivia watched him go, shaking her head resignedly. Her nephew was perfect in almost every way, but when it came to matters of the heart, she couldn't tell whom he took after.

It wasn't until the early hours of the morning that Sebastian received word of Adeline's awakening. When he left the estate, only the chauffeur waited for him at the entrance.

At the hospital's fourth floor, before reaching the room, Sebastian could already hear shouting and the sound of things being thrown. 

"Get out! All of you get out!" The woman's voice was strained with fury, her tone trembling with physical weakness.

As Sebastian reached the doorway, he nearly got hit by a pillow flying out of the room. He smoothly sidestepped it, and the pillow fell to the floor behind him.