Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 214

Marco's touch was gentle, but there was an unmistakable firmness behind it as he steered Scarlett deeper into the room.

Scarlett didn't resist. What would be the point? His people were everywhere. Fighting back would accomplish nothing.

Just as Marco had said, the doctor arrived shortly.

"Hello, Ms. Seymour. How have you been these past few days?" the doctor asked with a warm smile as soon as she entered.

Scarlett returned a polite smile. "Everything's fine."

She sat down on the nearby sofa. The doctor approached, giving her a quick visual assessment before nodding with satisfaction. "You do look well."

Though Scarlett hadn't been sleeping properly, the excellent care she'd received had restored some color to her face. Compared to the pallor she'd shown when first admitted, she looked significantly better.

Marco poured a cup of warm chamomile tea from a thermos and carefully brought it to Scarlett. "Have some tea," he offered with a smile.

In Lumaria, people rarely drank hot beverages unless they were ill, especially herbal teas known for their calming properties. Scarlett was surprised by Marco's gesture but accepted the cup gratefully. As she did, she overheard the doctor speaking quietly to Marco.

"Mr. Russo, is Mr. Howard not here? I think the father should be present for this discussion."

Hearing this, Scarlett's hands tightened around the cup, her lips pressing together as she glanced at Marco. In an instant, her tension dissipated like floodgates opening.

She raised an eyebrow slightly, lowering her eyes to sip her tea. Of course Sebastian wouldn't come back. After all, he'd only left for Virella Island last night.

He was probably still consoling the suicidal Adeline.

The thought brought a flicker of mockery to Scarlett's eyes. How convenient for him—comforting his beloved while still expecting to have a child.

Scarlett set down her cup, her thoughts turning cold. She hadn't heard Marco's response.

Only when the doctor called her name did she look up. "Yes?"

"Since Mr. Howard isn't here, I'll discuss this with you directly, Seymour. Having Mr. Russo present counts as having family support."

This made Scarlett look at Marco with confusion. "Family?"

The doctor, busy opening a tablet, nodded. "Yes, Mr. Russo is Mr. Howard's uncle, which makes him family to you as well. He can provide comfort when you hear this news."

The implication was clear—something was wrong with the baby. Why else would the doctor be preparing her this way?

But Scarlett's attention had been completely captured by the revelation about Marco and Sebastian's relationship. "Uncle?" she asked, eyes wide.

She stared at the doctor momentarily before turning her gaze to Marco, studying him up and down. Finally, her eyes settled on his—those light amber eyes so similar to Sebastian's.

Her confusion dissolved instantly upon meeting that gaze. Of course. With eyes like those, how could they not be related?

Marco smiled. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just... surprised," Scarlett admitted, looking slightly embarrassed.

No wonder she had instinctively felt wary around Marco—there was this connection.

It was a development Scarlett could never have anticipated. One reason was that Sebastian didn't strongly display his mixed heritage. On the surface, he simply looked like a Lumarian man with handsome, defined features.

Though the Howard family had never revealed Sebastian's mother's identity, everyone in the country had assumed she came from some mysterious prestigious family.

The second reason was that Sebastian had lived abroad until he was six. Domestic media had barely covered the family.

After his parents died, Sebastian was quickly brought back to the country, but George had used the excuse of the child's recent loss to prevent any interviews or visits.

This made Sebastian the most mysterious among all the family heirs.

Even after being with Sebastian for five years, Scarlett had no idea his uncle was a foreign man with blond hair and amber eyes.

"You didn't know?" Now it was Marco's turn to be surprised.

Scarlett shook her head.

Marco frowned, muttering, "That kid hasn't mentioned anything all these years? No wonder there are problems."

His voice was too low for Scarlett to hear clearly.

The doctor was reviewing recent examination reports while considering how to deliver the news about the fetus in the gentlest way possible. 

Without Sebastian present, even with Marco there to stabilize the situation, it would be difficult to prevent Scarlett from becoming emotionally overwhelmed.

After a moment, the doctor cleared her throat. Both Scarlett and Marco immediately looked her way.

"Ms. Seymour, please prepare yourself for what I'm about to say." The doctor's tone and expression became serious, even tinged with sympathy. "No matter what happens, your health is the priority."

At these words, even Marco, who didn't know the details, immediately grew serious. He sat down beside Scarlett and placed his hand firmly over hers. "Don't worry. We're here with you."

The doctor clearly approved of Marco's reassuring gesture, but Scarlett appeared uncomfortable.

With a slight effort, she pulled her hand from under Marco's.

He looked at her immediately, noticing her avoidance of his gaze. Rather than taking offense, he simply smiled. "You're stronger than I thought."

Scarlett pressed her lips together, lowering her head slightly as she explained awkwardly, "I don't really like physical contact."

Even knowing Marco was Sebastian's uncle and therefore family, the touch felt too familiar.

"It's fine. I understand."

Marco chuckled softly and withdrew his hand, sitting properly beside her.

Because of his sister, Marco was reasonably familiar with Lumarian culture and understood that some Lumarian women were particular about personal space.

So Scarlett's withdrawal didn't bother him.

"Seymour, although you're now sixty days into your pregnancy, the anesthetic drug you were exposed to contained dangerous components. As a result, the baby's development has been affected."

Despite having mentally prepared herself, Scarlett's eyelashes trembled uncontrollably when she heard the doctor's words.

What began as a slight tremor gradually intensified.

She took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling to compose herself. Even so, her voice quavered as she asked, "You're saying the baby can't be saved?"