Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 261

The sudden goodwill and overly convenient offer of help made Scarlett wary. She looked Marco up and down, not hiding her vigilance toward him.

"Mr. Russo, how do you know I need help?"

This was an obvious question, but Scarlett decided to ask it anyway. She raised an eyebrow slightly, crossed her arms over her chest, and her tone was flat.

Whether from her expression or her actions, Marco could sense a somewhat irritated distance.

He lowered his head and chuckled softly. "I know many things, not just this one thing."

As Marco spoke, he gestured slightly forward with his palm, indicating for Scarlett to continue walking ahead.

Scarlett looked in the direction of his gesture and, without much hesitation, stepped forward to lead the way for Marco.

The two eventually sat down in the sitting area of her room.

Marco held a fruit tea in his hands—something Libbie had freshly brewed that afternoon. Thanks to the thermal carafe, the tea was still warm when he drank it.

Scarlett sat down in the single armchair across from him.

Since they had serious matters to discuss, she didn't choose to sit in her favorite lazy chair, but instead sat down in the elegant single armchair.

She propped her head up with one hand, her eyes still wary but now tinged with curiosity. "Please go ahead, Mr. Russo."

They hadn't spent much time together, and since Marco was Sebastian's elder, this sounded somewhat distant and overly polite.

"That's it?" Marco frowned, his expression strange but carrying some teasing. "Letty, I thought we'd known each other for almost two months. There's no need for our conversation to be so formal."

Scarlett frowned at his words. "Mr. Russo?"

Marco sighed, leaning forward and placing his cup on the nearby table.

"You'll be part of the Russo family sooner or later. I don't want you to stay so tense all the time." His voice was steady and strong, his words clear without any hesitation. His eyes focused on Scarlett, as if trying to lend her strength.

But Scarlett could tell he had other implications behind his words.

"Does Mr. Russo know about my cousin's situation?" She changed her sitting position while also refining the question she wanted to ask.

Though Marco was a foreigner and his personality was indeed more open compared to the Lumaria people, because his ancestors were involved in family-based mafia organizations, he placed great importance on family members' sense of belonging.

The meaning of that statement was very clear—in Marco's heart, he had already placed Scarlett within the family circle that needed protection.

This not only represented his attitude but also concealed his intention to mediate for Sebastian.

Scarlett raised an eyebrow, waiting leisurely for Marco's answer.

"Of course." Unlike Sebastian, when faced with Scarlett's questions, Marco answered quickly and sincerely. His right hand's index and middle fingers were slightly closed while his other fingers were more relaxed—a typical cigarette-holding gesture. "I do know some things. What do you want to know?"

Scarlett shifted her gaze away from his right hand. "I want to know everything."

His fingers lightly rubbed against his lips as Marco pondered for a moment before slowly speaking. "I don't know much. Mr. Seymour was sent to a psychiatric hospital in Westmont, Eldoria, a few days ago."

Having already been told the news, Scarlett was much calmer than Marco had expected. She only frowned slightly before speaking again. "Why?"

Such calm questioning made Marco raise an eyebrow slightly. He smiled. "I don't know that, but if you really want to know everything behind this, I can help you investigate. I guarantee Jacob won't find out."

Scarlett was already used to Marco always calling Sebastian by this name. She pressed her lips slightly, still showing wariness toward Marco's help.

"Why would you help me? Isn't Sebastian your nephew?"

Marco's behavior was tantamount to betraying family for justice. Moreover, from previous observations, his relationship with Sebastian was very good—otherwise, he wouldn't have traveled all the way from Virella Island with his people just because Sebastian needed his manpower.

"You're someone he cares about, and you'll be my nephew's wife in the future." Marco pursed his lips downward, his hands continuing to move as if performing some kind of ritual.

Scarlett knew this was a Seraphim speaking habit, but she couldn't help looking over.

Fortunately, Marco didn't notice her gaze and continued talking. "Jacob is just a blockhead, and stubborn too. Without me helping him maneuver, you two probably really couldn't make it work."

"I never said I wanted to be with him." Scarlett's eyes turned slightly cold, her mood inevitably becoming irritated.

Marco didn't continue the previous topic, just calmly changed the subject as if he wasn't the one who had upset Scarlett. "Alright, though I'm not clear why Mr. Seymour is in a psychiatric hospital, I can guarantee Jacob would never imprison him."

Scarlett actually believed this statement. After all, she really couldn't figure out what benefits Sebastian could gain from such elaborate schemes.

The Seymour family's assets?

If it were the Seymour family assets from ten years ago, Scarlett might have thought this was possible.

But after David's futile management, the Seymour family's assets had rapidly shrunk. In just ten years, they had slowly declined from a major family on par with the Howard family to a third-tier wealthy family.

This was precisely why David had been so excited upon learning that Edith would marry into the Howard family—it was the simplest and only opportunity for the Seymour family to return to first-tier status.

Though Scarlett hadn't had the chance to directly access the Seymour family's assets, when working at the Howard Group, she would always encounter the Seymour family's former properties or related project assets.

Therefore, she could see through the Seymour family's true situation at a glance.

Lost in thought, she didn't speak for a moment. Marco waited for a while, then looked up with slightly lowered eyes before speaking. "I'll help you investigate anything you want to know."

This statement came suddenly and indeed pulled Scarlett out of her deep thoughts.

Her fingertips clenched slightly, then she looked over. "What are Mr. Russo's conditions?"

"Very simple—stop your contact with Benjamin." Marco's smile disappeared as he spoke seriously.

Scarlett was instantly stunned, her heart stopping for a moment before beginning to beat violently. But she remained calm on the surface, even her voice showing no change. "What does that mean?"

Marco didn't mind her playing dumb. He picked up the fruit tea nearby and took a sip. After moistening his throat, his voice became clearer. "Letty, Benjamin is indeed a victim, but I don't trust him, and he... is too cowardly."

As he spoke, he clicked his tongue once, looking like he had no good impression of Benjamin whatsoever.

"Isn't Mr. Russo's judgment a bit too hasty?" Scarlett didn't answer directly, just lowered her head and slowly asked a question.

Marco glanced at her. "Letty, I've seen too many people. Benjamin won't be the teammate you're hoping for."