Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 30

Scarlett's "punishment" didn't last long. An hour later, the car slowly pulled to a stop at an intersection not far from the Seymour Villa. But no one got out immediately.

Mark wasn't in a hurry. He sat in the driver's seat, looking at the darkened mansion ahead—the Seymour Villa.

Behind the partition, Sebastian leaned his head back, sitting upright while Scarlett straddled his lap. 

Her skin was luminous. Despite not receiving the best care at the Seymour Villa, it remained porcelain-smooth—the slightest pressure would leave marks.

Sebastian's fingers pressed into her thighs as he looked down at the flushed, damp skin.

Scarlett had somewhat regained her senses, but her body remained limp, supported by Sebastian's large hands on her waist. As she gathered strength, she immediately tried to climb off Sebastian's lap, but was firmly held in place.

"What are you doing?" Sebastian asked lazily, his hands wandering slowly across her lower back.

"I want to go back." Scarlett lowered her head, her tone distant.

Sebastian listened with closed eyes, still holding her firmly. "Be good."

Unable to leave, Scarlett bit her lip lightly and waited. After a while, she spoke again. "Can I go now?"

She desperately wanted to get away from Sebastian. Just looking at his face reminded her of his words from earlier: Clean it up. 

Scarlett lowered her gaze to her own flushed thighs, her eyes growing moist. Like this, she was anything but clean.

She felt slightly nauseated.

Her urgency made Sebastian frown, though his mood remained relatively good. "I heard you had your eye on a car. Tomorrow I'll have—"

Scarlett cut him off before he could finish. "No need." She pushed herself up, her tone distant. "It's not appropriate."

This time, Sebastian didn't stop her. But his gaze was penetrating as he stared at her profile in silence.

Having regained some strength, Scarlett slid off his lap and began dressing. Her movements were slow, her hands trembling slightly as she fastened the hooks at her back, but she persisted without a word.

Sebastian watched without offering help. His gaze traced the marks on her exposed waist, and his interrupted anger subsided slightly.

Scarlett had never accepted his gifts. This reaction was normal.

She didn't look back, but she could feel Sebastian's gaze on her waist. Her fingers involuntarily tightened as she moved more quickly.

There was a strange distance between them, with no more words exchanged. The thick fabric soon blocked Sebastian's view.

She quickly exited the car. As she turned to leave, Sebastian's voice came through the lowered window.

"Scarlett, behave yourself."

The same words as his text message, the same cold warning she had imagined.

Scarlett didn't turn around. She tried to smile but found she couldn't, tears spilling instead. She took a deep breath, acknowledged with a sound, and walked toward the mansion.

The car quickly drove away.

But Scarlett didn't return to the Seymour Villa. After hearing the car leave, she emerged from around the corner and used her phone to call a taxi to a hotel downtown.

In the hotel bathroom, Scarlett silently scrubbed her body. She pressed the hastily purchased bath sponge hard against the marks.

Within moments, the marks disappeared, replaced by reddened skin with tiny beads of blood. Seeing this, Scarlett felt slightly better.

She stared blankly for a long time, tears flowing intermittently, making no move to wipe them away.

Lying on the hotel bed, Scarlett couldn't fall asleep. She hugged a pillow, imagining it was something to lean on, repeatedly whispering to herself that she was clean now.

Scarlett didn't remember when she finally fell asleep. She only knew that the next day, she was awakened by one phone call after another.

Sunlight streamed through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows onto the bed. The persistently ringing phone sat on the nearby nightstand.

The sleeping Scarlett finally stirred, making soft sounds as she nuzzled her face against the pillow clutched between her hands.

Finally, annoyed by the ringing, Scarlett opened her eyes. The sunlight made her squint as she reached out, fumbling for a while before grabbing her phone.

She held the phone close to her face to see who was calling. It was Tom from her department.

Seeing this, Scarlett's eyes widened as she finally became more alert. She instinctively checked the time—it was nearly noon, almost eleven o'clock.

Had she really slept that long? Scarlett could hardly believe it.

She pressed her forehead and answered the call. "Tom."

"Scarlett," Tom's voice carried concern. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Scarlett brushed back her fallen hair and laughed softly. "Just overslept."

She had once valued her work deeply because it carried her dreams. But now, those dreams had dissipated under Edith's ruthless destruction— the Starlight Show was gone.

As Scarlett thought this, the smile that had just appeared on her face faded away.

On the other end, Tom seemed to have something difficult to say. After hesitating, he finally spoke, "Where are you? There's an urgent matter at the company."

Scarlett couldn't imagine what urgent business would require her now. But from Tom's tone, it likely involved Edith again. She smiled bitterly.

"I'll be right there."

If Sebastian wanted to see her obedient, she would give him what he wanted. It would only be for a month at most. In a month, she would go to the design academy in Castrovella City. Far away, she could finally have a chance to breathe.

Half an hour later, Scarlett arrived at the company. She was wearing yesterday's clothes—anyone could tell she had spent the night elsewhere. This naturally sparked whispers among her colleagues.

Scarlett pretended not to hear.

Expressionless, she arrived at the design department's floor. As soon as she entered, she saw Edith. And not just Edith—Sebastian was there too.

Honestly, seeing Sebastian there didn't surprise Scarlett. After his warning last night, he would naturally come to verify her compliance.

"Mr. Howard, Ms. Seymour," Scarlett greeted them without expression.

Hearing her voice, Edith turned dramatically, covering her mouth. "Finally! Where were you last night? You didn't come home—we were so worried!"

Scarlett's eyes held mockery, though her expression remained neutral. "You jest, Ms. Seymour."

Edith frowned slightly. She had been waiting for Scarlett's explanation, but Scarlett offered nothing. How was she supposed to continue?

As she pondered this, her gaze caught a glimpse of red at Scarlett's collar.