Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 36

Scarlett had no idea what Sebastian was thinking. When she saw him looking at her, she immediately lifted her chin—defiant and beautiful.

Sebastian observed her gesture, his gaze lingering briefly on her neck. 

"Enough. There should be limits to your tantrums." He waved his hand dismissively, maintaining his usual detached demeanor. His tone conveyed no attempt at comfort, only a hint of weariness.

Scarlett couldn't help but laugh coldly. But Sebastian's next words froze the expression on her face.

"After the wedding, I'll give you a revival plan for Starlight Show."

The words landed like an unexpected pebble in the still pond of Scarlett's heart, sending ripples in all directions. She was instantly stunned, blinking rapidly but unable to stop the heat and ache rising within her.

Seeing Scarlett's stunned expression, her face caught between crying and not crying, Sebastian smiled slightly, his eyes revealing a knowing confidence. "What do you think?"

Scarlett finally snapped out of her daze and looked up to see Sebastian's smiling eyes. She had thought she would feel grateful, perhaps even happy enough to forget all her past suffering, believing that Sebastian still cared for her.

But it wasn't like that at all.

Looking into Sebastian's eyes, Scarlett understood with perfect clarity that this was merely a delaying tactic. 

He knew exactly how much Starlight Show meant to her, just as David knew how much her mother's jewels meant to her. Both men were using what she valued as leverage to control her.

They were both disgusting.

Scarlett lowered her head and took a deep breath. 

Her prolonged silence made Sebastian think she was considering his offer. He tapped the armrest lightly, speaking in a pleased tone, "No rush. Take your time to think about it."

Just when Sebastian thought the conversation would end perfectly, Scarlett spoke with forced composure. "I'm sorry, Mr. Howard, but Starlight Show will not continue."

His eyes widened slightly as he looked at her, meeting Scarlett's wet gaze. 

Scarlett continued, smiling even as her red, moist eyes betrayed her true feelings. "Starlight Show is gone. Creating another version would just be self-deception—completely meaningless."

She wiped away her tears and looked up at Sebastian mockingly. "Don't you agree, my dear brother-in-law?"

Sebastian's face immediately hardened, but he quickly composed himself, exhaling deeply. His voice was low and deliberate. "Scarlett, I'm the only person you can rely on. Don't be spoiled."

Spoiled? Just hearing that word made Scarlett feel the irony. She thought the term would be far more fitting for Edith.

After this exchange, both fell silent. A moment later, Sebastian stood up and began unbuttoning his shirt. "Get some rest."

Scarlett turned her head away, wishing he would leave, but it was clear he had no intention of following her wishes. She got up and returned the items she had been sorting to her suitcase.

When Scarlett emerged from the bathroom after washing up, Sebastian was leaning against the headboard, looking through her photo album. Seeing this, she immediately widened her eyes and rushed forward to snatch it from his hands.

Sebastian had been absorbed in the photos, and when the album suddenly disappeared from his hands, he raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at the fuming Scarlett. 

"Who said you could touch my things?" she demanded.

In her anger, Scarlett didn't notice Sebastian's raised eyebrow. She was too busy checking the album. 

It was open to a birthday page, showing a young Scarlett making a peace sign, cream on the corner of her mouth, wearing a perfectly positioned birthday hat.

Without much thought, anyone could tell who had arranged the scene in the photo and who had taken it. 

Looking at the image, she pressed her lips together, nostalgia intensifying in her eyes. After a brief moment, Scarlett closed the album and carefully placed it back in her suitcase.

"Michael was quite fond of you," Sebastian remarked casually from behind her.

Scarlett didn't respond. She didn't want to discuss Michael with Sebastian. In her view, someone who associated with Edith had no right to even mention Michael's name. 

Having put away the album, she finally turned to Sebastian.

"Don't you know that one shouldn't touch other people's belongings without permission?"

Sebastian laughed, though it was from anger. "Are you 'other people' to me?"

Scarlett's face darkened as she pressed her lips together. "Yes. I'm just your little canary, not someone who matters."

She was furious—frustrated by Sebastian's attitude toward her, and even more frustrated that after five years with him, she remained hidden from public view, wanting to leave but unable to.

With these thoughts, Scarlett climbed into bed, deliberately curling up on the edge, looking pitiful. But the moment she lay down, she felt even more wronged. 

This was a room she had paid for—why should she be the one feeling uncomfortable!

Before Scarlett could reclaim her rightful space in the large bed, a large hand pressed against her waist.

"You—" Before she could speak, the owner of that hand pulled her into his arms.

"What are you doing? I don't want this!" Scarlett thought Sebastian was trying to initiate something and immediately pushed back against him.

But Sebastian only lightly patted her bottom. "Sleep." After that, there were no further movements.

Scarlett, however, remained anxiously awake until midnight, only closing her eyes to sleep after confirming that nothing else would happen.

Meanwhile, back at the Seymour Villa, Edith grew increasingly uneasy as she replayed the day's events. When she had entered the lounge earlier, the interaction between those two had seemed excessively intimate.

Edith couldn't help but think back to Sebastian's first visit to the Seymour Villa. On that occasion, though it must have been his first time meeting Scarlett, he had still stood up for her. 

Perhaps he had taken an interest in Scarlett from that moment?

This thought immediately made Edith anxious. She couldn't sit still and rose from the rocking chair, biting her fingernails as she paced back and forth.

It was only natural that Sebastian would be drawn to Scarlett—she was undeniably beautiful. Add to that her relationship with Michael... Back when Michael hadn't yet become vegetative, he had shown great concern for Scarlett. 

If Sebastian knew how much Michael had cared for her, he might develop a desire to look after her on Michael's behalf.

And that kind of "looking after" could easily lead straight to the bedroom! The more Edith thought, the more anxious she became, nearly on the verge of tears.

Just then, Brianna came looking for Edith.

"Mom!" Seeing Brianna, Edith immediately rushed forward tearfully, clinging to her arm and acting like a spoiled child. 

Brianna had been in a good mood, having not seen Scarlett for several days. But seeing her daughter in this state, she immediately became concerned.

"What's wrong?"

Edith recounted everything that had happened that day. 

After listening, Brianna was both alarmed and angry. "That scheming girl! I wondered why she's been so well-behaved lately—so this was her plan all along!"

She rolled her eyes thoughtfully, then whispered in Edith's ear while patting the back of her hand. 

Hearing Brianna's words, Edith gradually broke into a smile. "That's a perfect plan. This time, we'll make sure that Scarlett is completely ruined!"