Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 42

Scarlett froze at Sebastian's gesture, momentarily unable to move. He sat with his hand resting on his thigh, eyes fixed on her motionless form.

After studying his expression, Scarlett blinked, pressed her lips together, and released a soft sigh before finally approaching him. Standing before Sebastian, she glanced briefly at his thighs, then tilted her head innocently.

"What is it?" she asked, pretending not to understand his meaning.

Sebastian raised his head slightly, his gaze traveling slowly up her body. His stare was so intensely possessive that Scarlett instinctively crossed her arms for protection.

Seeing this defensive gesture, Sebastian frowned. Without warning, he pulled her into his lap. Before she could protest, his fingers caught the edge of her silk scarf and lifted it, revealing the flimsy dress underneath. He leaned down for a closer look, his expression darkening by the second.

Scarlett bit her lip hard, humiliated and angry. When she noticed Sebastian's face, she let out a cold snort.

"This is all your wonderful fiancée and future mother-in-law's doing," she said, her tone icy and mocking.

Sebastian looked up at her words, leaning back slightly while his hand gently stroked her spine. "Is that so?"

His seemingly indifferent attitude made Scarlett's face harden and her heart sink.

"What? You're going to pretend nothing happened? Everyone knows what went on tonight." 

She couldn't help thinking about what she'd heard earlier—apparently Sebastian had mentioned she was a Howard Group employee, clearly trying to distance himself from her.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "So you're going to alienate the Seymour family?"

"What do you mean?" Scarlett whipped her head around to look at him.

"Be patient. Cutting ties with the Seymour family won't benefit you," Sebastian said lightly, though his eyes were intense. "If things get—"

Before he could finish, Scarlett struggled to get up from his lap.

"Sebastian! Don't you dare!" Disregarding everything else, she pointed at his nose in fury. "Don't you know what Brianna did? Edith bullies me and you pretend not to see. Now they're conspiring to ruin my reputation, and you're telling me to be patient?"

Her voice rose as she continued, "Yes, I've been with you for five years. I'm your kept woman! But I'm not a lamb for slaughter! Do you have any heart left? Five years I've been with you! Had I known you'd be like this, I would have been better off with someone else!"

Scarlett was too angry to filter her words, blurting out everything at once.

Sebastian had been listening quietly until her final sentence. His expression suddenly changed, and he couldn't remain seated. He stood up, moving closer to her.

"Someone else?" His voice was low, his brows tightly knit, the words forced through clenched teeth.

"That's none of your business! Anyone but you!" Scarlett lifted her chin defiantly.

"You wouldn't dare!" Sebastian grabbed her arm, his eyes wide.

Still fuming, Scarlett wasn't intimidated. She struggled to get away from him. "Why wouldn't I dare? Even Orion Watson would be better than you!"

Orion was Sovereign City's notorious playboy, nearly as famous as Sebastian, though one was a business prodigy and the other a wealthy libertine. 

Despite his reputation as a womanizer, the women who had been with him spoke surprisingly well of him. Orion treated his former lovers well, helping them when they were in trouble, without asking for anything in return.

When Sebastian heard this name, his already grim face darkened like the bottom of a pot.

"Fine, fine, fine," he practically ground out through his teeth.

Hearing his tone, Scarlett felt a chill run from the base of her spine to the top of her head. Her anger dissipated instantly as she realized what she had just said.

"I—" Scarlett immediately tried to backtrack, but Sebastian, in his rage, wouldn't listen. He grabbed her and threw her onto the bed.

"Someone else, huh?" Sebastian's face was dark as he knelt on the edge of the bed, removing his tie and advancing on Scarlett, who kept backing away.

Scarlett wanted to say no, but thinking of how Sebastian was allowed to have other women while she wasn't, she felt a surge of resentment. 

She turned her head away, angry at his dominance and even more frustrated at her own submission to him.

"Talk to me," he demanded, gripping her chin and forcing her to look at him.

Scarlett remained stubborn, biting her lip hard, refusing to give in.

As they remained at this impasse, a sudden phone ringtone made the atmosphere even more tense.

"Your phone," Scarlett said coldly, glancing at the nightstand.

Sebastian didn't move.

"Aren't you afraid it might be your fiancée?" she taunted.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes but after a few more seconds, he moved to answer the phone. Scarlett watched him, her heart aching. Even in this situation, he would still prioritize Edith's call.

However, Sebastian's expression changed the moment he looked at the screen.

"Grandfather," he answered, his face turning serious as he stood up.

Hearing this, Scarlett immediately pressed her lips together, not daring to make a sound.

"Yes." Sebastian listened, glancing at her with a slight frown before looking away and massaging his temples. "Understood. I'll be right back."

After ending the call, Sebastian retied his necktie and gathered his things. Before leaving, he turned back to look at Scarlett, who was staring at him.

"Behave yourself. Don't cause any problems." As she opened her mouth to speak, he cut her off. "As for those other men you're thinking about—they don't exist."

The implication was clear: no one else would want her except him.

Scarlett took a deep breath, biting down hard to keep from crying. The moment the door closed behind him, the room fell silent—but only for a second. She grabbed the pillow beside her and hurled it at the door.

"Bastard!"

---

At the Howard Manor, the butler approached Sebastian the moment he entered.

"Mr. Howard," he greeted respectfully.

Sebastian grunted in acknowledgment. "Where is my grandfather?"

"Mr. George Howard is waiting for you in the study."

Sebastian nodded and walked directly toward the study. As soon as he entered, George Howard greeted him with a sharp slap across the face!

"You fool!"