Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 43

Sebastian's face turned from the force of the slap, but his expression remained unchanged. He quickly faced the angry old man again and said calmly, "Grandfather."

George, seeing his grandson's composed demeanor, felt his anger subside slightly. "So now you remember your position?"

Sebastian's expression remained neutral as he lowered his eyes without responding.

"You must be bewitched by that illegitimate girl to speak up for her!" George continued. "Do you have any idea what the Seymour family now faces? My old friend called to tell me directly that my chosen daughter-in-law's family lacks dignity!"

Sebastian kept his gaze lowered. "Scarlett does work at the Howard Group, and her ability is exceptional. Grandfather, you can verify this by checking the design department's reports from previous years."

George had never paid much attention to Scarlett, but he knew Sebastian wouldn't joke about such matters, so it was likely true. 

Still, thinking about the criticism the Seymour family was facing made his chest tighten with frustration.

"Didn't you hear what people were saying about ourr family? You could clear that illegitimate girl's name, yet you watched Brianna get slandered?"

Sebastian looked up, meeting George's eyes directly. "Do you really believe that Brianna had nothing to do with this?"

Any clear-sighted person could see what had actually happened. 

George certainly understood, but with the relationship between the families and the approaching wedding date, he didn't want to create problems. 

The Seymour family had become increasingly presumptuous since the engagement announcement. Sebastian's deliberate indifference tonight was likely meant as a warning to them.

Realizing this, much of George's anger dissipated. He waved his hand dismissively. "Fine. Your wedding date is approaching anyway. It's not a major issue. Tomorrow I'll send someone to the Seymour Villa to have a word with them."

Sebastian acknowledged with a sound of agreement but said nothing more. 

George was long accustomed to it. His grandson had always been this way—quiet and reserved.

After speaking, George paced around the study before suddenly remembering something important. He lifted his gaze, his slightly clouded eyes fixed intently on Sebastian.

"There's nothing between you and that illegitimate girl, is there?"

Sebastian met his gaze directly, his eyes honest but his tone contemptuous. "You said it—she's nothing but a illegitimate girl.."

Hearing this, George nodded. "Good that you understand. I'll let it go this time, but stay away from her in the future. Don't give people anything to use against you."

"Understood," Sebastian nodded.

"For the yacht business conference in three days, take Edith with you," George added. 

The conference would be attended by elite families and financial powers from various countries. George's intention in having Edith appear was clear.

Yet Sebastian raised no objection.

---

The next day, Scarlett arrived at the company as usual. The moment she stepped into the design department, she immediately felt everyone's eyes on her.

She was accustomed to being stared at, but today's gazes were different—more hostile than the usual disdain and dismissiveness.

Feeling irritated by the attention, Scarlett frowned and headed toward her office, only to find her way blocked.

"What are you doing?" she demanded, looking up angrily.

The person blocking her was Leila Myers, the department's chief designer. Despite her title, Leila had obtained the position through connections rather than skill. 

Scarlett had rejected several of her design proposals, creating significant friction between them.

Faced with Scarlett's question, Leila snorted derisively. "This isn't your place anymore. That's where you belong now." She pointed dramatically toward another area, showing off her freshly done nails.

Scarlett looked where she indicated. The workstation was near the door, right next to the printer—not terrible, but certainly not desirable. She turned back after a glance. "Says who?"

She'd received no notification of any reassignment. This arrangement made no sense.

"Orders from above, of course," Leila replied. "Someone like you who only cares about personal gain and would even use your own family—Mr. Howard didn't fire you only because he's showing leniency for the Seymour family's sake!"

Scarlett frowned, but before she could respond, Edith emerged from what should have been her office.

"Scarlett, I'm so sorry, but this office is mine now," Edith said with a curved smile, covering her mouth. "That's what happens when you behave the way you did last night, angering even Mr. George Howard."

Hearing this, Scarlett immediately thought of the phone call Sebastian had received the night before, but still didn't understand what Edith meant.

"What did I do?"

Seeing her innocent act, Leila couldn't take it anymore. She snorted and shoved Scarlett. "Stop pretending! You dressed like that and then blamed Mrs. Seymour! Having an illegitimate daughter like you is the Seymour family's disgrace!"

Caught off guard by the push, Scarlett was initially angry, but Leila's words left her stunned. "What did you say?"

She immediately looked at Edith, who raised her eyebrows triumphantly.

"Still don't get it? Your little performance last night was seen through by the Howard family. Did you really think you were the victim? You even tried to manipulate Mr. Howard. Should I call you bold or just stupid?"

Leila pulled out her phone and enlarged the announcement the Howard Group had released that morning, pointing things out to Scarlett.

Scarlett quickly scanned the text, her heart freezing as a wave of cold dread washed over her. 

According to the Howard Group's statement, everything that happened at last night's banquet had been orchestrated by her, including her later modification of the dress using silk scarves, which was supposedly pre-planned.

Brianna, meanwhile, was portrayed as a caring stepmother who had her stepdaughter's best interests at heart. The statement claimed Scarlett had exploited this to have Brianna parade her around the banquet hall.

"Scarlett, I know you've lacked security since childhood and are desperate to marry into wealth," Edith said tearfully beside her, "but in our circles, status matters. Mother will find you a suitable match—you shouldn't be so impatient."

But Scarlett's mind couldn't process it all. Her eyes remained fixed on the Howard Group's profile picture that had posted the announcement. Her hands and feet grew cold, and she nearly lost her balance.

"Mr. Howard." Someone called out nearby.

Scarlett immediately looked up to see Sebastian entering. His gaze lingered on her for just a moment before he walked past her toward Edith.

"Seb." Edith immediately took his arm.

Scarlett licked her lips, too preoccupied to care about Edith's deliberate display of intimacy. Her eyes remained fixed on Sebastian.

"What does that announcement mean?" she asked.