Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 55

Orion spoke with casual mockery, his eyes meeting Edith's like a cat toying with a mouse. Under that predatory gaze, she felt a chill crawl up her spine.

George frowned and turned toward her. 

"Mr. George Howard, I didn't..." Edith immediately put on a pitiful expression, but before George could respond, Orion interrupted with a grin.

"I think the media would love this headline: 'Sebastian's future wife jealous of step-sister, collaborates with Howard Group employees to bully her.' How does that sound, Mr. George Howard?" As he spoke, he scrolled through his phone with mischievous delight.

George's face darkened while Sebastian remained expressionless, his eyes drifting toward Orion with unreadable intent.

"Would you like to see? It's absolutely authentic." Orion, clearly enjoying the chaos, stood up with his phone and approached George. 

The security personnel moved to intercept him, but Orion—having grown up around such guards—handed over his phone without hesitation.

George took it, expecting childish pranks. But as he scrolled, his movements slowed, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes.

Edith's face turned ghastly as she watched George's expression, trying to inch backward in a futile attempt at escape that didn't go unnoticed. No one dared laugh, but everyone's expression had turned grave.

Scarlett didn't know exactly what evidence Orion had presented, but judging by George's darkening expression, it must have been damning.

Those minutes felt like an eternity in hell for Edith, her body tensed to breaking point, wanting to flee but unable to move.

When George finished, his naturally imposing face, now contorted with anger, terrified the Seymour family into silence. 

"Take a look. Did these messages really circulate in the company?" He tossed the phone to Sebastian.

Sebastian caught it and gave it only a cursory glance, acknowledging with a slight sound. He seemed completely indifferent to its contents, taking less than thirty seconds before returning the phone.

Watching this, Scarlett's expression fell. Was her suffering so insignificant?

George shot a cold glance at Edith, who wilted under his glare. "Is this how you were raised?"

"Mr. George Howard, I—" she called out tearfully, but George had no patience for her. He took a deep breath and turned to Orion. 

"This cannot be posted online." His tone brooked no refusal, carrying compressed anger, frustrated yet with no alternative.

Orion glanced at Sebastian. Their gazes met with an inscrutable light that vanished as quickly as their exchange.

"Look how scared you are. Why would I release something like this?" Orion was surprisingly accommodating, which only made George more suspicious. 

The Watson family was notorious for their vicious bites—would they really give up so easily?

As George cast a dubious look at him, Orion spoke again. "What do you think about that project in the south of the city?" 

The Howard Group had been eyeing that billion-dollar development project, with bid documents reportedly ready for submission.

George's face immediately darkened. That project was worth a billion dollars—hardly comparable to this trivial matter.

"Mr. Watson, don't be greedy," Sebastian interjected before George could respond. "Your MRK can't handle a project of this scale."

Rejected, Orion didn't seem upset. He just smiled and spread his hands. "Then what can you give me?"

Sebastian's gaze swept toward Scarlett, his voice distant. "Since you're standing up for her, why not let her choose?"

Scarlett was startled, not expecting to be dragged back into this, though it made sense—Orion had come seemingly to defend her. Suddenly, all eyes were on her.

George looked at her too. Though displeased, he thought this girl wouldn't ask for multi-million-dollar projects. With a slight nod, he signaled his agreement.

"Alright, Scarlett, what compensation do you want?" Orion asked with a light smile.

The question genuinely stumped her. Her material desires had always been modest, and her current life was adequate. If there was anything she wanted...

Scarlett frowned, thinking of her mother's gemstone. She glanced at David, a look that made him inwardly shudder.

"I want my mother's gemstone back—the one Edith smashed." Her voice was calm as she stared directly at Edith, bypassing George.

Edith gritted her teeth, furious that Scarlett was still setting traps for her, but she had no right to be angry now. She could only endure it.

George glanced at Edith, his expression neutral. He was satisfied with Scarlett's modest request. "Where is the gemstone?"

With George's directive, they had to comply. David reluctantly instructed a servant to retrieve the gemstone fragments from his room.

Scarlett took them carefully, counting the pieces and gently fitting them together. The crescent shape was still discernible. She nodded with a smile. "This is it."

Seeing this, George turned to Orion. "Any other issues?"

Orion deleted the data from his phone and waved it. "Nothing."

Scarlett wrapped the fragments in a tissue and placed them in her bag as if they were precious treasure.

The incident was now over. George had no desire to remain at the Seymour Villa any longer. He snorted and stood up, with Sebastian supporting him.

"Mr. George Howard," David followed, calling out obsequiously. George didn't even look at him, pretending not to hear, and Sebastian did the same. 

Even without a response, David accompanied them step by step to the door.

As for Brianna and Edith, after failing to catch up with them, they turned back, only to run into Scarlett and her group coming out. Now they had somewhere to vent their bottled-up anger.