Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 68

For the past five minutes, Scarlett had been sitting in Sebastian's room, watching him ignore the document folder she'd handed over four minutes ago. It still sat untouched on the coffee table in front of him.

On the television played some ancient black-and-white film with actors speaking in crisp, rolling accents—no subtitles. 

Unable to understand Seraphim's language, Scarlett found herself fighting to stay awake after less than ten minutes.

"Mr. Howard, why don't you look at the documents and sign them if everything's in order?" she finally said, her first words since entering the room.

Sebastian glanced over but didn't respond. He simply patted the space beside him. "Sit here."

Too tired to argue, Scarlett decided to just do what he asked. She moved to the spot he indicated, sat down, and repeated her request. This time, Sebastian finally signed the document.

Relief washed over her. "Thank you, Mr. Howard," she said, clutching the folder and preparing to leave.

Sebastian leaned forward, placing his empty glass on the coffee table with a sharp click. "Where are you going?"

"Downstairs. I'm staying—"

"From now on, you're staying on the third floor," he interrupted coldly. When he saw her stunned expression, he emphasized, "With me."

Only then did Scarlett realize that when Sebastian had said she would move back to Windchime Villa, he hadn't simply meant returning to the property—he'd meant this.

Her eyes widened. Living in the same villa but on different floors, she could at least pretend they were just housemates. 

After all, Windchime Villa covered over 10,000 square feet, and with their busy schedules, their paths would rarely cross. That would feel like co-living.

But sharing a room with Sebastian? There was no way she could convince herself they were just housemates.

"That's not what you said originally," she pressed her lips together, just short of accusing him of changing the rules.

Sebastian smiled, reaching for his cigarettes. He tapped one against his knee, lit it, and spoke with playful amusement. "Is that so? Then what did I say?"

Scarlett had never seen this side of Sebastian before. His voice was naturally appealing and his features undeniably handsome, but he was usually ice-cold—a frozen face with a frigid voice. 

Now he was smiling, the corners of his eyes slightly curved, reflecting the room's light. His lips held the cigarette, exhaling smoke that momentarily obscured her view.

Even through the haze, Scarlett couldn't help but search for his eyes. She stared, entranced, and unconsciously swallowed.

The sound was too obvious in the quiet room, and Scarlett blushed.

Sebastian gave another soft laugh, took a drag, and slowly stood up. He blew smoke toward her, then walked through the haze. 

The smile had disappeared from his face, but Scarlett still found herself lost in his amber eyes.

Those eyes brought her back to their first meeting. Back then, the Seymour family wasn't yet under David's control. Richard was still in good health and frequently invited the Howard family over for gatherings.

Sebastian rarely attended these events. As the eldest grandson, he clearly had more important responsibilities. 

But Scarlett remembered how gentle he'd been in that gazebo, their foreheads touching. 

Sunlight streamed in from all sides, landing on Sebastian's eyes and making them sparkle brilliantly—too beautiful to forget.

This was why, during those difficult times, Scarlett had clung to Sebastian, hoping he would lead her out of her suffering. 

Who could have imagined that more than ten years later, he would transform from a gentle young man into someone cold who even joined the Seymour family in bullying her?

Lost in thought, Scarlett was about to turn away when Sebastian caught her chin.

"What did I say?" he repeated the question, his voice deepening as he noticed her distraction.

The change in his tone made her heart ache. She blinked, took a deep breath, and said, "You only said I should move back to Windchime Villa." Her voice grew weaker toward the end, clearly lacking confidence.

Sebastian released her. "You signed the papers. No backing out now."

In the end, all of Scarlett's belongings from the second floor had been moved to the third. There were even new clothes and outfits among them. Sebastian had clearly prepared in advance.

Although this wasn't her first time sharing a bed with him, Scarlett couldn't sleep. 

She couldn't understand Sebastian anymore. He was clearly about to marry Edith, yet he was forcing her to live with him.

Could he be planning to keep her as a secret mistress? The realization immediately popped into her mind, bringing with it uncomfortable connotations. 

She frowned, lying on her side, wanting to move away from him, but his large hand firmly held her waist, preventing her from moving.

Scarlett didn't want to be a kept woman—wouldn't that mean following in her mother's footsteps? 

Although her cousin Michael had once denied that her mother was a mistress, there was no evidence to support this claim. Looking back, that statement might have just been Michael's way of comforting her.

She sighed softly. "I wonder how Michael is doing."

She hadn't heard any news about him since that accident ten years ago. David probably knew something, but he kept that information tightly guarded, not even allowing Michael's name to be mentioned at the Seymour Villa.

If there was one thing Scarlett didn't want to become, it was her mother. This thought didn't mean she disliked her mother—quite the opposite; she had a natural attachment to her. 

She simply didn't want to follow the same path.

And to accomplish that, she first needed to completely break away from Sebastian!