Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 71

"No!" Scarlett's face flushed with shame and anger, her teeth clenched tight.

Sebastian pressed closer. "Then what is it?" He pinned her leg with his knee as he knelt on the edge of the armchair, steadily closing the distance between them.

The position made Scarlett's face burn hotter. Feeling his body heat, her palms trembled as she tried to push him away, but he seemed immovable, ignoring her resistance.

"You—!" She turned away from his approaching lips. "Get off!"

Another rejection. Sebastian's eyes darkened as he pressed fully against her.

The armchair restricted her movements, leaving her nowhere to retreat. 

Scarlett deeply regretted wearing a skirt today—the form-fitting garment had already ridden up, making it all too easy for Sebastian to breach her defenses.

"Not here... please," she pleaded, her eyes reddening as shame overcame anger.

"It's fine," Sebastian replied, breathing heavily. He didn't care that the tea room was an open space connecting to the lower floors, where even the slightest sound could be amplified.

Scarlett remained tense, not daring to make any noise. When Sebastian's frenzy finally ended, she went limp with a soft whimper.

But he wasn't finished. Sebastian lifted her into his arms and carried her directly to the bedroom. Before she could process the change, he pressed against her again as she tried frantically to refuse.

However, all her refusals were merely foreplay in his eyes.

When Scarlett woke, Sebastian was helping her drink water. Her throat parched, she drank nearly half the glass before he placed a pill in her mouth.

The bitter taste made her frown. Fully awake now, she tried to spit it out, but the glass pressed against her lips again.

"Take the medicine," Sebastian commanded, his voice deep and husky.

She swallowed reflexively, receiving a gentle caress on her cheek as reward. "Good girl."

Scarlett froze. The room was dark, and Sebastian withdrew his hand after just one touch.

She lay back down, exhausted yet unable to sleep. The bitter taste lingered, making her anxious and cold. Curling up, she bit her lip hard but couldn't stop her tears.

Sebastian returned after putting down the glass. The bed dipped as he moved close to her curled form, unfolded her body with practiced ease, and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

Scarlett steadied her breathing, pretending to be asleep. In the early hours of the morning, her head began to ache. 

Though she finally closed her eyes, the bitter taste returned, making sleep impossible.

---

Adele's arrival at the company was quite a production. Her office was on the upper floor, and a small contingent from the Seymour family came for the occasion—including Edith.

Scarlett was delivering documents to Orion when she encountered Edith in the elevator. They were both heading upstairs.

"Scarlett! What a coincidence," Edith smiled, her voice sickeningly sweet—all because of the man beside her: Sebastian.

Scarlett pretended not to hear, standing motionless outside the elevator with no intention of joining them. Edith seemed satisfied seeing her stay put.

Just as the doors began to close, Sebastian pressed the open button. "Not coming up?"

Edith immediately glared at Scarlett, the warning in her eyes unmistakable.

Scarlett stepped back, her expression composed, her voice steady. "No thank you, Mr. Howard. Please go ahead."

She kept her eyes lowered, silently cursing Sebastian's childishness.

She hadn't slept since taking that pill, staying awake until dawn. At six o'clock, she had gotten up while Sebastian was still asleep, skipped breakfast at the villa, and walked down the mountain to catch a bus to work.

She knew Sebastian would be angry, but what did it matter? She was angry too.

Scarlett waited until the elevator doors closed before looking up. She wasn't angry that Sebastian prevented her from having children—she didn't want them either. After all, wouldn't having a child mean following her mother's path?

What angered her even more was that Sebastian viewed her as a problem yet refused to let go of her.

"Something bothering you?" Orion asked, closing the file in his hands. Although Scarlett appeared normal during her report, her hands fidgeted noticeably.

She started, then shook her head. "No."

"You can speak freely," he smiled, indicating she could relax.

A thought suddenly occurred to her. "Can I skip reporting to Adele and report directly to you instead?"

If anything about Adele joining MRK made Scarlett anxious, it was that her work would have to go through her. With Edith as a precedent, she could almost predict her future career path.

Orion understood the Seymour family situation well. "Of course," he nodded, agreeing almost without hesitation.

"Really?" Scarlett's eyes widened.

Orion smiled but quickly added his condition, "However, if MRK has any contracts with the Howard Group in the future, you'll handle the negotiations."

Hearing this, Scarlett's expression immediately returned to normal. Both the Howard Group and the Seymour family were entities she preferred to avoid, but dealing with Adele seemed the lesser evil.

"Never mind, I'll submit to Adele," she said.

Orion hadn't expected this response and couldn't help but smile wryly. "Is the Howard Group really that frightening? Ms. Seymour, please do me this favor and accept the task!"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Watson," Scarlett's expression turned serious, "but if I must choose, I'd rather face Adele."