Let Me Go, Mr. Howard Chapter 79

"Ms. Seymour, what a coincidence." Mark smiled from inside the car.

Scarlett managed a polite smile, her eyes instinctively darting to the back seat, but the partition was raised, concealing whoever sat behind.

The man standing beside Scarlett bowed slightly. "Is that Mr. Howard? It's been a while. Here about the northern district project today?"

Mark's smile faded at the small talk. "Not quite time for that yet."

The man nodded, asking no further questions.

Mark stared at him but addressed Scarlett. "Ms. Seymour, please get in."

Scarlett's heart leapt to her throat, her face tensing. "Mr. Rogers, that's not necessary. I can take a taxi."

"Ms. Edith Seymour is selecting engagement rings and requested your company," Mark said, already out of the car and opening the passenger door. His explanation left Scarlett no grounds for refusal.

Everyone knew Sebastian was engaged to Edith. And Scarlett's status as the Seymour family's illegitimate daughter wasn't a secret either. 

A sister wanting her sibling's company to choose engagement rings, with the future husband offering the sister-in-law a ride—it seemed perfectly normal. 

Scarlett was even relegated to the front passenger seat, not the back.

She wasn't sure if this was Sebastian's excuse to collect her or if it was genuine. Either way, she blinked and forced a smile. "Fine."

The Maybach circled the city hall's curved entrance and drove away.

This was Scarlett's first time in the Maybach's passenger seat. The partition remained up the entire time. As they entered the bustling commercial district, she gripped the door handle nervously.

"Where are we going?"

A sense of foreboding rose within her, making her consider jumping out.

Mark kept his eyes on the road as traffic slowed. "To meet Ms. Edith Seymour."

Despite having anticipated this, Scarlett couldn't help taking a deep breath. "I don't want to go. Let me out!"

Taking advantage of the slow speed, she instinctively pulled the handle. But the doors were locked.

Her dangerous action immediately drew Mark's attention. "Ms. Seymour! Please don't do anything dangerous!"

Scarlett's face tensed. The thought of facing Edith filled her with anxiety and irritation, causing her to unconsciously pick at the leather armrest.

The Maybach finally entered the underground parking garage of a shopping mall.

Scarlett tried to leave the moment she exited the car, but Mark blocked her path. She could only watch helplessly as Sebastian emerged from the back seat.

"Don't break your sister's heart," he said, his eyes shadowed as he looked at her rebellious expression.

His words pierced Scarlett's heart like countless needles. Her lips pressed together, and the fingers holding her purse tingled and trembled slightly.

Heartbreak? Why couldn't he consider that she might be heartbroken too?

"Ms. Seymour, this way please," Mark urged.

Scarlett lowered her eyes and responded softly.

She followed them into the elevator. Sebastian stood in the center while Scarlett, entering second, immediately retreated to the corner without hesitation. Leaning against the handrail, she tried to steady her breathing.

"Seb!"

Scarlett had been moving in a daze until Edith's coquettish call snapped her back to reality.

She raised her eyes, her already dim gaze growing darker.

Edith wore the latest haute couture dress, even her hair clip was adorned with diamonds and emeralds.

 As a designer, Scarlett valued fashion trends and could immediately spot the differences. These were accessories she'd only seen in magazines.

The dazzling reflection from Edith's jewelry made Scarlett frown.

Edith clung to Sebastian's arm, chattering about items she'd spotted while shopping, clearly hinting that she wanted him to pay for them.

"If you like them, buy them. Mark has the card," Sebastian chuckled, apparently receptive to Edith's coquettish behavior.

Scarlett lowered her gaze. She had thought that after the incident at the Seymour Villa, Sebastian might see through Edith's facade of generosity and kindness.

But that was just her imagination. Sebastian hadn't distanced himself from Edith at all. On the contrary, the Howard family had openly declared Edith as Sebastian's future wife.

This announcement had only fueled the Seymour family's tendency to boast, though likely due to warnings from the Howard family, their bragging was confined to family gatherings.

That explained why everyone from the Seymour family except Scarlett had attended Edith's birthday celebration a few days ago. 

Even Adele, who usually resided abroad, had returned—wasn't she just trying to benefit from her sister's advantageous match?

Adele was here today too, originally following behind Edith carrying shopping bags like a personal assistant. Upon seeing Sebastian, she immediately approached to join the conversation.

Unlike his attitude toward Edith, Sebastian showed little interest in Adele, responding to only one out of every five things she said. This cold treatment visibly embarrassed her.

Red-faced and looking for an escape, Adele spotted Scarlett. 

"Scarlett!" she exclaimed, as if seeing a savior. She rushed over, not to ease her own discomfort, but to offload her shopping bags.

"Thank goodness you're here. I can finally take a break." Without waiting for a response, she thrust the bags into Scarlett's arms.

There were too many, and Scarlett couldn't hold them all. Several bags fell to the floor as she struggled to secure the ones in her arms. 

Wearing a professional skirt suit, she bent awkwardly to retrieve the fallen items, inadvertently accentuating her already curvaceous figure.

Passing men couldn't help glancing her way, some even while accompanied by their girlfriends.

Sebastian's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Mark, noticing Sebastian's expression, immediately went to help. "Allow me, Ms. Scarlett Seymour."

He carefully took the shopping bags from her hands.

Finally able to stand upright, Scarlett straightened her posture.

Adele watched, pursing her lips and sniffing. "Mr. Rogers is certainly chivalrous."

She followed this with a laugh, transforming her blatant mockery into teasing.

Mark smiled. "Ms. Adele Seymour, you must be joking. How could I let any of you ladies do the heavy lifting while I'm here?"

Hearing him place her on equal footing with Scarlett, Adele's face darkened slightly. "Not everyone of us is a lady." she muttered.