Chapter 97
Scarlett never imagined she would one day be sharing a meal with George.
The house where she was staying hadn't been lived in for years and wasn't connected to natural gas, which meant she had to come to the main house to eat with George.
Sebastian wasn't present—he was busy dealing with the mess David had left behind.
George was a man of few words and remained silent throughout the meal.
Only when he was leaving the table did he say, "There's a family dinner tomorrow. Be sure to prepare what you need."
Scarlett nodded in acknowledgment.
After the meal, she returned to Westcourt Garden.
Mark and his team had brought all her belongings, including a few formal dresses she had saved up to buy.
Since George mentioned a family dinner, Scarlett selected one of the more casual formal dresses and handed it to a servant to iron while she left for work.
At this point, news of the Seymour family's downfall hadn't spread. Scarlett was even asked about yesterday's engagement party.
"I've moved out, so I'm not really sure," she replied with a smile.
However, by the time she finished work that evening, the Seymour family scandal had become the talk of the town.
The news that the Howard family planned to take in and care for Scarlett exploded across social media. Within minutes, she received countless congratulatory messages.
Chris called during this time. "Take in and care for you? They've certainly earned themselves some good publicity. You're an adult—why would you need their care?" he complained as soon as the call connected.
Scarlett listened, rubbing her temple helplessly. "Well, it's no loss to me. If anything, it's all benefit and no downside."
Though she was dependent on others now, the Howard family valued their reputation and had already provided substantial financial support.
That afternoon, spending money had been deposited into her account—more money than she had seen in her entire twenty-plus years of life.
Still, Scarlett had no intention of touching those funds. She understood clearly that George had brought her into the Howard Manor to repay his debt to Richard without risking the family's reputation by helping David and the others.
As for Sebastian, she hadn't seen him since they parted in the study.
Scarlett took the elevator down to the first floor, still on the phone reassuring Chris. As soon as she exited the building, she spotted Mark standing nearby.
She hesitated, immediately noticing the Maybach behind him. Without a doubt, Sebastian was inside.
"Do you think this might be one of Sebastian's schemes?" Chris had moved on to conspiracy theories.
Hearing this, Scarlett felt a jolt. She glanced at Sebastian, who had stepped out of the car to smoke, and whispered uncertainly, "That can't be, right?"
Chris frowned. "Whatever. It's not like anything bad will happen. The Howard family has great resources, and having the title of a Howard family lady will make things easier for you."
He seemed to have convinced himself.
Just as he was about to continue, Scarlett interrupted, "He's here to pick me up. Talk later tonight."
By the time she hung up, she had reached the car. People around them recognized the pair and whispered, but quickly moved on without lingering.
"Chris?" Sebastian asked, cigarette in hand.
Scarlett nodded.
Sebastian extinguished his cigarette and got into the car.
Scarlett followed. Her change in status now allowed her to enter this vehicle openly and legitimately.
But when Sebastian leaned in for a kiss, she suddenly remembered the other dimension of their relationship.
The engagement between Sebastian and Edith had been canceled. Their relationship seemed to have reverted to something more straightforward—a simple arrangement of financial support in exchange for companionship.
Scarlett immediately tensed. This realization made her anxious; no matter how she looked at it, she was still in a position that was either hidden or restricted.
Sensing her stiffness, Sebastian frowned and pulled away. "What's wrong?"
For some reason, Chris's words from their phone conversation came to mind. She pressed her lips together, her palm against Sebastian's chest. "Was this deliberate? On your part?"
"What was?" Sebastian asked with interest.
Scarlett glanced at him. "The Seymour family situation."
Sebastian sat up straight. In the front, Mark had already raised the privacy partition, leaving the back seat eerily quiet.
Scarlett grew nervous, her fingers digging into the seat cushion. The leather was slightly firm, but after a moment, she barely noticed its presence.
"Why would I do something like that?" Sebastian's counter-question left Scarlett momentarily speechless.
She hesitated, considering her current circumstances. A strange thought crossed her mind—could it have been for her?
As soon as this idea surfaced, Scarlett suppressed it.
Analyzing the circulating rumors, the Seymour family's downfall had been inevitable. Except for the main branch, the family's moral character was questionable, which explained their decline after the main branch left.
The engagement with the Howard family had undoubtedly fueled the ambitions of the Seymour family members, leading to an increasingly uncontrollable situation.
Scarlett didn't believe Sebastian was involved. After all, such an elaborate scheme would have resulted in nothing more than her moving into the Howard Manor as a nominal Howard family lady—hardly worth the effort. This much, Scarlett understood.
Sebastian tapped his knee and glanced out the window before suddenly asking, "Is your dress ready for the family dinner?"
Lost in thought, Scarlett was startled by the question. She yelped in surprise, then nodded.
"What are you planning to wear?" Sebastian pressed.
The question seemed unusually detailed. Though Scarlett thought this odd, she answered, "That dress I bought abroad."
She owned very few formal dresses, and Sebastian immediately knew which one she meant. His brow furrowed slightly.
Seeing his expression, Scarlett knew he disapproved of her choice. Sure enough, Sebastian spoke up.
"No."
"I've only worn that dress once," Scarlett argued, ready to defend her choice. She really liked that dress and had saved up for months to buy it.
But Sebastian ended the discussion with a single icy sentence. "Do you want people saying the Howard family can't afford proper dresses?"
Scarlett immediately fell silent. The dress hadn't even cost ten thousand dollars—certainly not considered high-end in Sebastian's world.
The car quickly made a U-turn at the next intersection and headed urgently toward a boutique.
---
As they entered the store, staff immediately surrounded them. Scarlett had experienced this scene before, but last time they had flattered Edith. This time, it was her.
"Mr. Howard," a staff member greeted Sebastian first.
Sebastian's expression remained neutral as he nodded in acknowledgment.
Next, the staff addressed her as "Ms. Seymour" and escorted them to the VIP room. The room offered an abundance of tea, drinks, and various pastries.