Chapter 2
Scarlett remained expressionless, her face a careful mask.
As she was about to move, a deep voice cut through the tension. "Is the Seymour family too poor to hire servants now?"
Sebastian's gaze swept casually over Edith and Brianna. His tone revealed nothing, yet carried an unmistakable pressure.
He didn't even look at Scarlett, as if merely making an offhand comment.
The smile on Edith's face instantly froze. She never expected Sebastian would speak up for Scarlett!
Brianna nervously wrung her hands, her eyes darting around. "Mr. Howard, you must be joking! Scarlett is just such a thoughtful child—she loves helping around the house."
"Is that so?" Sebastian raised an eyebrow, finally looking up. His gaze bypassed Edith completely, landing directly on Scarlett's face. "I find it rather inappropriate to keep guests waiting while the family's 'daughter' busies herself in the kitchen."
He deliberately emphasized the word "daughter," as if reminding the Seymour family that Scarlett was, at least in name, a daughter of the house.
David quickly intervened, "I wasn't thinking clearly. Scarlett, don't just stand there—come sit down." He turned to Sebastian with a placating smile. "Mr. Howard, please have a seat. Some tea?"
Edith nearly ground her teeth to dust but didn't dare contradict Sebastian. She could only shoot Scarlett a venomous glare.
Scarlett stood rooted to the spot, slightly dazed. Was Sebastian helping her? The realization stirred something strange within her.
This Sebastian, who had controlled and humiliated her in his car just hours ago, was now defending her in the Seymour Villa. What was he thinking?
She looked up at Sebastian, accidentally meeting his gaze. His eyes were deep, like a bottomless, cold lake.
Scarlett's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively looked away. Whatever his motives, this "rescue" only made everything feel more ironic.
Sebastian looked away as David and Brianna eagerly led him to the dining table. The Seymour family gradually took their seats.
Scarlett didn't linger. She silently walked to the table and sat down.
The food arrived quickly. Edith sat beside Sebastian, continuously placing food on his plate, her voice sickeningly sweet. "Seb, try this grilled fish. I had it specially prepared for you."
Sebastian's plate soon overflowed, but he hadn't taken a single bite, occasionally just sipping his tea.
Listening to Edith's voice while watching Sebastian's indifferent demeanor, Scarlett felt anger rising within her.
While maintaining a proper expression, under the table she raised her foot and deliberately brushed against Sebastian's leg—a light touch, but filled with defiance.
Sebastian looked at Scarlett, his deep eyes flashing with interest. This Scarlett was getting bolder. He remained still, allowing her shoe tip to brazenly graze his pant leg.
Edith continued chattering excitedly, completely unaware that her supposed fiancé had mentally checked out, or of the secret interaction between the two.
She was too absorbed in her fantasy of becoming Sebastian's wife, prattling on about their future life together.
"...When we're married, I want to buy a house in the western suburbs. The environment is lovely there, and it's close to Mr. George Howard's home..."
Scarlett found her words painfully ironic. She put down her silverware and wiped her mouth with a napkin. "I'm full. I'll go upstairs now."
Back in her room, she finally exhaled. The attic space was pitifully small with minimal furnishings. She walked to the window, gazing at the garden below, her thoughts in turmoil.
Suddenly, the door opened behind her. Sebastian walked in, closing it behind him.
"What are you doing here?" Scarlett startled, eyeing him warily. "Shouldn't you be with your 'fiancée'?"
Sebastian ignored her question. He walked straight to her, his gaze fixed on the clear handprint on her face, his brows furrowing. "Who hit you?"
His tone was neutral, emotionless, yet it made Scarlett's heart skip a beat. She turned away, her voice laced with mockery. "Who else? Your future mother-in-law, Brianna."
She paused, turning to face him, a challenge flashing in her eyes. "What? Are you going to avenge me, Mr. Howard?"
Sebastian stared at her silently. Seeing his silence, Scarlett suddenly laughed, the sound heavy with self-mockery. "I knew it."
Her words stung Sebastian, his expression darkening. He reached out, wanting to touch the mark on her face, but Scarlett dodged him.
"Don't touch me." Her voice cooled, tinged with resentment. "You don't need to pretend to care."
Sebastian's hand froze midair, his expression hardening. He withdrew his hand and turned toward the door. "Behave yourself." With those words, he left.
Scarlett watched him disappear, her emotions a tangled mess. She thought she'd enjoy seeing him rebuffed, but when he turned to leave, she felt an inexplicable sense of loss.
Soon after, she heard a car engine start below. She went to the window and saw Sebastian's car leaving the Seymour Villa. Surprisingly, he was alone—Edith wasn't with him. Apparently, he truly had no interest in Edith.
As she pondered this, her door was forcefully pushed open. Edith stormed in, her smile long gone, replaced by intense jealousy and resentment.
"You slut! What were you trying to do, making eyes at Sebastian? Trying to climb the social ladder and become his wife? Dream on!"
She stepped closer, her voice dropping to a venomous whisper, "The Howard family wants to marry a Seymour daughter—and that will be me! You're just an unwanted bastard, taken in by the Seymour family only because your shameless mother forced our hand with her suicide! You're just like her—a slut who uses dirty tricks to seduce men!"
At the mention of her mother, Scarlett's face turned pale. She rose abruptly, fixing Edith with an icy stare. "Shut up! Don't you dare talk about my mother like that!"
"I will!" Edith, pleased with her reaction, pushed harder. "Like mother, like daughter! You think being pretty makes you special? Just because Seb glanced at you, you think you have a chance? Let me tell you, when he looks at you, he's only seeing a joke!"
Scarlett clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. Her body trembled, not from fear, but from rage. Yet she knew arguing with Edith was pointless.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down. "Think what you want. Whether I'm a joke or not—you know the truth."
"You—!" Edith was speechless with fury. She raised her hand to strike.
Scarlett, prepared, caught her wrist. "Edith, don't push me." Her eyes were cold, dangerous.
Edith flinched at her gaze, instinctively backing down. But she quickly regained her arrogant demeanor. "You just wait! You'd better behave, or I have a hundred ways to make your life a living hell!"
With that threat, Edith stormed out, slamming the door.
No sooner had she left than Brianna entered. Her face showed none of the fawning she'd displayed in front of Sebastian—only undisguised disgust.
"I've arranged a meeting for you," she said with a smirk, her tone dripping with condescension. "Mr. Campbell—heard of him? His family is in construction materials. Not quite the Howard family, but respectable enough in our circles."
Scarlett looked up at her, her eyes empty of emotion.
"You're not getting any younger. You can't freeload off the Seymour family forever." Brianna's gaze swept over Scarlett's pale face with unconcealed contempt.
"Mr. Campbell has seen your photo and didn't object. I'll take you to meet him. If he likes you, consider yourself lucky—at least you won't be in our way anymore."
So Brianna wanted to marry her off to someone else. Scarlett laughed inwardly but kept her face expressionless. "I won't go."
"What did you say?" Brianna reacted as if she'd heard the most ridiculous joke, her shrill voice nearly piercing. "You dare refuse? Scarlett, don't be ungrateful! Mr. Campbell considering you is your good fortune! Others wouldn't even look at you!"
She stepped closer, lowering her voice, her words venomous, "Let me make this clear—you don't have a choice in this matter! If you're smart, you'll come meet him and get married. Everyone wins. But if you dare ruin this, I have ways to make sure you can't stay in the Seymour family!"