Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 189: "President Harrison, Long Time No See.
"Dr. Linden, we observed your entire surgery to learn from you. You’re truly brilliant."
The man who hurried over was Director Douglas, the fifty-two-year-old head of cardiac surgery at Sanctum Hospital.
"You’re too kind. I’ve just had a few more years of experience with this type of equipment than you all."
Rory Linden added, "Besides, I recall Celestria recently conducted a remote surgery using this same equipment."
"The complexity of the surgeries isn’t comparable," Director Douglas quickly asked. "When are you heading back?"
"I’m leaving the day after tomorrow. I have other patients scheduled abroad, and I’ve been in Celestria for so long this time that I’m already getting complaints."
"Ah, exceptional doctors are in high demand everywhere," Director Douglas said, his face full of regret. "I was hoping you could stay a few more days, perform another surgery or two for us to learn from."
"It’s alright. There will always be another chance to collaborate."
Rory Linden replied politely.
It was only then that Director Douglas noticed Sean Harrison standing to the side. "President Harrison," he said, "it’s all thanks to Dr. Linden being here that the surgery went so smoothly."
Sean Harrison looked toward Rory Linden, his dark eyes tinged with an unreadable emotion. "Yes... We have her to thank for coming."
Director Douglas continued, "The other day, Director Linden was just saying how wonderful it would be if a young, brilliant talent like Dr. Linden could come work for our hospital. He said you could name your own salary."
In truth, he had come over specifically to convey this message.
Director Linden had also watched part of the surgery earlier.
Rory Linden was just past thirty, an age when many medical residents were still just assistants.
Not only could she lead a surgical team, but she could also perform highly complex procedures all on her own.
It was no exaggeration to call her a genius.
Sean Harrison looked over at her.
"I’m sorry, but I have no such plans at the moment." To prevent the topic from continuing, Rory added, "I have something to discuss with Director Linden, so if you’ll excuse me."
With that, Rory Linden strode away.
Three hours later, Charlotte Rhodes regained consciousness.
Rory Linden observed her vitals and, after confirming there were no issues, prepared to leave.
She exited the hospital room, placed her white lab coat in a designated bag, and left, accompanied by Gregory Linden.
The two had just gotten downstairs when they saw Sean Harrison standing at the entrance.
Gregory Linden had met Leo Linden before.
He’d noticed at first glance the uncanny resemblance between Leo Linden and Sean Harrison.
Now, seeing the man waiting at the hospital entrance, he immediately guessed the situation.
He quickly made an excuse and left.
It was evening by then, and the sunset’s glow filled every corner of the hospital grounds, blanketing the man’s dark trench coat in warm light.
Rory Linden walked up to Sean Harrison. "President Harrison. It’s been a long time."
Their first private meeting in five years.
The greeting was so distant it felt jarring.
They had once been so intimate.
Even their first meeting as adults hadn’t begun with such a detached greeting.
She held her bag in her left hand, and the cool-toned metal ring she wore glinted in the warm light.
Sean Harrison’s gaze fell upon it, and he found the sight jarring.
"It has been a long time." Sean’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he cast about for some innocuous small talk. "Where are you headed? I can give you a ride."
"There’s no need. The hospital arranged a car for me."
Rory Linden pointed to a black luxury van a few yards away.
"I..."
"President Harrison, I honestly never expected we would meet again. Your mother’s surgery is complete. If you have any questions about the procedure, you can ask them now. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way."
Rory’s tone was distant and formal.
It was as if she had forgotten everything that had happened between them.
Everything that had once been was now buried in the past, never to be recalled.
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to feel any resentment.
This was, after all, his own choice.
And he had to accept the consequences.
"You’re leaving the day after tomorrow?" Sean Harrison asked.
Rory Linden nodded.
The air turned awkward for a few seconds before he finally said, "Travel safely."
"Thank you."
Rory Linden walked past him and got directly into the van.
Sean Harrison returned to his car and sat there alone. He lost track of time until his phone, sitting beside him, began to ring incessantly, finally snapping him out of his daze.
"Sean, didn’t we agree to have dinner tonight? If you’re busy, I can make your excuses."
Henry Lancaster’s voice came from the other end of the line.
Sean Harrison collected himself before saying, "I’m on my way now."
The car left Sanctum Hospital and headed straight for the arranged meeting at The Azure Peak Hotel.
He was already late when he arrived, but the banquet still hadn’t started.
All the guests were sitting in the lounge area nearby, chatting.
When Sean Harrison entered, no one showed any displeasure. They all rose to greet him.
After everyone was seated, a server brought over the decanted red wine and went around pouring it for each person.
Sean Harrison sat at the head of the table.
When the server reached him, Henry Lancaster, who was seated next to him, spoke up. "Don’t pour any for him. He quit drinking several years ago."
"It’s fine."
Sean Harrison shifted his wine glass slightly toward the server.
Henry Lancaster was taken aback.
Those two words were all it took for him to know something was wrong!
For the past few years, Sean Harrison had barely touched a drop of alcohol. Even when a major official from Veridia had toasted him, he had only raised his glass and touched it to his lips.
Although President Chandler, the host for the evening, had some status, he was hardly in the same league as Sean Harrison.
Everyone at the table was a prominent figure in Veridia’s business scene, and they all knew Sean Harrison didn’t drink. Seeing this rare exception, they all stood up to offer him a toast.
By the time the dinner ended, the other business owners were stumbling drunk.
Sean Harrison, however, looked no different than when he’d arrived; even his complexion had barely changed.
Henry Lancaster was used to it.
He’d known for years that his friend’s tolerance for alcohol was like a bottomless pit.
He wouldn’t get drunk even if he mixed three different kinds of liquor.
But for him to suddenly want to drink tonight...
’Something is definitely up!’
As they got into the elevator, Henry Lancaster hurried over to Sean Harrison’s side. "Big Bro, how about a round two? It’s been forever since we went out drinking, just us. We should find a spot and really have at it."
Sean Harrison was silent for a moment before giving a quiet, "Mm."
’Henry was now even more certain that something was up!’
The two walked to the hotel entrance, where Henry Lancaster took out his phone. "Hold on, I’ll have my driver bring the car around."
Sean Harrison drove himself these days and rarely used a driver.
Since he’d been drinking tonight, he obviously couldn’t drive.
He looked at the lights of the buildings outside and said, "Isn’t that place we used to go to just across the street? Let’s walk."
"Oh, sure," Henry Lancaster said quickly.
It was March, and the weather was pleasant.
The Azure Peak Hotel was the very hotel Sanctum Hospital had arranged for Rory Linden.
The large plaza in front of the hotel was also lively that evening.
The musical fountain was on, and a few children were running around it.
Henry wasn’t a fan of places crowded with children and couldn’t help but make a face.
Just as the two of them were about to cross the plaza...
A kid on a skateboard came rushing toward them. He didn’t seem to know how to brake and slammed right into Sean Harrison!
"Big Bro, you okay?" Henry Lancaster glanced at the child, then looked around. "Whose kid is this? Why aren’t they watching him?"
"I’m sorry..."
The boy said, struggling to push himself up from the ground.
"Leo!"
Ryan Sterling rushed over on his own skateboard and scooped Leo Linden up.
He then apologized to Sean Harrison and Henry Lancaster. "I’m so sorry. I wasn’t watching him closely. Are you hurt? Do you need to go to the hospital?"
Sean Harrison’s gaze fell on the boy’s face, and he instantly recognized him as the little boy from the hospital who had been playing with the Rubik’s Cube.
