Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 197: "Is That Uncle My Dad?
Chloe Chandler, who was standing to the side, recognized Sean Harrison.
She had only ever seen such a big shot on television and in the news.
She never expected to see him in person today.
’What’s even more surprising is that this Rory Linden woman actually knows Sean Harrison?’
Chloe only knew Rory Linden as a friend of Sherry Walsh. Sherry’s father was a lawyer, a bit more prominent than her own, but still not in the same league as Sean Harrison.
’This plainly dressed woman, who only buys her son clothes that cost a few hundred yuan, actually knows Sean Harrison?’
Sean Harrison leaned forward slightly, his gaze passing over Rory Linden to land on Leo Linden behind her.
"He is..."
As he spoke, the man’s eyes were fixed on Leo Linden’s face.
’This was the first time he’d gotten a good look at his son’s face.’
’Back in the plaza, when Henry Lancaster said Leo looked like him, he hadn’t really seen it.’
’But looking at him now...’
’He really does look a little like me.’
’But his eyes are more like Rory Linden’s.’
Rory Linden was in a completely different state of mind from Sean Harrison.
She wasn’t sure if Henry Lancaster had told Sean Harrison everything, and a sense of despair began to creep in.
"Lawyer Chandler, could I trouble you to take Leo outside and wait for a bit? I’ll come find you in a moment."
Rory was afraid of a confrontation with Sean Harrison.
To keep Leo from seeing it, she had no choice but to ask for Chloe’s help.
Chloe didn’t want to leave, but she felt it would be inappropriate to insist on staying, so she had no choice but to comply.
At that moment, Leo was still wearing the outfit from the store.
Seeing this, the sales clerk quickly asked, "Are you taking the clothes he’s wearing?"
"We’ll take them." Rory Linden walked to the counter, pulling out her phone. "How much? I’m paying."
The clerk rang it up, stating the prices for the shirt and pants before giving the total. "That’ll be 398 yuan."
Rory pulled up her payment QR code and was about to pay when a hand suddenly reached over and pressed down on her phone’s screen.
The next moment, the man tapped his own phone against the payment terminal.
BEEP.
Payment successful.
The whole sequence of events happened so fast that Rory Linden had no time to react.
She hadn’t even noticed when Sean Harrison had moved to her side!
"President Harrison!" Rory glanced at the sales clerk, swallowing the words she wanted to say. "I’ll pay you back in a moment."
The clerk placed Leo’s old clothes in one of the store’s bags and handed it to Rory.
The two of them walked out of the children’s clothing store.
"President Harrison, that boy is my son. It’s only natural that I pay for his things." Rory pulled out her phone. "Could you please show me your payment QR code?"
Sean Harrison stood his ground, not moving.
He didn’t take out his phone or say a word.
He simply looked down at Rory, his dark, ink-black eyes carefully tracing her features.
He hadn’t had a proper look at her in five years.
’She looked...’
’exactly the same as he remembered.’
’Except the weight she held in his heart felt heavier now. So heavy that just looking at her, he couldn’t bear to look away.’
He had so much to say to her.
But he didn’t know how to begin.
He was the one who had been so decisive in ending things.
Rory couldn’t bear his gaze any longer and finally relented. "Fine. Thank you for the gift for my son, President Harrison. I won’t be returning the favor."
She turned to leave, but Sean Harrison grabbed her wrist. "Rory Linden, don’t you have anything you want to say to me?"
’Rory knew this was what he wanted to ask.’
’He wanted to ask about Leo.’
"President Harrison, Leo Linden is my son. I can’t tell you who his father is. All I can tell you is that I gave birth to him alone while I was abroad, and I’ve sacrificed so much to raise him."
Rory looked up, meeting the man’s eyes. "If anyone ever tries to take him away from me, I’ll fight to the death to get him back."
In saying this, she had essentially answered his question. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
She was terrified the man would try to take the child from her.
Because she had no chance of winning.
"I’m sorry, I..."
"President Harrison, two months ago you said you wouldn’t bother me again. I hope you can keep your word."
Rory struggled, trying to pull free from his grip.
Sean Harrison didn’t want to let go, but after a moment’s hesitation, he released her.
Rory quietly looked at Sean Harrison. "President Harrison, thank you for your concern. I’m doing very well now. I’ve heard that your status is far beyond what it once was. I think how things are now is for the best—for both of us."
"I didn’t know you were pregnant."
For the first time in his life, Sean Harrison felt so completely powerless over a situation.
"President Harrison, my son really has nothing to do with you."
Rory emphasized once more.
While they were talking, Chloe Chandler and Leo Linden were standing just around a corner.
After watching their tense exchange, Chloe squatted down to ask Leo, "Is that Sean Harrison guy your dad?"
Leo didn’t say a word, just quickly shook his head.
Chloe asked again, "So... have you ever met your dad?"
Leo shook his head again.
Chloe studied Leo carefully, then glanced back at Sean Harrison, who was about a dozen meters away.
She asked, "Do you know who that man over there is? The one who looks so much like you?"
Leo still just shook his head.
"His name is Sean Harrison. He’s worth hundreds of billions, he’s handsome, and he’s single. If you were his son, your mom would never have to work hard again and would have more money than she could ever spend."
Chloe looked at Leo closely again. "With those looks, there’s an eighty percent chance you’re his illegitimate son."
Leo finally spoke up. "What’s an illegitimate son?"
Chloe wasn’t one to think before she spoke. She said bluntly, "An illegitimate son is when a child is born but the parents aren’t married. Normally, a child born after your mom and dad get married is called a legitimate child. But since they weren’t married when you were born, that makes you an illegitimate child. But don’t worry, illegitimate children still have inheritance rights."
’From a certain point of view, she was truly envious of Leo.’
’Imagine having a dad like Sean Harrison.’
Leo didn’t understand what she meant.
He was tilting his head, still pondering her words, when Rory walked over.
"Thank you, Lawyer Chandler."
Rory thanked Chloe first.
Leo took her hand, tilted his head up, and said with a serious expression, "Mommy, that lady said I’m that man’s illegitimate son."
"Ah! No, that’s not it." Chloe hadn’t expected the kid to tattle on her immediately. "Ms. Linden, please don’t misunderstand. I was just talking off the top of my head. It’s just that everyone in Celestria knows President Harrison has never been married."
In truth, Leo didn’t really understand what "illegitimate son" meant.
To him, it was just an ordinary phrase, neither good nor bad.
"It’s all right," Rory said. "I’ll explain it to him when we get home."
After saying this, Rory bent down and picked up her son.
Leo wrapped his short arms around her neck and asked earnestly, "Mommy, then... is that man my daddy?"
