Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 201: Uncle?

Rory Linden patiently comforted Leo Linden, then took him to buy a new ice cream bar.

The entire time, Ryan Sterling followed behind, carrying the two skateboards, not daring to say a word.

Rory Linden unwrapped the ice cream bar and handed it to Leo Linden.

She looked up and asked Ryan Sterling, "Mr. Sterling, have you had dinner?"

"Huh? I... I’m fine. I have some instant noodles at home for later."

Ryan Sterling was still upset about what had just happened, so when Rory Linden spoke to him, he was completely caught off guard.

"Perfect, I haven’t had dinner either. What would you like? It’s my treat."

It was a sincere invitation from Rory Linden.

Ryan Sterling quickly replied, "Why don’t I treat you instead? Um... I wasn’t watching him closely enough just now, and I let him fall."

Before Rory Linden could even open her mouth, Leo Linden spoke up. "That’s not it. I fell all by myself."

"See? Even Leo knows what happened."

Rory Linden said earnestly, "You’ve been a huge help. It’s only right that I treat you to dinner." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

Ryan Sterling couldn’t decide what he wanted to eat.

Rory Linden checked her phone. "A lot of restaurants are closed by now. Let’s go to Haidilao."

"Isn’t that... a little expensive?"

Ryan Sterling had no idea what Rory Linden’s income was.

He considered that she was a single mother and subconsciously wanted to help her save money.

Rory Linden waved a hand at him. "Don’t worry, I get paid well."

The three of them found a Haidilao nearby.

The meal took a little over two hours.

By the second half of the meal, Leo Linden had already fallen asleep.

When the check came, Ryan Sterling looked at the total and felt bad about how much he had eaten. "Um... if you’re ever in a situation like this again, feel free to call me."

"Okay. I’m planning to visit a domestic staffing agency tomorrow to find a live-in nanny. I’ll try not to bother you."

Rory Linden had planned on hiring a live-in nanny from the start.

That was why she had specifically rented a three-bedroom apartment.

She had even set aside one of the smaller bedrooms specifically for the nanny.

"Are you looking for a nanny?" Ryan Sterling said immediately. "I have a housekeeper. Right now, her only job is to come clean my apartment every day. Why don’t you have her work for you? She can just swing by my place to clean when she has time."

"No, it’s okay. I’ll find one myself..."

"Don’t be a stranger. This woman has been with my family for almost twenty years. She’s a great person. It’s a real hassle for her to commute from my parents’ house to mine every day, so living at your place would actually be more convenient."

Ryan Sterling was quite happy to be able to help Rory Linden.

But from Rory Linden’s perspective, she felt like she was constantly asking Ryan Sterling for favors.

Before, she’d felt that by paying his lesson fee, she was at least contributing something.

After learning that Ryan Sterling was from a wealthy family, she felt the money she’d paid him was probably just enough to fill up his car’s gas tank.

"I’ll go check the agency first. If I don’t find anyone suitable..."

"You probably won’t find anyone suitable. One of our former nannies went home to look after her grandson, and my mom had to go through seven or eight replacements before she found a good one. She says it’s harder to find a good nanny than a good husband these days."

Ryan Sterling persuaded Rory Linden, mimicking his mother’s tone.

Besides wanting to help her, he genuinely thought his solution was a good one.

Guessing Rory Linden might have some reservations, Ryan Sterling added, "How about this? I’ll have her come over tomorrow so you two can meet. If you think she’s a good fit, we can move forward. If not, you can still go to the agency."

Only then did Rory Linden agree. "Okay. Thank you."

Rory Linden then picked up the sleeping Leo Linden, and the three of them left the restaurant together.

The Haidilao was located inside a shopping mall.

The three of them took the elevator down to the underground parking garage.

For safety reasons, Ryan Sterling had taken a taxi with Leo to the mall, so Rory Linden was driving them back.

Rory Linden went to the back of the car first and placed Leo Linden in his child safety seat.

Ryan Sterling opened the front passenger door and was about to get in when...

"Ryan Sterling?"

A voice called out.

Ryan Sterling followed the sound with his eyes, a little surprised. "Uncle?"

Rory Linden finished buckling Leo Linden’s seatbelt and had just closed the car door when she heard Ryan Sterling call out, "Uncle."

She looked up as well.

Following Ryan Sterling’s gaze, she looked over and saw...

"Lawyer Sterling?"

’Rory Linden truly hadn’t expected Ryan Sterling’s uncle to be Noah Sterling!’

’That meant Ryan Sterling had taken his mother’s surname.’

Only then did Noah Sterling notice Rory Linden. His brow furrowed involuntarily. "Why are you two together?"

"Uncle, I’m teaching her son how to skateboard. She had to work overtime today, so I looked after Leo for her for a while, and then she treated me to dinner."

Ryan Sterling tried to explain his relationship with Rory Linden in just a few sentences.

Noah Sterling seemed to get the gist and asked bluntly, "Are you short on money?"

"I... I’m not." Ryan Sterling understood what his uncle was implying. "I just think Leo is talented and I want to teach him."

Noah Sterling snorted. "You? Being so kind-hearted?"

He might not know Rory Linden, but he knew Ryan Sterling inside and out.

The kid had been a total problem child in his teens, nearly driving his mother to her wit’s end.

He’d only mellowed out a little now that he was in graduate school.

’Even so, he’d never been short on money a day in his life. Why would he be willing to waste his time teaching some stranger’s kid how to skateboard?’

’Unless...’

’Noah Sterling didn’t dare let his thoughts go there.’

Rory Linden quickly walked to the front of the car. "Lawyer Sterling, I had no idea you were Mr. Sterling’s uncle. We met him by chance, and we’re very grateful that he’s been teaching Leo how to skateboard..."

"He’s not that kind-hearted."

Noah Sterling glanced at Ryan Sterling.

’The kid’s eyes had been glued to Rory Linden this whole time!’

’He’d have to be a fool to believe Ryan Sterling didn’t have ulterior motives.’

’Besides, Ryan Sterling had been a rebel his whole life. Getting involved with an older woman or a single mother was exactly the kind of thing he would do.’

’But no matter what, he would not allow anything to happen between Ryan Sterling and Rory Linden.’

"Uncle! Leo is genuinely talented! I want to personally train a skilled student, so what business is it of yours?"

Ryan Sterling was getting annoyed now, too.

’At first, he had just given Leo Linden some casual pointers, but he later discovered the kid really did have a knack for it.’

’Of course, he couldn’t deny that Rory Linden was different from any other woman he’d ever met.’

Noah Sterling turned to Rory Linden and offered his direct advice:

"Miss Linden, skateboarding is an extreme sport. I suggest you find a more professional coach, sign the proper contracts, and ensure your son’s safety before he continues his lessons. You shouldn’t be relying on my nephew. If your son were to get hurt, I would have no way of answering to President Harrison."

Noah Sterling was offering his opinion from a professional lawyer’s perspective.

’Rory Linden knew he was just helping Ryan Sterling avoid any potential liability.’

She couldn’t argue with his reasoning. "Thank you for the reminder, Lawyer Sterling."

Ryan Sterling seethed with frustration, but he couldn’t say anything in front of Rory Linden.

This continued until Noah Sterling said, "Ryan Sterling, you’re riding with me. I’ll take you home."

As if he’d finally found an outlet for his anger, Ryan Sterling quickly strode after him.