Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 243: "Why Can’t You Try to Accept Me?
Rory Linden knew what Ryan Sterling was about to ask. She used the same line on him: "Mr. Sterling, this is a private matter."
Before she left, she had made it clear that their relationship wouldn’t develop to the point of prying into each other’s private affairs.
Ryan Sterling awkwardly scratched his head.
He had been agitated ever since he got the call from his uncle.
After learning that Rory Linden had left with Sean Harrison, he had messaged Auntie Wagner three times in just over an hour, asking if she was back.
Finally, he had gotten so restless that he came downstairs to wait for her.
Ryan Sterling didn’t usually smoke, but he’d been so frustrated while waiting that he had gone out to buy a pack on impulse.
He hadn’t expected Rory Linden to return after he’d only taken a few drags.
Ryan Sterling couldn’t suppress his inner turmoil and blurted out, "Ms. Rory... Rory Linden, is Sean Harrison the only man in the world? Does it have to be him?"
He didn’t know about the foundation.
He just couldn’t understand. The impression Rory Linden gave was that she was clearly drawing a line between herself and Sean Harrison.
So why did she go to Henry Lancaster’s wedding as Sean Harrison’s date?
Why did she have to make things so ambiguous?!
The two of them stood in the elevator lobby, neither making a move to press the button.
At this hour, no one else was passing by.
Rory Linden let out a long sigh and said to Ryan Sterling in a serious tone:
"I don’t know why you’ve suddenly taken an interest in a single mother like me, but we really aren’t a good match. My life revolves around Leo and my work. I don’t have any time left for romance."
As for why she went to someone else’s wedding with Sean Harrison...
’She felt she didn’t owe him an explanation.’
"You must have sensed that I’m more than just ’interested’ in you," Ryan Sterling said, making no attempt to hide his feelings. "You can think my feelings are sudden, but I am sincere."
Rory Linden smiled. "Thank you, but we’re not a good fit. Your life is very interesting, but as a doctor, I can barely juggle work and spending time with Leo. I have no time for anything else."
’She guessed Ryan Sterling didn’t understand what it was like to be a doctor.’
She only got one day off a week, and if there were a lot of patients, she’d have to go to the hospital to do rounds even on that day.
On workdays, she sometimes had to perform over ten surgeries, large and small, in a single day. Forget vacations—even getting off work on time was a cause for celebration.
"I’m not asking for anything else. Things can stay just like they are now," Ryan Sterling said, a hint of desperation in his voice. "Why are you pushing me away from the very beginning? Why can’t you even try to accept me?"
The young man before her had clear, bright eyes.
Rory Linden could feel the sincerity in his tone as he spoke.
She looked up at the young man, who was a head taller than her. "Ryan, if it weren’t for Leo, I might have actually considered what you’re saying. But I have Leo. He’s grown up without a father, and I can’t be careless about starting any new relationship."
She knew very well that even if Leo never said it out loud, deep down he wanted a father, just like other kids.
So, if she were to date someone, Leo would have to accept that this person could be his future father.
She was an adult; a breakup wouldn’t really hurt her.
But it would definitely hurt Leo.
"If it weren’t for Leo, we never would have met."
Ryan Sterling’s tone was earnest.
He felt that he and Rory Linden were destined to be together.
He wasn’t normally the type to go out of his way for others, but when he saw Leo skateboarding in the plaza that day, something just came over him, and he wanted to go over and teach him a few things.
And that’s how he met Rory Linden.
It wasn’t as if he had never seen a beautiful woman before.
He didn’t know if it was the perfect moonlight that night, or the dazzling lights of the plaza.
But when he saw her walking toward him, he couldn’t look away.
"Ryan..."
"Then can we just keep things as they are? I’ll keep being Leo’s teacher, and I can take him to the amusement park when I’m free."
"..."
"Also, you promised to treat me to a meal. You can’t back out of that."
Rory Linden was left speechless by the young man’s persistence but could only nod. "Alright. Let’s tentatively plan for dinner next Sunday. I should be off that day."
"Okay."
Ryan Sterling had still been a little angry just moments ago.
But after just a few sentences, his mood had completely lifted, and the corners of his mouth curved into a handsome smile.
As for why she had gone to the wedding with Sean Harrison, he was no longer bothered by it.
Only then did Rory Linden press the elevator button.
- 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
「The next day」
After Rory Linden arrived at the hospital, the first place she went was Cece’s room.
Cece’s surgery was scheduled for the next day.
Although the procedure wasn’t complex, it required extreme caution due to Cece’s young age.
As a public hospital, Celestria University Affiliated Hospital had very few private rooms in the cardiac surgery department.
Given Cece’s young age, and to avoid disturbing the other patients’ rest, they had specifically made a private room available for her.
When Rory Linden went over, she briefly asked Cece’s mother about her condition.
"Dr. Linden, the money for the surgery..."
Cece’s mother seemed a little anxious.
She had been staying in the private room and watching the doctors administer medication to Cece, which made her heart pound with fear.
She was afraid that she and her husband wouldn’t be able to pay the costs back in the short term, causing trouble for the doctors.
"All of Cece’s hospital expenses will be covered by the Stellar Group’s foundation," Rory Linden explained patiently. "The foundation is still processing the paperwork, but they’ve already fronted the money for Cece’s medication, so you don’t need to worry."
Cece’s mother still didn’t fully understand what a foundation was. "This money... do we have to pay it back to them within a few years?"
"No, it’s a donation to you from the company and other compassionate members of society. However, you won’t receive the cash directly. It can only be deposited into the hospital’s account to be used for treatment," Rory Linden explained.
Hearing this, Cece’s mother’s eyes turned red.
She had no idea how to express her gratitude and once again dropped to her knees. "Thank you, thank you all. You’re all such good people."
Rory Linden quickly helped the woman up. "It’s Cece who is blessed."
Cece’s mother’s eyes were red. "Then... can I meet the people who donated to us? I want to thank them properly."
"If any representatives come by, I will let you know."
This was the first time Rory Linden had dealt with a situation like this.
She wasn’t sure if anyone would actually come, so she could only agree for the time being.
Afterward, Rory Linden gave Cece another check-up.
Once the examination was complete, she said to Cece’s mother, "Find Cece’s household registration book and birth certificate, take them to the nurses’ station to make copies, and fill out some forms."
"Okay, okay, I’ll go right now."
Cece’s mother walked over to the cabinet. Holding Cece with one arm, she used her other hand to pull a clear document folder from her bag.
Inside, you could see an ID card, the household registration book, and other such documents.
Rory Linden accompanied the woman to handle the relevant paperwork.
It was only while photocopying the household registration book that she noticed...
Tomorrow was actually Cece’s mother’s birthday.
’Given the current situation, Cece’s mother was putting her daughter above all else and probably wouldn’t celebrate her own birthday.’
After seeing the woman off, Rory Linden took out her phone and ordered a six-inch birthday cake from an app.
The delivery time was set for noon the next day.
If Cece’s surgery went smoothly, it would be over by then.
-
「On the day of the surgery」
Cece’s father had specially taken the day off from the construction site.
Before Cece was taken into the operating room, her father stuffed a thick envelope into Rory Linden’s hands.
"There’s no need."
Rory Linden was about to refuse.
"Dr. Linden, I know this isn’t a lot of money, and it can’t compare to what others give, but this is all we’ve managed to save recently. I’m begging you, please, you have to save Cece."
Cece’s mother grasped Rory Linden’s hand, her tone utterly sincere.
Rory Linden had seen this kind of situation many times.
Many people who hadn’t been to a hospital in years still held some stereotypes about surgeons.
If it were the family of a patient she didn’t know well, Rory Linden would have refused the money no matter what to avoid any potential lawsuits.
She looked at Cece’s parents’ bloodshot eyes, knowing the couple surely hadn’t slept all night.
After hesitating, she temporarily accepted the red envelope.
