Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 263: The Warmth in Her Palm Still Lingered
Just as she was about to ask Sean Harrison to leave, an ill-timed message arrived.
Looking at the man before her, Rory Linden showed him the message on her phone.
"This is..."
Sean Harrison had a good idea of what was going on.
He just didn’t know who sent it.
"It’s from the mother of the girl who was injured in the kidnapping..."
Rory Linden briefly recounted her meeting with Nina’s Mom that afternoon. "I thought she would wait a while before asking, but I didn’t expect her to be in such a hurry." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮
"Then it depends on your schedule. I’m free whenever."
Sean Harrison stated his position immediately.
’An invitation, at the very least, means we’ll have a legitimate reason to see each other again.’
Rory Linden quickly explained, "What I mean is... can you think of a suitable reason to turn them down? After all, Leo will be there too, and I’m afraid he’ll let something slip."
Leo Linden was still young.
She was worried that if the dinner went on for too long, her son might reveal that they didn’t live together.
"Leo is very smart. If you just explain it to him simply, he’ll know what to say."
Sean Harrison hadn’t seen his son much, but from their conversation in the bathroom just now, he could tell Leo was very mature.
He could at least clearly perceive certain emotions and knew what should and shouldn’t be said.
"But..."
"It’s fine. Just tell them I’m quite busy and can only spare an hour and a half for dinner. I’ll pick the place, and when the time is up, I’ll have my assistant call to pull me away."
Sean Harrison quickly came up with a plan.
’A shorter dinner means less time for conversation.’
"Actually, you don’t have to have dinner with them. Or I could just say you’re busy, and Leo and I will go."
Rory Linden was worried not only about Leo but also about themselves.
They weren’t a real couple, after all. They hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and she was afraid people would notice.
"I’ve told you before, I’m not that busy."
Sean Harrison’s tone was very serious.
He was well aware of his own workload. If he wanted to be busy, he could naturally schedule every day to be packed full.
He had been like that for the past five years.
He had been busy for five years. Now, he finally had the ability to slow down and spend time with Rory Linden and their son.
Besides, even when he wanted to give them more of his time, the mother and son wouldn’t take it.
Seeing Rory Linden hesitate, Sean Harrison said, "How about this? Tell me when you’re free, and I’ll book the restaurant and set the time. Then I’ll draft the message and send it to you. You can just send it to them directly. Is that okay?"
"Okay."
The man had laid it all out so clearly; she really couldn’t refuse.
Rory Linden quickly checked her work schedule and said, "How about the day after tomorrow? Friday evening. I won’t have any surgeries scheduled, so I can get off work early."
"Okay, one moment."
Sean Harrison sat down on the sofa and took out his phone to make a call.
Rory Linden turned to bring in the laundry from the balcony.
Just as she brought the clothes into the master bedroom and was folding them...
KNOCK KNOCK.
Sean Harrison knocked on the master bedroom door.
Rory Linden looked over at the sound.
"I’ve booked the restaurant. I also drafted the message and sent it to your phone. Take a look in a bit, and if there are no problems, you can just copy and paste it."
"Okay."
Rory Linden picked up her phone from the side and took a look.
The message the man had drafted mimicked her tone. It was short, but it contained all the necessary information and was very thoughtful.
"This is perfect. Thank you."
Rory Linden copied the text and sent it directly.
She thought that would be the end of it.
But a few seconds later, a voice call from Nina’s Mom popped up on her screen.
The ringtone of the voice call shattered the room’s silence.
Sean Harrison reached over, helped her steady the phone, and said, "Go on, answer it. I can help fill in if needed."
The man’s voice was gentle and calm, his words like a soothing balm.
The hint of panic in Rory Linden’s heart was easily smoothed away.
The voice call connected.
"Leo’s mom, you and Leo’s dad helped us so much. Of course we should be the ones to treat you to dinner. How could we let you treat us?"
Nina’s Mom sounded agitated. "If you’re worried we can’t afford it, please don’t be. Our family may not be as well-off as yours, but we can still afford to treat you to a meal."
Rory Linden looked at Sean Harrison.
The man shifted a little closer to her. "Hello, this is Leo’s father. We understand your kind intentions. As for a meal, who pays the bill is just a formality. There’s no need to worry about it."
There was a brief silence on the other end of the line.
When a voice spoke again, it was a man’s. "Mr. Harrison, this is Nina’s father. Your wife saved my daughter, and our whole family is incredibly grateful to her. Since it doesn’t matter who treats who, please, you must let us."
Sean Harrison didn’t refuse this time. He said politely, "Well, thank you for your generosity."
Nina’s dad sounded a little emotional. "I never imagined that President Harrison, a man of such immense status, would be so humble. It’s our honor to have dinner with you. We’ll be sure to arrive on time."
Rory Linden sat to the side, not saying a word.
She also thought that Sean Harrison was a very respectable person.
Given his status, people were lining up to treat him to a meal; most would find it difficult to even get a moment of his time.
And yet...
He was willing to have dinner with the parents of Leo Linden’s classmate, and he could still be so polite when they insisted on treating him.
While Rory Linden was lost in thought, the man had already pulled his hand back.
Just now, the man’s hand had first covered her right hand before taking hold of the phone.
Even after his palm was gone, its warmth still lingered.
Rory Linden’s cheeks grew hot.
"They definitely wanted to get to know you, that’s why they invited you to dinner..."
"I know. But I’m afraid I can’t help them with much. In fact, they’re the ones who’ve given me another chance to have dinner with you both."
That was what Sean Harrison truly thought.
If it hadn’t been for their message, he would have been on his way out.
Now, not only was he still here, but he had also scored a free meal.
Rory Linden was left a little speechless by his words.
Sean Harrison didn’t push his luck.
He took the initiative to stand up. "Alright, I’ll head back now. Remember, you can call me if anything comes up."
Rory Linden saw the man out.
-
「Friday.」
Rory Linden had outpatient clinic duties all day.
That morning, she had just changed in her office and was heading out when she ran into Evan Hollis by the elevators.
It seemed the man was also waiting for an elevator to go down.
"Dr. Linden, heading to the clinic?"
Evan Hollis greeted her enthusiastically.
"...What are you doing here so early?"
Rory Linden didn’t answer his question.
She wasn’t surprised that Evan Hollis was familiar with her schedule.
Evan Hollis had a rather obvious people-pleasing personality.
Back in their days at Elysian, he would remember many of the doctors’ schedules and sometimes even volunteer to cover shifts for others in the same department.
As a result, everyone in the anesthesiology department liked him a lot.
The doctors from other surgical departments were also very familiar with him.
Charlotte Rhodes had now been transferred to the intensive care unit. Visiting was allowed daily, but for a limited time.
Charlotte Rhodes was currently unable to eat and was being monitored by nurses 24/7.
There was nothing Evan Hollis could do.
For the time being, Rory Linden wasn’t wary of Evan Hollis.
"Yeah, I’m used to it. I have nothing to do if I’m not at the hospital. Even if I can’t go to the ward, just wandering around here puts my mind at ease."
Evan Hollis’s tone was very natural.
Rory Linden just hummed in acknowledgment.
After they got into the elevator, Evan Hollis finally said, "Dr. Linden, how are things between you and President Harrison? I’m truly sorry for my poor attitude towards him before."
"We don’t really keep in touch."
Rory Linden wasn’t exactly lying.
"Is that so? I heard there was a kidnapping at a nearby kindergarten, and President Harrison paid the ransom as the father of one of the children."
Evan Hollis looked at Rory Linden and said with a smile, "If I’m not mistaken, that must have been your son, right?"
