Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 266: "The Irresponsible Father Finally Decided to Turn Over a New Leaf?
Rory Linden was worried about Leo Linden. She would definitely go with her son to stay with Sean for a while.
’But how long will this "temporary stay" last...?’
Leo Linden had lived with her his entire life, and he had never explicitly said he wanted a father.
But...
Rory Linden knew he must want to be like the other children, to have a mom and a dad.
’Once we move in together, maybe we’ll end up living together forever.’
PING.
The sound of a WeChat notification broke the silence in the car.
Rory Linden looked down at the message.
It was a WeChat message from Nina’s Mom.
First was a message thanking them for taking time out of their busy schedules for dinner, followed by an attached news screenshot.
Rory Linden tapped open the screenshot.
The image was of a news report about Paige Palmer being arrested for having her studio staff tail Sean Harrison’s car.
It had happened just three days ago.
While Rory Linden was still looking at the image, Nina’s Mom sent another message.
[I was just rambling today, so please don’t get the wrong idea. Leo’s dad is clearly a good man. I wish you two a lifetime of happiness.]
Rory Linden replied with two words: [Thank you].
She clutched her phone and looked at Sean Harrison. "Then I suppose I’ll have to trouble you for a while."
Sean Harrison glanced at the phone in her hand. "Looks like I have the person who messaged you to thank."
Rory Linden: "Hm?"
Sean Harrison said, "Wasn’t it her message that made you finally decide to move in with me?"
Leo Linden, sitting in the back, finally understood. "Did Mommy agree? Are we moving to Daddy’s place starting today? Is that right?"
The little boy’s voice was filled with unconcealable joy.
"Today?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Rory Linden was surprised.
She had been thinking tomorrow at the earliest. She never expected her son to immediately say "today."
"It’s not today?"
The cheer in Leo Linden’s voice immediately faded.
Sean Harrison tilted his head slightly to look at the woman beside him. "Why can’t it be today? I can call a moving company. We’ll be packed up in no time. You don’t need to bring daily essentials; I’ll just buy new ones for my place."
Rory Linden and Leo Linden had just returned to the country.
When packing to return, they’d had to get rid of most of their belongings since they couldn’t bring everything with them.
Aside from kitchenware and basic household items, all they really had at home were clothes.
Leo Linden didn’t have many clothes—mostly just for summer, spring, and fall. They hadn’t brought back most of his winter clothes because they no longer fit.
Faced with the eager anticipation of both father and son, Rory Linden could only nod in agreement. "All right, today it is. We don’t have much, it should all fit in a few suitcases and bags."
"Okay," Sean Harrison said. "I can handle the moving myself. You just stay with Leo."
Sitting in the back seat, Leo Linden was in disbelief. "Mommy, are we really going to live with Daddy starting today?"
"Mhm."
Rory Linden nodded.
Leo Linden said earnestly, "I’ll be sure to sleep well and not cause any trouble for Mommy and Daddy."
"You’re already a very good boy. You don’t have to try so hard."
Sean Harrison felt a pang of guilt. He knew he had wronged both Rory Linden and Leo Linden.
Leo Linden clutched the safety belt of his car seat with both hands. "But the kids at kindergarten said that if you go to sleep nicely and don’t make trouble for Mommy and Daddy, you’ll get a little brother or sister soon."
"..."
"..."
Only then did the two of them realize the implication of Leo’s words.
It was most likely something parents often told their children, which the kids then picked up at kindergarten and repeated to each other.
"But I think Bianca is great. I don’t want a little brother or sister."
Leo Linden muttered to himself.
His words finally eased the momentary awkwardness in the car.
Rory Linden took out her phone to message Auntie Wagner, briefly explaining the situation.
She would continue to pay Auntie Wagner’s salary as usual during this period. The choice was hers whether she wanted to go home or just rest at the apartment.
The car pulled into the underground garage of their apartment complex.
The three of them went upstairs together.
Just as they reached the door, they saw Ryan Sterling standing in the doorway.
"Mr. Sterling!" Leo Linden ran over happily. "What are you doing here?"
Ryan Sterling glanced at Sean Harrison behind them before crouching down. "I heard you were moving, so I came to see if there was anything I could do to help."
"No need, I’ll handle it."
Sean Harrison spoke up.
Rory Linden added, "Yes, we’re just staying there temporarily. We don’t have much stuff."
The apartment door opened.
Rory Linden went to pack.
Ryan Sterling pulled Leo Linden aside. "Why the sudden move?"
"Mhm, we’re going to live at Daddy’s place." Leo Linden reached out and took Sean Harrison’s hand. "Because Daddy is going to take me to see how Bianca is made."
Leo Linden was too young to understand the meaning behind the adults’ conversation in the car.
He only remembered that Sean Harrison had said he would take him to the factory where Bianca was made.
Ryan Sterling stood up and looked at Sean Harrison. "Just for that?"
He was certain of one thing.
Auntie Wagner had just said that Rory Linden only intended it to be a temporary stay.
But once a family of three lives together, "temporary" can become permanent, and ultimately lead to marriage.
"Leo, come here for a second."
Rory Linden called Leo Linden away.
Only the two men were left at the doorway.
"Ryan Sterling, even if I weren’t in the picture, you would only ever be Leo’s teacher. You could never replace me as his father."
Sean Harrison’s words were deliberate and his tone was flat, but each syllable was laced with venom.
Ryan Sterling’s lips twitched into a sneer. "What’s this? The irresponsible father has finally decided to turn over a new leaf? A gambler never quits gambling, and an addict can never kick the habit."
"What’s between us is none of your business."
Sean Harrison turned and went inside.
In the spare bedroom, Rory Linden was helping Leo Linden pack his clothes.
"Is there anything I can help with?" Sean Harrison asked from the doorway.
"Once I get all of Leo’s clothes out, you two can put them in the suitcase together." Rory Linden took out the last stack of clothes. "Alright, you two can pack these. I’m going to go pack my own clothes."
Rory Linden went into the master bedroom to pack her own things.
She didn’t have that many clothes; after all, she spent her workdays in either a lab coat or scrubs, so her personal outfits were rarely seen.
The luggage was packed quickly.
Sean Harrison and Ryan Sterling carried everything downstairs in two trips.
「In the underground parking garage.」
Ryan Sterling spoke up. "Ms. Rory, you guys aren’t... leaving for good, are you?"
His tone was teasing, but his expression wasn’t joking at all.
