Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 32: "Thinking I Abuse My Girlfriend.

"I’m waiting for you."

Four simple words.

But at that moment, it was as if they’d turned into a flurry of fawns, leaping against Rory Linden’s heart.

Growing up, she had almost always been the one waiting for others; rarely did anyone wait for her.

There was one time her little alarm clock had died. She had been scheduled to practice tennis with Miles Harrison, and she came downstairs a few minutes late.

The young master had plopped down on a table, pointed at her, and demanded, "Did our family take you in just so you could sleep in? If you wake up late again, we’ll kick you out to sleep on the streets."

In reality, Miles Harrison had no right to actually make Rory Linden sleep on the streets.

But Rory Linden, who was only a child at the time, didn’t know that.

She was terrified.

She thought the Harrington Family would really throw her out over it.

From then on,

she never dared to be late.

And never dared to make anyone wait for her.

Rory Linden quickly composed herself. She took out her phone, glanced at the time, then checked the message she had sent. "I messaged you before I went into surgery," she said earnestly. "Did you see it? Um... I’m sorry, I was in a rush and didn’t check if you’d received it."

She was worried Sean Harrison hadn’t seen her message.

And that was why he had waited all this time.

"I got it. As it happens, I was on a business trip this morning. By the time I finished up and rushed back, it was almost ten, so I came by to wait for you." Sean Harrison stood up from the sofa. "I haven’t been waiting long, only ten minutes or so."

Tablet in hand, the man walked over to her side and smiled. "Have you eaten?"

"I have. I wasn’t the lead surgeon, just the first assistant, so I swapped out with the others to grab a bite." Rory Linden looked at the man beside her. "Have you... not eaten yet?"

"I had something on the plane," Sean Harrison replied.

During the surgery, Rory Linden had only managed a few quick bites so she could relieve the other assistants for their meal break.

She had planned on grabbing something to eat on her way home, but she hadn’t expected Sean Harrison to actually come and pick her up.

’Sean Harrison took two flights today; he must be exhausted and want to get home to rest as soon as possible.’

She could only push the thought aside.

They walked to the parking lot together and got into the car.

Just as the car pulled out of the hospital’s main entrance, Rory’s sharp eyes spotted a food stall setting up—the one selling the fried cold noodles that all her colleagues loved.

The vendor was a woman in her fifties. Her stall was spotless, she used clean oil, and the food was delicious.

Many of the doctors and nurses from Elysian Hospital were frequent customers whenever they had a break.

Rory Linden stared at it longingly, wanting to buy some but not daring to ask.

’Just as she was mentally bidding a tearful farewell to the fried cold noodles...’

"Pull over for a second."

The man beside her spoke.

Rory Linden looked over and saw the man opening his door and getting out.

Before she could figure out what was happening, the man who had just gotten out of the car gestured to her. "Come on, get out."

Puzzled and unsure of his intentions, Rory Linden nevertheless complied, sliding over and stepping out of the car.

’Whatever the reason, it’s his car.’

’Even if he told her to get out right this second for no reason at all, she’d have to do it.’

Rory Linden stood beside the car, clutching her bag, and asked timidly, "Did you just remember something you need to do? If so, I can just get a taxi home. If it’s inconvenient, I..."

While she stood there mumbling, the man had already walked a few steps ahead.

He glanced back, saw she hadn’t followed, and gestured again. "Over here."

Utterly bewildered, Rory Linden fished a mask out of her pocket, put it on, and walked over.

Sean Harrison walked right up to the fried cold noodles stall and said to the vendor, "I’ll have two orders of what you’re selling."

"You got it. Want all the toppings in both?" the vendor asked.

Seeing Sean Harrison talking with the vendor, Rory Linden hurried over.

The man turned to her. "She asked if I want everything. What’s ’everything’?"

"She’s asking if you have any dietary restrictions," Rory Linden explained hastily. "It comes with cilantro, onions, sausage, chili, and egg. If there’s anything you don’t eat, you can ask her to leave it out."

"I’ll have everything, then," Sean Harrison said, then turned to Rory. "What about you?"

"I... I’ll have the same."

Rory Linden was still completely baffled, simply echoing his order.

The vendor started preparing the two orders. Once they were cooked and packed, she turned to hand them to Sean Harrison and caught sight of Rory Linden standing beside him.

"Hey, little lady," the vendor said, taking a closer look at Rory. "I remember you don’t usually get chili, but I already added it. Is that okay?"

"Oh, it’s fine. I eat spicy food," Rory Linden explained.

For the past few years, she had spent so much time with Miles Harrison that she had gotten into the habit of ordering everything non-spicy.

The vendor had a good memory and always remembered her preference.

This time, Sean Harrison had approached the stall first. He was so tall that he had completely blocked the vendor’s view of her.

"Okay, then. If you can’t eat spicy, I can make you a new one. It’s no trouble at all."

"No, ma’am, I love spicy food. I... I was sick before and had to avoid it, but I’m all better now."

Rory Linden fell back on the most convenient excuse.

The vendor nodded cheerfully. "Good to hear you’ve recovered! Well then, go on and enjoy it with your boyfriend while it’s hot."

"Ma’am, he’s not..."

"Thank you, ma’am. I’ve already paid. We’ll be on our way."

Sean Harrison cut Rory Linden off, thanking the vendor.

Rory Linden had no choice but to drop the explanation.

Watching the man head back toward the car, she hurried to catch up. "Um... I should probably eat this out here before getting back in. The smell is pretty strong, and... it’ll be hard to clean if I spill it on the seats or the carpet."

These were all habits Rory Linden had developed during her time with Miles Harrison.

He hated it when she ate in the car—not even fruit or coffee was allowed. He’d said the lingering smell was disgusting.

Naturally, Rory assumed all men who owned cars felt the same way.

"It’s not hard to clean a carpet," Sean Harrison said, opening the car door. "Or are you suggesting I eat in the car while you eat standing outside? If the vendor sees that, she’ll really think I’m mistreating my girlfriend."

When the man said the word "girlfriend," his tone was perfectly natural.

It sounded like a casual joke.

But Rory Linden felt her cheeks grow warm for no reason.

’She couldn’t deny Sean Harrison’s charm.’

’It wasn’t just about his looks or his capabilities. It was his emotional stability, his gentleness, his principles... ’

’Every little thing about him was captivating.’

’He treated her so well, but Rory Linden knew exactly why. It was only because her mother had died protecting Evelyn Irving, combined with what had happened all those years ago.’ 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

’That was all there was to it.’

’A man of his stature must have met countless outstanding women—beautiful celebrities, elegant socialites, powerful career women.’

’After meeting so many exceptional women, there was no way he was being nice to her simply because he was attracted to her.’

"I’m sorry about the vendor’s misunderstanding. I’ll find a chance to clear things up with her later," Rory Linden said, pulling out her phone again. "Oh, right, let me transfer you the money for the noodles."

"Alright."

Sean Harrison readily agreed.

He took out his phone, pulled up his WeChat QR code, and showed it to her. "Just add me on WeChat. You can transfer it to me directly."