Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 36: "Make My Girlfriend the Heroine of Your Engagement Banquet?

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: "Make My Girlfriend the Heroine of Your Engagement Banquet?

Rory Linden stood frozen in place. She truly hadn’t expected Miles Harrison to say something so insane in just a few short seconds!

When Evelyn Irving saw Rory Linden enter the hospital room, it was as if she’d spotted a lifeline. "Rory, you’re here!"

"I just finished rounds with the director. Grandma Rhodes is recovering well and can be discharged tomorrow." Rory Linden stood by the door, not taking a single step further into the room. "I just came to tell you that. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now."

’I don’t want to get involved in the Harrington family’s absurd discussion.’

’And I certainly don’t want to waste another word on a self-absorbed, entitled brat like Miles Harrison.’

’To suggest swapping the bride for me without even asking my opinion...’

’He was the very definition of arrogance.’

"Rory, don’t go."

Miles Harrison anxiously tried to sit up in bed.

Evelyn Irving immediately stopped him. "Miles, sweetheart, don’t move." She turned and grabbed Rory Linden’s arm. "Rory, dear, I know what you’re thinking, and I know this situation is unfair to you."

"Auntie Irving, I’m not going to marry Miles Harrison."

Rory Linden’s tone was resolute.

She tried twice to pull her hand from Evelyn Irving’s grasp, but to no avail.

"Rory, I know. If Miles is going to marry you, he should have an engagement party planned just for you. Every detail should be cherished, from booking the banquet hall to picking out the gown. To be honest, that’s what I’ve wanted all these years—to plan everything perfectly so Miles could welcome you into our family in style."

After a stream of sweet talk, Evelyn Irving couldn’t help but sigh. "But you see how things are now. Please, just consider this a favor for me. When you and Miles officially marry a year from now, I promise I’ll make it up to you with the most incredible wedding!"

Rory Linden simply watched Evelyn Irving, a polite smile fixed on her face the entire time.

She listened politely until the other woman had finished speaking.

Just as she was about to respond...

"What’s going on?"

A familiar male voice sounded from behind her.

Rory Linden could clearly hear the sound of his leather shoes scuffing against the floor.

He came to a stop just to her right.

If she so much as tilted her head, she would see his tall frame.

When Miles Harrison saw it was Sean Harrison, he burst out, "Uncle, I’m not getting engaged to Lucy Shaw! That woman has been lying to me from the very beginning. She was just trying to use the Harrington family to help her own company! She doesn’t have any feelings for me. Marriage is for life! I see her for who she is now, and there’s no way I’m marrying her!"

"I asked what happened to you. Your engagement party is just around the corner. Why are you suddenly in the hospital?"

Sean Harrison repeated his question, ignoring the outburst.

Miles Harrison faltered, a look of embarrassment crossing his face. "Drinking... I wasn’t careful."

Sean Harrison asked, "Was it for work?"

Miles Harrison looked even more awkward.

His company wasn’t busy in the slightest. It coasted along comfortably on the scraps of work tossed its way by the main corporation.

While other people were out drinking to win business, entertain clients, and drum up new accounts, he was the only one drinking with his buddies, attending galas, and going on vacation every day.

Sean Harrison already knew the answer, but his expression turned cold nonetheless. "Miles, you’re a grown man. You should have your priorities straight. The engagement party is just around the corner. Even though I’ve handled most of the preparations, the least you could do is be in a fit state for it."

"I’m sorry, Uncle. I really didn’t think things through. I was actually planning to cancel the engagement party..."

"Miles, don’t be ridiculous!" Evelyn Irving quickly cut her son off. "Sean has been running himself ragged preparing for your engagement party. Haven’t you seen the guest list? On your own, you wouldn’t even get the chance to be in the same room as these people!"

When it came to this engagement party, Sean Harrison’s generosity toward Miles Harrison had been almost unreal.

Not only was it a top-tier event, but the invited guests were all rich and powerful.

Basically, anyone who was anyone on the country’s rich list was on the guest list.

An engagement party of this caliber... forget it being for Miles Harrison’s engagement; a party of this caliber would be fitting even for Sean Harrison’s own.

Miles Harrison understood all this. He had already grown tired of Lucy Shaw, but as more and more details about the lavish engagement party were revealed, he had managed to tolerate her.

He’d finally blown up after getting drunk two days ago.

During their fight, Lucy Shaw had threatened to move out, but she never did.

"Right, right. I’ve thought it over. We definitely can’t cancel the engagement party." Miles Harrison struggled to sit up, his eyes fixed on Rory Linden. "So let’s just make Rory Linden the bride. The star of the show is the Harrington family anyway. It doesn’t matter who the bride is."

"Miles Harrison! You..."

Rory Linden had reached her limit. She was about to fire back at Miles Harrison when she felt a large hand come to rest on her shoulder, gently pulling her in.

A moment later, the man beside her spoke in a calm, measured voice. "Miles, are you saying... you want my girlfriend to be the star of your engagement party?"

His words struck like a bolt from the blue.

The spacious hospital room was plunged into an eerie silence.

Miles Harrison stared at the pair standing side-by-side, his expression frozen, unsure of how to even react.

Evelyn Irving was also rooted to the spot in shock.

Rory Linden was just as stunned.

’They had agreed to put on an act to fool Gary Sinclair.’

’But nobody said the first people they’d be fooling were Miles Harrison and Evelyn Irving?!’

The silence stretched on for a good minute or two.

Evelyn Irving was the first to break the silence. "Sean, are... are you joking? You and Rory didn’t even know each other. How could she possibly be your girlfriend?"

"Since when is there a timetable for developing feelings?"

As Sean Harrison spoke, the fingers of the hand resting on Rory’s shoulder tightened slightly.

Even through her blouse and white coat, Rory Linden could clearly feel the warmth of his palm seeping through the fabric.

In the quiet that followed, however brief, she could hear her own heart thumping wildly in her chest.

The man’s words were also a sharp slap in the face to Miles Harrison.

Rory Linden had known him for twenty years and had dated him for four.

And yet he had only known Lucy Shaw for a few days...

Evelyn Irving laughed awkwardly. "It’s just... Rory and Miles have known each other for more than twenty years, and Rory has always been fond of Miles. It might be difficult for her to suddenly fall for someone else..."

Her words, both spoken and unspoken, were filled with doubt about the authenticity of their relationship.

Miles Harrison finally started to catch on. "Rory, you’re not just doing this to make me angry, are you...?"

"You’re overthinking it, Young Master Harrison. It’s true I used to like you, but I have zero tolerance for infidelity. The moment I confirmed you were unfaithful, I decided to let you go completely." Rory Linden leaned her head against Sean Harrison. "I’m not like you. I don’t make impulsive decisions. I’m with Sean because I feel he’s worth my affection."

Sean Harrison lowered his arm and took her hand. "She just got off a night shift," he said. "I’m taking her home."

The two of them walked out of the hospital room together.

The moment they were in the hallway, Rory Linden quickly pulled her hand away.

But a second later, he took it back.

Sean Harrison glanced back toward the hospital room, then looked at her. "If you’re going to put on an act, you have to see it through. If my sister-in-law comes out and sees us, she’ll figure out our relationship is a sham."