Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 45: "You’re drunk.

The music in the nearby banquet hall changed, nearly drowning out the man’s voice.

Rory Linden quickly stood up. "The engagement party must be starting. Let’s go in together."

Sean Harrison also stood up, raising his arm slightly and glancing at her, silently asking if she needed his support.

Rory Linden hesitated for a moment before taking his arm.

She was still unsteady in her high heels, and the marble floor here was exceptionally smooth. If she fell, embarrassment would be a minor issue. ’What’s worse is if I damage this jewelry and watch. I really can’t afford to replace them.’

「Inside the banquet hall.」

Miles Harrison and Lucy Shaw had already changed into their formal wear and were now greeting their guests.

Under the guidance of his father, Ronan Harrison, he was introduced to one major figure after another—people he would normally never even have the chance to meet.

With every new introduction, Miles Harrison became more convinced that this engagement party was worth it.

Lucy Shaw also spotted her father, Charles Shaw, from a distance, chatting with a high-profile executive he had always wanted to meet.

A surge of joy washed over her, making the frustrations she had endured with Miles Harrison over the past few days seem insignificant.

As their group approached the entrance to the banquet hall, Sean Harrison and Rory Linden happened to walk in.

Miles Harrison saw his uncle first, only then noticing the beautiful woman standing beside him.

He froze when his gaze landed on her face.

’This woman... is actually Rory Linden?!’

He had never seen Rory Linden look so beautiful and radiant.

And yet, he wasn’t the least bit surprised that she could look so striking once she was dressed up.

He had known Rory Linden for twenty years, and in his memory, she had never really put much effort into her appearance. She tended to look a bit plain, but even so, she was more beautiful than most of the women he knew.

She wasn’t wearing heavy makeup now, either—just a light touch combined with exquisite styling, and she was simply, breathtakingly beautiful.

In this vast banquet hall, filled with so many women, his gaze was irresistibly drawn to her.

Especially the cheongsam she was wearing. It was silk, with embroidery, but it wasn’t overly ornate.

The soft fabric simply clung perfectly to her curves.

A narrow waist and curvaceous hips.

The high slit in the dress offered tantalizing glimpses of her long, fair, and straight legs, leaving much to the imagination.

Miles Harrison had regretted not marrying Rory Linden countless times before.

But those regrets were always because Rory was easier to control, easier to boss around.

This was the first time he regretted not having possessed Rory Linden herself. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

They had dated for four years, yet they had never even properly held hands.

Faced with a woman always in a white lab coat or plain clothes, he had felt no desire for her whatsoever.

This was the first time he was curious about her body, the first time he wanted to peel that cheongsam off with his own hands and see her soft waist and slender legs for himself.

"Miles~"

Lucy Shaw’s cloyingly sweet voice sounded from his side, heavy with displeasure.

When he finally looked at her, she muttered a complaint, "Your eyes are practically glued to Rory Linden!"

"No, I wasn’t. You’re the most beautiful one here today. My uncle just signaled for me to go greet Mr. Quincy."

Miles Harrison told a lie that even he didn’t believe.

He was an expert at lying to women. Otherwise, with all the women he’d had on the side over the years, Rory Linden wouldn’t have believed in his fidelity time and time again.

"Then let’s go over in a little while."

Lucy Shaw was no Rory Linden; she didn’t buy his crap for a second.

After all, she herself had pursued him knowing full well that he already had a girlfriend.

She had listened to him tell one lie after another.

Claiming he was single.

But this wasn’t the time or place to cause a scene.

As the two of them weaved through the crowd, they would occasionally overhear other guests talking about Rory Linden.

"Seriously, President Harrison has a total stunner like that by his side, and we’ve never seen her before."

"Sean Harrison isn’t just a brilliant businessman; he’s got impeccable taste in women, too."

"She’s probably not an heiress from any of the big families. I’m sure I’d remember her if I’d ever seen a woman that beautiful before."

It was as if everyone was praising Rory Linden, calling her beautiful and perfect.

Watching from a distance as her slender arm was linked through his uncle’s, Miles Harrison felt a growing sourness in his gut.

’All of this... it should have been mine...’

-

After a brief engagement ceremony, the waiters began to serve the meal.

Rory Linden and Sean Harrison were seated together at the head table.

Besides members of the Harrington Family, Lucy Shaw’s parents were also at their table.

Charles Shaw and Jessica Jennings.

Jessica Jennings was seated right next to Rory Linden.

Once the food began to arrive, Jessica Jennings picked up a bottle of wine from the table. She explained it was "Daughter’s Wine," a vintage she had bought when Lucy was born, and asked if the other ladies at the table would like to share it.

Most of the women at the table accepted.

Finally, she turned to Rory Linden.

"Miss Linden, would you like to have some?" Jessica Jennings repeated her earlier spiel. "It’s a sweet wine with very low alcohol content. Would you like to try it?"

Rory Linden hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, thank you."

Jessica Jennings poured just a small amount into Rory Linden’s glass. "Just have a taste. If you like it, I’ll pour you more."

Rory Linden picked up her glass and took a small sip.

The wine was indeed sweet and went down smoothly, without the sharp, fiery bite of other alcohols.

Jessica Jennings watched Rory’s expression, and seeing that she enjoyed it, she said, "Here, let me fill your glass. This is my favorite wine, and I’m sure you’ll love it too."

Rory Linden rarely drank alcohol.

However, the yellow wine in her glass did taste remarkably good.

Jessica Jennings didn’t know much about the Harrington Family’s affairs.

Since she was sitting next to Rory Linden, they chatted as they drank.

When she learned that Rory Linden held a medical doctorate from Veridia Medical University, she couldn’t help but gush, "Oh, I just love children who are good students! They’re so much less trouble."

"Mom!" Lucy Shaw cut in, annoyed. "That’s only because Rory Linden is the daughter of the Harrisons’ housekeeper. She couldn’t afford the tuition for that school at all. If she didn’t get first place every time, she would’ve been kicked out the next semester!"

As she spoke, the atmosphere at the table instantly turned icy.

Everyone at the table, with the exception of Jessica Jennings, knew that Rory Linden was the daughter of the Harrington Family’s housekeeper.

Right now, she was sitting beside Sean Harrison as his girlfriend.

No one else would have dared to bring it up.

For Lucy Shaw to say it was a blatant show of disrespect to Sean Harrison.

"Lucy! What are you talking about!" Charles Shaw was the first to reprimand her.

After a moment’s processing, Jessica Jennings also chimed in, "Do you think getting first place in your class is like shopping for clothes? Something you can just pick up whenever you want? There’s only one top spot. It might not be hard to get it once, but to get it every single time? That’s not something just anyone can do!"

Lucy Shaw also realized she had misspoken.

She pouted and fell silent.

"Miss Linden, I am so sorry. I’ve spoiled Lucy rotten since she was a child." Jessica Jennings quickly turned to apologize to Rory. "You truly are exceptional. To consistently place first isn’t just about hard work and intelligence; it’s a test of mental fortitude."

"Mm..."

Rory Linden agreed with that sentiment.

There was only one scholarship for tuition remission.

Others might not have cared, but for her, there was absolutely no room for error.

For the remainder of the engagement party, Jessica Jennings kept Rory Linden engaged in conversation, and the two continued to chat and drink together.

Without realizing it, Rory had drunk quite a lot.

She hadn’t felt much while she was sitting.

But when the party ended and she finally stood up, the world started to spin...

She staggered, and just as she was about to fall, an arm wrapped around her waist, catching her. It was Sean Harrison.

The man’s voice sounded next to her ear. "You’re drunk."