Love at First Sight? Mr. Harrison Has Been Scheming All Along-Chapter 58: "Nadia Willow Has Returned.

"Auntie Irving, I performed two back-to-back surgeries last night. I was on my feet for over ten hours, so I’m really tired right now." Rory Linden explained earnestly. "My work is just too busy, I don’t have the energy to think about these things."

"Sigh, no matter how busy you are, you can’t neglect finding a life partner. This young man is really great—he’s around your age, handsome, and well-educated; he went to university abroad. I heard he’s never even had a girlfriend."

Evelyn Irving’s voice rose a little when she mentioned that last point.

’A man with those qualities, and he’s never had a girlfriend?’

To Rory Linden, that meant there was a high chance he wasn’t interested in women and was just getting married to satisfy his family.

A friend she knew from university had been tricked into a marriage just like that.

The guy’s qualifications were perfect in every way, and he was also in his thirties without ever having a girlfriend.

At the time, her friend thought her husband was a gift from heaven.

Only after they were married did she find out he was gay and just wanted a highly intelligent woman to have a child with.

To carry on the family line.

Later, the lawsuit was taken on by the law firm where Sherry Walsh’s father worked.

The case had been going on for over a year, and the divorce still hadn’t been finalized.

"That’s impossible. He just has high standards and is very picky," Evelyn Irving disagreed completely. "Just meet him. If you don’t think it’s a good fit, I’ll find someone else for you. There are plenty of good men in Veridia; we’ll find one who’s right for you."

Rory Linden listened politely to Evelyn Irving before replying, "Auntie Irving, thank you, but I’m really not considering anything like that right now."

"Rory, tell me the truth. Are you worried about Sean? Whatever your relationship is, you can’t possibly know what he’s really thinking." Evelyn Irving grabbed Rory Linden’s hand. "Let me be frank with you. Sean is a very guarded person. He isn’t even truly open with his own mother, let alone an outsider like you. Don’t let him fool you."

Rory Linden had to agree; she couldn’t see through Sean Harrison.

The man was very good to her, but...

His intellect, emotional intelligence, and life experience completely eclipsed hers.

Just like that day, he had only pretended to be drunk to easily trick her into revealing her thoughts.

"It’s not because of Mr. Harrison," Rory Linden said seriously. "Auntie Irving, I actually know what you’re thinking. Now that Lucy Shaw is pregnant, you just want to have a grandchild as soon as possible, and you’re afraid I won’t give up on Young Master Harrison and might do something drastic."

"That’s not..."

"It’s okay. I’m planning on changing jobs next year anyway. But I can’t do it now; I haven’t gotten my year-end bonus yet."

Rory Linden still owed Sherry Walsh money.

As a private hospital, Elysian Hospital’s year-end bonus was substantial. She couldn’t possibly resign at this point.

"If you’re worried about money, we..."

"Auntie Irving, the money you give me and the money I earn myself are different. I can earn my own now, so I can’t trouble you anymore."

Rory Linden rejected Evelyn Irving’s kind offer.

Ever since she started earning her own money after university, she had increasingly felt the confidence that came with financial independence, a stark contrast to the feeling of living under someone else’s roof.

After a long moment, Evelyn Irving sighed. "Rory, let me be honest with you. Nadia Willow is back in the country."

Rory Linden’s expression froze slightly.

Nadia Willow.

’I thought she was far away, abroad, a name I would only ever hear others speak of,’ she thought. ’I never expected...’

Evelyn Irving squeezed her hand. "She’s divorced. She arrived in Austrell on Tuesday, I think. I heard Sean has also been in Austrell these past few days, probably to be with her. She’s a designer, so her return was in the news. It’s not a secret."

"I don’t know anything about Mr. Harrison’s affairs, and you don’t need to tell me."

Rory Linden struggled to keep a smile on her face.

She wanted to appear completely unfazed.

’But what a coincidence...’

’The day before Nadia Willow returned, he asked me to be his girlfriend.’

’The next day, he flew to Austrell.’

’If Auntie Irving isn’t lying, then Nadia Willow also arrived in Austrell on the same day.’

Evelyn Irving sighed. "Your mother and I were very close back then. I genuinely want you to be happy. It’s a shame I didn’t raise my son well, and he ended up hurting you. If you ever have any problems, you can come to me anytime."

Rory Linden watched Evelyn Irving leave.

The car Sean Harrison had arranged to pick her up was waiting at the hospital entrance.

Rory Linden didn’t go out. Instead, she found a bench in the shade of a tree and sat down.

She took out her phone, typed "Nadia Willow" into the Weibo search bar, and quickly found an unremarkable news report.

It was about the return of the famous jewelry designer, Nadia Willow.

The photo was taken at an airport, and the post was dated Tuesday.

Judging by the background, it looked like the kind of commercial building Keith Hawthorne had mentioned before.

In the photo, Nadia Willow’s long hair was styled in an updo. She wore a beautiful long dress with traditional Chinese elements, giving her an elegant and graceful aura.

As for her looks...

She really did bear some resemblance to her.

Rory Linden was just casually scrolling through the photos, but when she got to the last one, she spotted a familiar figure in the corner.

A figure might be an overstatement; it was really just half an arm. But the watch on the wrist was particularly eye-catching.

It was the same one Sean Harrison had worn at the conference dinner the other day...

’So he went to Austrell...’

’...to pick her up on her return.’

The summer wind was hot and stifling. Even sitting in the shade, Rory Linden felt restless and agitated. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Rory Linden knew very well that aside from meeting once more than a decade ago, they had only known each other for half a month since reuniting.

There had to be a reason for his kindness to her. Even if he wasn’t treating her as a substitute, it was probably because she reminded him of someone he cared about.

She was the one who, despite knowing it was all a hopeless fantasy, had lucidly watched herself fall deeper and deeper.

Rory Linden sat there for who knows how long...

Someone sat down beside her, and a can of cola was offered to her. "Want a drink?"

Rory Linden turned to look.

The man sitting next to her wore a white coat. He had fair skin, and black-framed glasses covered most of his face. He had curly hair.

Since he was sitting to her side, she couldn’t see his name tag.

Rory Linden was about to refuse when the man beside her turned slightly and smiled. "Oh, right, I forgot to introduce myself. Dr. Linden, I’m Evan Hollis, the new anesthesiologist. We’ll be going on a rural medical outreach trip together soon. Feel free to ask me for help with anything. I can carry your bag, get you water, you name it."

’So it’s him...’

Evan Hollis pushed the cola a little closer, his smile widening. "I just got out of surgery. I saw you sitting here when I went to the convenience store, and you were still here when I came back. You looked like you had something on your mind, so I thought I’d be nice and share one of the colas I bought. Sweet drinks can lift your spirits."

The man was a chatterbox; without Rory Linden having to say a word, the air around them had already become lively.

"Thank you..."

Rory Linden reached out and took the cola.

It was ice-cold.

"Can you drink cold things? I have a room-temperature one, too." Evan Hollis placed a bag on his lap and started taking things out one by one. "I also have grape Fanta, chocolate, milk lollipops, and Oreo cookies. See anything you like?"

The man held a small plastic bag, which was stuffed full of all sorts of snacks.

It was like a mini-supermarket.

"I can drink cold things. This is fine."

"Alright, then let’s have a toast!"

Evan Hollis raised his can of cola.

Rory Linden looked up at the man’s face and noticed that when he smiled, a pair of small dimples appeared at the corners of his mouth.

’Kinda cute.’