It must have been around four or five in the morning. The sky outside had turned a pale, fish-belly white, and a faint glimr of dawn shone in through the window.
Sean could faintly make out several distinct red marks on Rory’s clenched palm and wrist.
He had done it.
"I was dreaming... about the past." Sean reached out again. "I’m awake now. Let see your hand. Listen to ."
His voice was gentle.
Only then was Rory certain that he was truly awake.
But her heart was still pounding from the recent panic.
Just a few minutes earlier, while she was sound asleep, she had suddenly felt soone grab her wrist.
She’d woken up in a daze, only to find it was Sean gripping her.
She had always trusted him.
To be precise, she trusted him when he was awake.
When she realized Sean was still asleep, the mory of when he was sick flashed through her mind!
Before she could react, his other hand shot out and seized her hand.
His fingers tightened...
It hurt.
It hurt so much.
Rory had desperately called his na.
But he showed no signs of waking, his grip only tightening.
Rory had no other choice. She scrambled off the bed, trying to use her strength to break free from his grasp.
But even in his sleep, his strength hadn’t lessened one bit.
The whole ordeal lasted for several minutes. The feeling in Rory’s hand and wrist went from pain to agony, and finally, to a dull numbness...
Finally, Sean had woken up.
Rory stood frozen for a full thirty seconds before taking a single step forward.
She held out her right hand, the one he had gripped.
Her palm still felt a little numb.
It hurt even when he squeezed it gently.
Sean saw her frown. "Does it hurt?"
Rory gave a small nod.
Her palm had been numb, but when he squeezed it gently, a sharp pain flared up.
Sean knew how much force he’d used in his dream to grab that cara.
"I’ll take you to the hospital for a CT scan in a bit." Sean paused for a mont before continuing, "I’ll have them deliver the mattress today. We’ll sleep separately from now on."
With that, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up.
"There’s no need to rush," Rory said, all thoughts of sleep gone. "I’m leaving for the rural dical outreach program in a few days. I’ll probably be gone for over a month, so it’s fine if the mattress arrives then."
She rembered seeing news online about so celebrity couple having a nasty public fight over a mattress.
People online had also explained that expensive mattresses are all custom-made.
Rory figured the mattress for the guest room was probably custom-made as well, which was why it was taking so long.
She didn’t know how long she would be living here, and she couldn’t let him just grab any old mattress on her account.
Sean was on his way to the bathroom, but he turned back when he heard her words.
"You’re going to be gone that long?"
He knew she had signed up for the rural dical outreach program.
He had assud it would only be for a week or two.
He hadn’t expected it to be for so long.
"Mhm, we’ll be going to different places. How long we stay depends on the local situation."
Rory explained slowly, sitting on the edge of the bed.
"Most young people co to the cities to work now, so the villages are mostly left with the elderly. So villages have so few people that they’ve been rged together. There are also smaller villages deep in the mountains. We’ll be visiting many of them according to a schedule, staying in each one for a few days."
Rory had gone last year as well.
She had spent so ti in the countryside as a child, but her mories of it were faint.
The cities had been changing day by day in recent years.
But when she went to the countryside, she realized how slowly so rural areas were developing.
So many years had passed, yet they remained unchanged.
The houses were dilapidated, and the roads turned to mud after it rained, making them impassable.
Sean walked back to the bedside and sat down. "I’ll find soone to go with you."
"Why?"
Rory didn’t understand.
"If sothing happens, I’ll feel better knowing soone is with you."
Sean had his own work, so he obviously couldn’t go with her.
Over the years, moving from abroad back to the country, he had hired many trustworthy bodyguards.
He’d feel more at ease if he sent one or two to follow Rory.
"No!" Rory shook her head quickly. "That’s really not necessary. There are a lot of people on the dical team. I’ll be with everyone else, and we’ll be staying together. Nothing will happen."
She added, "Besides, I already went last year."
"..."
Sean hesitated.
"If you have soone follow , it’ll make seem like I’m special. I don’t like that."
Rory said honestly.
Sean was silent for a mont, then said, "Alright. Just rember to stay in touch every day."
Rory reached for the phone beside her.
There was an unread ssage.
From Miles Harrison.
He had sent Auntie Vincent’s phone number and an address.
_This is Auntie Vincent’s address. I already spoke to her, so you can go over whenever you’re free._
Rory glanced at the ti the ssage was sent.
It was two in the morning.
’Did this young master really ssage Auntie Vincent at two in the morning?’ Rory couldn’t help but wonder.
’Then again, for a self-centered young master like Miles Harrison, it wouldn’t be surprising at all.’
Rory happened to have the day off today.
No ti like the present.
After breakfast, Sean accompanied Rory to the hospital for a CT scan.
After the scan, Rory called Auntie Vincent. Once she confird the older woman was ho, she arranged a ti to et.
She’d been at a disadvantage with Ivan Lowell last ti.
This ti, Rory decided to try a different strategy.
She took a stethoscope and a blood pressure monitor from the hospital, and also bought a blood glucose ter and so health supplents at the pharmacy by the entrance.
Sean arranged for a driver to take Rory to see Auntie Vincent.
When it ca to Rory’s investigation into her mother, Sean maintained a respectful distance.
He wouldn’t get overly involved unless she asked.
Auntie Vincent’s residence was in an old residential complex in South Veridia.
The car stopped outside the residential complex.
Rory carried the gifts and dical supplies by herself, following the address to Auntie Vincent’s front door.
She set her things on the ground, straightened her clothes, and then knocked gently on the door twice.
"Coming!"
A woman’s voice called from inside.
Rory stood up straight, quietly waiting for Auntie Vincent to open the door.
Footsteps approached from within.
A few seconds later, the door swung open.
An elderly woman stood in the doorway.
When the old woman saw Rory, her expression froze. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to say sothing, but no words ca out.
Rory put on a polite smile. "Auntie Vincent, it’s been a long ti. I’m Rory Linden."
"Ro-Rory... Rory Linden." Auntie Vincent’s expression finally softened a little as she looked her up and down. "It’s been so long. Look how much you’ve grown."
She ushered Rory inside.
Rory bent down and placed the items she was carrying on the floor.
Auntie Vincent glanced back at Rory again and couldn’t help but marvel, "You look so much like your mother. It’s like you were cast from the sa mold."
Rory replied politely, "A lot of people say that."
Auntie Vincent looked behind Rory, confirming she ca alone, and couldn’t help but ask, "How co the Young Master didn’t co with you?"
Auntie Vincent used to call Miles Harrison "Young Master."
She hadn’t changed the habit after all these years.
"He..."
Rory didn’t know how to answer.
Auntie Vincent asked her, "The Young Master told a long ti ago that you two were dating. Are you married now?"
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