On the last day of December, Rory Linden formally submitted her resignation.
Keith Hawthorne walked her to the entrance of Elysian Hospital.
After saying goodbye to Keith Hawthorne, Rory Linden took a cab to Veridia’s most bustling pedestrian street.
It was New Year’s Eve, and the entire pedestrian street was brimming with a festive atmosphere.
There were far more shoppers than usual.
Rory Linden browsed through seven or eight luxury boutiques, picked out a beautiful hair clip, and asked the clerk to gift-wrap it.
Just as she stepped out of the boutique, she got a call from Sherry Walsh.
"Are you there yet? I just left the law firm, so I’ll be at the restaurant in a minute."
Sherry’s voice was cheerful.
Rory said, "I’m out shopping. I’m heading over now."
Sherry quickly chid in, "No, no, don’t rush! It’s snowing and the roads are slippery. Safety first! Don’t let my goddaughter get hurt."
"Alright, alright. I’ll take my ti."
Rory agreed.
In truth, neither Rory nor Sherry knew if the baby was a boy or a girl.
They simply had a silent agreent that they both hoped for a daughter they could dress up in pretty skirts and treat like a little princess.
Just as Rory reached the restaurant entrance, Sherry’s car was pulling up, coming to a stop in the parking lot out front.
After getting out, Sherry pointed to a suitcase in the back seat. "This is my gift to you!"
"A suitcase?"
Rory was a little surprised.
"Yes, a suitcase! You’re leaving soon, and I had no idea what to get you, so I figured, why not a suitcase? That way, no matter where you go, you’ll see it and think of !"
Sherry linked her arm through Rory’s. "Alright, we can get it on the way back. Let’s go eat first."
Once they were in the restaurant, Rory gave Sherry the gift she had prepared. She then transferred 102,000 yuan to her using a paynt app.
Sherry imdiately understood. "Hey! I’m not short on cash, and I never pressured you to pay back. You didn’t have to be in such a hurry! Besides, you even included interest!"
"Of course I did." Fearing Sherry would just send the money back, Rory said, "If you transfer it back to , I’m not eating. I’ll just go ho right now."
"..."
Sherry’s hand, poised to make the transfer, froze.
Her cheeks puffed out like an angry pufferfish.
"Alright, it’s New Year’s Eve. Don’t be mad." Rory handed her the nu. "Weren’t you hungry? Go on, order."
They each ordered two dishes.
The server collected the nus and left.
Only then did a sad expression cross Sherry’s face. "Rory, do you really have to go abroad? Can’t you find a job in Austrell or so other city?"
"I’m pregnant. If I took a job at one of the hospitals Director Hawthorne recomnded, I’d just be putting him in a tough spot. I already asked a few hospitals in Austrell, but they all turned down once they found out I was pregnant."
Rory sighed. "So, even with my great resu, my options are pitifully few while I’m pregnant."
The truth was, Rory didn’t want to go abroad.
She had accompanied Miles Harrison abroad a few tis and had also joined her academic advisor for an exchange program overseas during her studies.
But she was born and raised in Celestria, and deep down, she would much rather stay in her ho country.
"Sigh..." Sherry understood. "Well, in that case, you have to call the second you co back! If I find out you snuck back into the country behind my back, I’ll never let you hear the end of it!"
"Alright, alright."
Rory agreed with a smile.
"Oh, right, when’s your due date? When it gets close, I’ll co abroad to be with you. I can’t just let you go into the delivery room all by yourself, can I?"
The thought of Rory going abroad all alone made Sherry sick with worry.
"You don’t have to. I’ll let you know after the baby’s born. You can co visit the baby when you have ti."
Rory didn’t want to trouble Sherry like that, so she proposed an alternative.
"..."
’A million objections scread in Sherry’s mind.’
She looked at Rory, her eyes welling up.
Rory got up, walked over, and hugged her. "Hey, don’t cry. I’m not going alone, the baby will be with . I actually feel totally energized right now."
"But—but—but..." Sherry sniffled, trying to hold back her tears. "If you run into any trouble, you have to promise you’ll call . I’ll figure out a way to help."
"Okay. If I’m in trouble, you’ll be the first person I think of."
Rory promised.
-
Rory’s flight was booked for January 13th.
She could have reported to the new hospital right after New Year’s Day, but she had chosen January 13th.
It was because she and Sean Harrison still had an appointnt to keep.
Even though they had already broken up, she couldn’t bring herself to let it go.
January 11th was a Saturday.
In Veridia, the Civil Affairs Bureau was only open for half the day on Saturdays, from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM.
Rory arrived at the entrance to the Civil Affairs Bureau at 8:00 AM sharp.
She wore a thick, long down jacket, which concealed her ten-week baby bump.
The number of marriages had plumted in recent years, so only a few couples were scattered around the entrance, waiting to register.
Rory stood waiting at the entrance, a small cake box in her hand.
The minutes ticked by.
Finally, a bureau employee ca out to lock the doors.
The employee noticed her and asked, "Miss, were you here for sothing? We’re closing up for the day."
"I..." Rory hesitated for a mont before speaking. "My boyfriend and I were supposed to register our marriage today, but... I think he forgot."
The employee was a woman in her fifties.
Seeing how red the young woman’s face was from the cold, she couldn’t help but say, "Honey, let be honest with you. A man who can forget sothing this important isn’t worth entrusting your life to."
Rory glanced down the road and nodded. "Ma’am, you’re right."
The woman looked Rory up and down. "Look at you, you’re so beautiful. You’ll definitely find a good man soday. Take my advice: a man who leaves you waiting all morning like this? We don’t want him."
"Okay, I’ll take your advice."
Rory nodded earnestly.
She held out the small cake box to the woman. "Ma’am, I made this myself with very healthy ingredients. Please, take it if you don’t mind."
The woman quickly accepted it. "Oh, alright. Thank you."
Rory waved to the woman and turned to leave.
’I’ve done everything I was supposed to do,’ she thought.
’Looking back on this in the future, I won’t have any regrets.’
A few yards away, a champagne-colored Maybach had been parked by the side of the road all morning.
Sean Harrison sat inside, his hand clamped tightly around the interior door handle.
Watching her walk away, his fingers tightened, and he opened the car door, unable to stop himself.
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