Noah Sterling walked up to the door of the private room they were in earlier.
The manager was still standing dutifully outside.
He saw Henry Lancaster first. Just as he was about to greet him, he recognized Sean Harrison and imdiately bowed respectfully. "President Harrison, President Lancaster, President Sterling, good evening."
The manager knew Noah Sterling, but this was the first ti he had seen Sean Harrison at one of Henry Lancaster’s establishnts.
In his line of work, being able to recognize the big shots of Veridia was a basic skill.
Henry Lancaster asked first, "No one went in just now, right?"
"Rest assured, sir. I’ve been standing guard at the door the whole ti."
The manager took a small step aside, clearing the way to the door.
Sherry Walsh pushed the door open and went in first.
Rory Linden was so exhausted that she was still asleep in the corner, showing no signs of waking.
Before Sherry Walsh could get to her, Sean Harrison strode to the woman’s side and knelt on one knee.
He confird that Rory Linden was indeed asleep. Just as he slid an arm under her knees...
"What are you doing?"
Sherry Walsh rushed over to stop him.
"She’s asleep. I’m going to carry her to the car and take her ho."
Sean Harrison calmly stated his intentions.
Rory Linden was a heavy sleeper after drinking. She heard voices and rely furrowed her brow slightly, but didn’t wake up.
Sherry Walsh looked worried. "You’ve been drinking. Don’t you dare drop Rory."
Henry Lancaster spoke up. "Good lord, you really underestimate him. He could down three bottles by himself and not even be drunk."
Stellar Group’s success today wasn’t just due to Sean Harrison’s outstanding capabilities; his astonishing tolerance for alcohol was also a key factor.
Many of Veridia’s influential figures loved to drink.
Sean Harrison could attend three different functions in a single day, drinking heavily at each one. Combined with the shrewd tactics he’d honed over many years in the business world, his success was inevitable.
Noah Sterling called his driver, then said to Sherry Walsh, "President Harrison will definitely get your friend ho safely. You can ride with . I’ll give you a lift."
Sherry Walsh refused. "No way. I’m going with them. Rory is this drunk, and I can’t have certain people getting any funny ideas."
Noah Sterling sighed. "Then can our car follow theirs?"
Only then did Sherry Walsh agree.
Sean Harrison bent down and lifted the woman into his arms.
’He hadn’t held her in so, so many years...’
She seed even thinner than before.
He felt as if he’d barely used any strength to lift her.
The group left through the bar’s back exit.
The driver got out and opened the rear door of the sedan.
Sean Harrison carefully got in, still holding the woman.
The jostling from being carried had almost woken Rory Linden, but once she was in the car, she drifted back into a groggy, deep sleep.
Her senses were filled with a familiar scent, making her feel like she was dreaming.
A dream from five years ago.
She leaned against the firm, familiar embrace, finding a brief escape in her slumber.
After the car started, the interior lights went out.
Sean Harrison lowered his gaze, watching the lightly sleeping woman in his arms by the warm, orange glow of the streetlights filtering through the window.
His eyes traced the contours of her brows and eyes, his mind filled with Sherry Walsh’s earlier accusations.
’He had guessed she might have had a hard ti over the years, but he never imagined it would be like this.’
In fact, when Rory Linden had transferred the 540,000 to him, he had already used the transaction details to find the city she was living in.
Soon after, he found the hospital where she worked.
He had even flown there, stayed in a local hotel for two days, and then left.
At the ti, he thought she had started a new life and that he shouldn’t disturb her again.
’He had never, ever thought her "new life" would be like this.’
The woman’s head was resting on his lap.
Sean Harrison couldn’t resist gently caressing her cheek.
A sense of despair washed over him.
’It felt as though nothing he did from now on could ever make up for what he had done.’
The sedan slowly ca to a stop at the entrance of Rory Linden’s apartnt complex.
Before Sean Harrison could open the door, a groggy Rory Linden began to regain so awareness.
When she fluttered her eyes open, Sean Harrison was looking down at her.
Their eyes t. For a mont, Rory Linden couldn’t even tell if this was a dream or reality.
"Sean Harrison?"
Rory Linden froze for a second, then imdiately sat up!
She frantically searched her mories but couldn’t make sense of the situation.
’Weren’t she and Sherry Walsh just at the bar?’
’She rembered they had hired male escorts, and then... she thought she’d gotten sleepy...’
"Yes."
Sean Harrison confird.
Before Rory Linden could voice her questions, Noah Sterling’s car pulled up.
Sherry Walsh ran over and pulled the door open. Seeing Rory Linden awake, she exclaid, "Rory, you’re awake!"
"How did I end up in a car with President Harrison?"
Rory Linden was mostly sober now and naturally reverted to the formal address.
She scooted over to the door and stepped out of the car.
"Well... it’s a long story."
Sherry Walsh knew that Rory Linden didn’t want Sean Harrison to know about her past struggles.
Rory Linden had once said that these were all her own choices.
So, for now, she could only keep it from him.
Rory Linden rubbed her head and looked at Sean Harrison, who had also gotten out of the car. "In any case, thank you for bringing back, President Harrison. I’ll be heading in now."
"I’ll walk you up!"
Sherry Walsh insisted, still worried.
Rory Linden glanced at Noah Sterling, who had followed them, and gave Sherry a small, smiling wave. "No need. You and Lawyer Sterling should head back. I can manage on my own."
"Let walk you."
Sean Harrison suggested.
Rory Linden almost instinctively took a step back. "That’s not necessary. I’m mostly sober now. I can walk back by myself."
Her rejection of him was etched into her very being.
Sean Harrison’s outstretched fingers curled slightly. He forced a faint smile. "Alright. Then get so rest. Contact if you need anything."
"Goodbye."
Rory Linden bade him a very formal farewell. She then looked at Sherry Walsh and waved again, her expression softening considerably.
Once Rory Linden was inside the complex, Sherry Walsh turned to Sean Harrison. "Sean Harrison, aren’t you leaving?"
"I’ll stay a little longer." Sean Harrison looked at Sherry Walsh’s guarded expression. "Don’t worry, I’m just going to stand here for a bit. I won’t bother her."
Sherry Walsh still seed unconvinced.
Noah Sterling stood beside Sherry Walsh. "He won’t hurt Rory Linden. Let’s go."
Only then did Sherry Walsh leave.
Rory Linden’s apartnt wasn’t far from the complex entrance; you could see it from the gate.
Sean Harrison leaned against the car, watching until the light in her apartnt turned on. He knew she was ho.
’They should have had a ho together, too...’
Sean Harrison seed certain now that there was no going back.
For the first ti, he felt a sense of bewildernt.
"President Harrison?"
Hearing soone call his na, Sean Harrison followed the voice with his eyes.
Ryan Sterling rode up on a bicycle, wearing a professional helt.
He propped himself up with one leg on the ground. Seeing Sean Harrison, his expression grew wary. "What are you doing here?"
There was an age gap of about ten years between them.
Sean Harrison couldn’t be bothered to stoop to his level and had no intention of answering.
Ryan Sterling grew annoyed. "Why can’t you just leave her alone? You hurt her once, don’t tell you’re planning on hurting her again."
Only then did Sean Harrison shift his gaze to Ryan Sterling and ask, "What do you know?"
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