By the ti Rory Linden said this, she could no longer hold back her tears.
She believed Sean Harrison would be a responsible father.
But he was only in his thirties. With so much of his life still ahead of him, he was bound to et soone he’d want to spend forever with.
Then, between his company, his new family, and any other children he might have, it would be inevitable that he couldn’t spare ti to care for Leo...
In her heart, Rory Linden apologized to Leo.
’Maybe I never should have decided to have him all those years ago.’
’Leo is such a good boy. If he’d been born into any other family, he would have had a happy life.’
’Not like this, where he’s about to lose his mother, and his father might leave him too soday.’
The two bomb disposal experts squatted down again to carefully examine the situation.
It was almost impossible to disarm completely.
After a brief discussion, the officers decided it was ti to evacuate.
One of the younger bomb disposal experts walked to the door and hesitated before saying, "You guys go first. I’m going to check one more ti. Maybe there’s a weak point where I can disable the whole thing at once! If not, I’ll leave then."
The other expert hesitated, wondering if he should stay behind as well.
The younger expert said, "You should get going. If I realize it’s hopeless, I can just jump and be on my way. You’re older, and your legs aren’t what they used to be. You’re not as agile as I am."
After they ca to an agreent, the other two officers left.
Only the young bomb disposal expert remained behind.
Rory Linden couldn’t help but speak up. "You..."
"Don’t talk to . You’re keeping from my work."
The young expert cut Rory Linden off.
He knew she was about to tell him to leave.
Now that he had decided to stay, he had to race against the clock and give it his absolute, undivided attention.
’Maybe, just maybe, there’s a chance for a breakthrough?’
He knew in his heart that the hope was slim.
But as a police officer, he couldn’t bring himself to just turn his back and abandon a hostage.
Rory Linden turned her gaze to Sean Harrison. "Sean, when you see Leo, please apologize to him for . I haven’t been a good mother. All these years, I was so busy with work that I barely spent any ti with him. I rarely took him to amusent parks, aquariums... places like that..."
The thought of Leo made Rory Linden’s tears flow uncontrollably.
She lay perfectly still, afraid to move, while tears trickled from the corners of her eyes and pooled in her ears.
Just a mont ago, her head had been groggy.
But ever since the bomb on her body began its countdown, her mind had beco much clearer.
This was probably that legendary final burst of clarity before the end.
Sean Harrison hadn’t said a word this whole ti; his head was down, focused on typing a ssage.
When he heard Rory’s words, he put his phone away. He walked over to the sofa, slowly squatted down, and gently took her hand in his.
Her hand was cold, and her fingertips trembled slightly in his grasp.
"If you’re not a good mother, then I must be the worst father in the world. He wouldn’t want to see go ho alone."
As Sean Harrison spoke, his fingers tightened on her hand without him realizing it.
The tir on the bomb showed just over eight minutes remaining.
Five years apart.
He had thought he would have a long, long ti to make things up to mother and son. He never imagined that "future" would be reduced to a re seven minutes.
The reason Rory was here today... all of it...
It was because of him.
If he hadn’t forced himself into her life all those years ago, with her education and talent, she would have had an exceptional, brilliant life.
She would have beco a nationally renowned cardiac surgeon at a top-tier hospital. She would have a loving husband and adorable children.
It was his selfishness, his careful scheming, that had bound her life to his.
To keep her from leaving, he had ticulously maintained a perfect image, never daring to let her know about the mistakes he’d made back when they were students.
He’d thought he had what it took to make her happy.
But in the end, not only had he let her suffer for five years raising their child alone, he was now the reason she was about to die.
"I know, but you’re the only family he has left..." Rory Linden squeezed her eyes shut. "His life is already so pitiful. Please, be good to him. Let him feel more love. No matter who you marry in the future or how many children you have, for the sake of dying here because you dragged into this, please don’t forget him."
Rory Linden’s emotions were stretched taut.
In these last monts, she couldn’t allow herself to break down.
She tried her best to remain calm, but tears stread from her eyes, completely beyond her control.
"The only wife I ever wanted in this life was you, Rory Linden. But all the pain you and Leo have gone through is because of . And now... I don’t even have the right to say I regret it."
Sean Harrison’s grip on her hand tightened instinctively. He had never been one to cry, but his eyes began to well up.
"Okay, I believe you." Rory Linden looked toward the police officer. "It’s too dangerous here. You should all leave. You don’t have to save ."
She knew it was too late to be saved.
The bomb disposal expert didn’t answer imdiately.
He was checking the bombs one by one.
He had managed to disable a few of them in that ti.
But compared to the total number of bombs, it was just a drop in the bucket.
With this many bombs, it would take several hours to disarm them all. There simply wasn’t enough ti!
Sean Harrison’s hand gripped Rory’s tightly; he wouldn’t move a single step.
Just then, the shout of a police officer ca from outside: "Carl Lawson! Carl Lawson! Get out now! Get everyone else out of there now!"
"Argh! Stop shouting!"
The officer, Carl Lawson, yelled back.
It was quiet inside, but the officers outside were far away and might not have heard him.
The officers outside repeatedly urged him to leave.
Rory then said, "Thank you. You really don’t have to push yourself. I know you tried your best. It’s not your fault. Evan Hollis is the one who took things too far. Please leave. I’m begging you."
It was better for her to die here alone.
She couldn’t drag innocent people down with her.
"This... This... SIGH!"
Carl Lawson stood up and glanced at the countdown tir.
The shouts of the officers outside continued.
He looked at the dense cluster of bombs before him and finally gave up. He turned to Sean Harrison. "Mr. Harrison, these can’t be disard. Let’s get out of here together."
"You go first. I want to stay with her for a while. I’ll be out in a minute."
As Sean Harrison spoke, he sat down on the floor, showing no intention of getting up.
Carl Lawson’s eyes flickered as a thought seed to strike him. "You..."
"You should go. I’ll be out in a minute."
Sean Harrison cut him off, urging him to leave.
Carl Lawson glanced at Rory Linden again, unwilling to give up. But one look at the sheer number of bombs and another at the countdown tir, and he finally left, his eyes filled with bitter reluctance.
"You should go too."
Rory Linden heard the police officer’s footsteps descending the stairs.
Sean Harrison held her hand tightly, his body remaining perfectly still.
He looked at her, and after a long mont, he said, "I just sent a ssage to Ethan Dixon. I told him how my assets are to be divided after my death. Everything I own will go to Leo, but it will be temporarily managed by..."
"What are you talking about! Are you insane?!"
Rory Linden broke down.
Not for a single second had it occurred to her that Sean Harrison was planning to stay behind!
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