The Harrington family’s old manor was located in the suburbs, free from the disturbances of city noise.
The air seed to have been muted.
But the words Nadia Willow had spoken were like a bomb.
One by one, they exploded in Rory Linden’s mind.
She wouldn’t have even been surprised if soone told her she’d once had an abortion for Miles Harrison.
But not Sean Harrison!
She couldn’t accept being deceived.
Sean Harrison had told her she was his first love, that he was just like her—that this was his first ti.
She was twenty-six this year. It wasn’t that she was desperate for so kind of pure love or obsessed with being soone’s first.
But if it wasn’t true, then Sean Harrison had lied to her.
And that changed everything.
Rory Linden stood frozen, montarily unsure how to even react.
Nadia Willow stood a ter away, quietly watching the expressions shift across her face.
After a minute or two.
Nadia Willow spoke up. "It’s not true."
Rory Linden replied instinctively, "That’s impossible."
’Who would joke about sothing like that!’
They were strangers. Why would she lie about sothing like this?
’Was it purely to test ?’
"It really isn’t true." Nadia’s hand landed on Rory’s back, patting it reassuringly. "But you see? You don’t trust him, do you?"
"Or perhaps, you’re well aware he’s hiding things from you."
"Your relationship is so fragile. It can’t withstand a single blow."
"Little girl, the adult world is complicated. Sleeping together doesn’t solve everything."
Nadia Willow spoke, one sentence after another.
Her intentions were perfectly clear.
"Miss Willow," Rory Linden finally said, "I don’t think you’re that much older than . You don’t need to be so preachy."
She paused, then added, "I didn’t show you the hickey on purpose, so you don’t need to be so malicious toward ."
Nadia Willow hadn’t expected Rory Linden to have this kind of attitude.
Rory glanced toward the manor. "If it’s still not a good ti to go inside, then I’ll wait for her by the entrance."
She didn’t know Nadia Willow, nor did she want to chat with her.
Rory started walking toward the manor entrance on her own.
Watching the woman’s retreating back, Nadia found this "little girl" more and more interesting.
She’d rejected her friend request last ti.
And her counterattack this ti was just as direct.
Just as Rory was about to reach the entrance, a car drove in from the main gate.
She recognized it at a glance. It was Miles Harrison’s car.
’Miles is here today, too?’
Then...
’Will Sean Harrison co today?’
Miles Harrison got out of the car and looked up to see Rory Linden a few ters away.
The woman was dressed the sa as when he’d seen her that morning, only she’d taken off her white lab coat, revealing a plain won’s blouse and slacks underneath.
Back when they were dating, Rory had always dressed like this.
A light-colored blouse, casual pants, and flat shoes.
He used to think Rory looked dowdy and plain dressed like this, not even worth a second glance.
Now, he didn’t know if it was because their relationship had changed.
Looking at her again, he only found her gentle and radiant.
Her beauty had never been aggressive. It was like the evening glow, which only seed exceptionally beautiful when set against the garden’s trees, shrubs, and fountain.
Miles had originally wanted to greet her, but then he rembered how she had thrown water on him that morning.
Besides, tonight she would see her true place in Sean Harrison’s heart, and sooner or later, she would realize he was her best option.
Miles acted as if he hadn’t seen her and walked straight toward the house.
Not long after Rory went inside, Evelyn Irving ushered her to a seat.
There were six chairs around the round dining table, with five people seated.
Rory Linden sat next to Nadia Willow.
The empty chair was between Nadia and Miles Harrison.
The housekeeper brought out a few cold appetizers first.
Evelyn Irving looked at everyone at the table and asked Charlotte Rhodes first, "Mother, isn’t Sean coming today?"
"He’ll be here shortly."
Charlotte Rhodes sat upright in the host’s seat, showing no intention of picking up her chopsticks.
The others were of a younger generation, and seeing that she wasn’t moving, they guessed they were waiting for Sean Harrison and remained seated as well.
Charlotte Rhodes looked at Evelyn Irving and said, "I heard about the matter with Lucy Shaw."
"I’m sorry..." Evelyn Irving quickly apologized. "It’s my fault for not raising my son well, for letting such a disgraceful thing happen."
Miles Harrison didn’t like Charlotte Rhodes and didn’t acknowledge her as his grandmother in his heart.
But since the Harrington Family had been saved from ruin by Sean Harrison, he still called her "Grandma."
Now, seeing his own mother being so subservient in front of her, he was the first to protest, "What does this have to do with us?! It was Lucy Shaw who was shaless! She ca on to when she was already pregnant with another man’s child!"
Rory Linden lowered her head and sipped her water, not wanting to get involved.
Since she wasn’t part of their circle, she had no idea that the story of Lucy Shaw cheating on Miles Harrison—being pregnant with another man’s child at their engagent party—was already the talk of the town.
It had beco the go-to topic of gossip for wealthy socialites during their mahjong gas.
"That’s enough!"
Evelyn Irving had already scolded Miles after the incident.
She couldn’t very well scold her son again in front of Charlotte Rhodes.
"We were the victims in the first place!" Miles grew angry just thinking about it. "Damn it, I can’t find Lucy Shaw right now, but it doesn’t matter. I’m calling off this engagent no matter what!"
Charlotte Rhodes glanced at Evelyn Irving. "Help Miles find a nice girl. The two families can sit down and settle things, and they can get married in a year as planned. Don’t let him find soone himself anymore."
"On what grounds?" Miles retorted, annoyed. "What era is this? Why can’t I have the freedom to choose who I marry?!"
"Of course you can have the freedom to choose."
A voice ca from behind.
Rory Linden turned to look.
Dressed in a suit, Sean Harrison walked slowly from the dining room entrance and stopped behind her chair.
The man’s gaze fell on Miles Harrison. "You can have the freedom to choose who you marry... if you can make your own company profitable by yourself."
With that one sentence, Miles couldn’t even lift his head.
He knew the state of his company better than anyone.
Sean Harrison continued, "If your freedom to marry is predicated on having to spend money on a lavish engagent party for you, and on having to give you business I could be taking myself just to make your company’s books look good, then I have veto power."
Miles knew perfectly well why Sean Harrison was suddenly being so "good" to him.
But he couldn’t refute it.
His company survived on the scraps of projects that Sean Harrison casually tossed his way.
For a long ti, he had been quite satisfied with that.
He didn’t have to work hard, never had to worry about money, and won threw themselves at him just because his last na was Harrison.
"It really has to be you, Sean. One word from you is more effective than a hundred from us."
Evelyn Irving praised Sean Harrison sincerely.
Sotis she couldn’t help but wonder why her own son couldn’t be as outstanding as Sean.
Sean Harrison’s gaze swept over the only empty seat at the table, but he didn’t move.
His hand rested on the back of Rory Linden’s chair as he said, "There’s no seat for . I guess I’ll just stand."
Reviews
All reviews (0)