Chapter 287: Chapter 287: "If You Are Unwilling, I Will Not Force You...

She wanted to know everything about the man—the good, the bad, and the ugly.

After hearing so much, she was ready to accept it all.

"Regarding the video, that’s all I did. If you don’t believe me..." Sean Harrison drew out his words. "I can take you to see them. But we can only stand outside the courtyard. Their mental states aren’t very good, and I’m afraid you’ll get hurt if we get too close."

Although Rory Linden was a doctor, she didn’t feel sympathy for just anyone.

Bullies, after all, deserved very little.

What surprised her was that Nadia Willow was one of them, and might have even played a key role.

The man seemed to guess what she was thinking and explained, "I don’t have any other feelings for Nadia Willow. But my plans changed when I met you at Summerwind Estate back then. It was too late to return to the country, so Nadia was the only person I could entrust with the task."

"I know." Rory Linden turned to the side, looking at the man beside her. "Back then, Auntie Rhodes told you about Evan Hollis’s existence. She told you that if you weren’t good enough, she would just replace you with another son."

"..."

"In your eyes, to keep someone, you have to appear absolutely perfect. Otherwise, you risk being abandoned, right?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Rory Linden felt she now understood completely.

She knew what the man had been hiding all those years.

Why he had been so reluctant to talk about his past.

It was simply because he was afraid that she, like Charlotte Rhodes, would abandon him without a second thought upon discovering he wasn’t good enough.

Sean Harrison lowered his gaze, saying nothing.

Rory Linden looked at him intently. "When even familial love is so fragile, it’s only natural that you wouldn’t trust romantic love. Especially when that person was your own mother."

Compared to Charlotte Rhodes, Quinn Linden had been a wonderful mother.

When Quinn Linden passed away, Rory Linden hadn’t been much older than Leo Linden was now.

Her memories of her mother were few and far between.

But after giving birth to Leo Linden, she could understand her mother’s feelings much better.

Her mother had probably been deeply hurt by Sean Harrison’s father, and to protect herself, she had chosen to compromise and return to the Harrington Family.

The winter sun cast a gentle warmth inside the car.

After listening to her, Sean Harrison’s lips curled into an unconscious smile. "It’s not that I never thought about letting you go. It’s just that the more I was with you, the more I wanted to keep you by my side."

Even if it meant using lies, even if it meant hiding the past and pretending to be perfect.

’I still wanted to keep her.’

His self-righteousness from five years ago seemed utterly laughable now.

Rory Linden said, "Sean Harrison, I am a living, breathing person, not someone’s property. Just because you say you want to keep me by your side doesn’t mean I’m willing to be kept."

"I know." Sean Harrison’s voice was a little hoarse. "If you’re not willing, I won’t force you. It’s just that..."

"You’re a good man. If you wanted to get married, I’m sure many women would line up to marry you."

Rory Linden cut him off. "But I believe marriage is for a lifetime. Everyone hopes for a perfect partner, but no one in this world is perfect. No matter who you marry, it would be exhausting to keep up a facade for your entire life."

"I know."

"The person who loves you will love every part of you."

Rory Linden spoke each word clearly, earnestly trying to persuade him.

"Mm, you’re right." Sean Harrison admitted his mistake. "I should have trusted you before."

’I should have trusted that she would accept my past and love every part of me.’

"Alright." Rory Linden’s lips curved into a smile. "Actually, from the moment that bomb didn’t go off, you could say we were both given a new life. Let’s not dwell on the past anymore."

Sean Harrison turned to her, a look of surprise on his face.

He was sure he understood what she meant.

Rory Linden smiled. "Since this is a new life, I should naturally be with a suitable person. And that person could be anyone."

’It could also be him.’

Sean Harrison started the car. "Should we go pick up Leo?"

"Let me call Sherry Walsh. If she’s free, I’ll ask her to have lunch with us first. We can think about how to properly thank her later."

Rory Linden took out her phone.

She was truly grateful to Sherry Walsh.

If Sherry Walsh hadn’t been looking after Leo Linden, she wouldn’t have been able to rest so peacefully in the hospital these past few days.

They had been through so much. Thankfully, Leo Linden didn’t know a thing about it.

When the call connected, Rory Linden explained the situation.

"You’re already discharged? Why not stay a few more days?" Sherry Walsh’s voice was filled with unconcealed worry. "You don’t have to worry about Leo with me. He’s so well-behaved, all the junior lawyers at my firm adore him."

"I’m really all better. I was about to go stir-crazy staying in that hospital room," Rory Linden chuckled. "We’re on our way to pick up Leo now. I was wondering if the great Barrister Walsh is free to have a meal with us?"

"No problem. I’m never too busy to eat with you." Sherry Walsh agreed, then paused. "Us? Who’s ’us’? You and Sean Harrison?"

Rory Linden glanced at the man beside her and hummed in affirmation.

The car was already heading toward Sherry Walsh’s law firm.

"Hmm... okay then! Tell me what happened when you have a moment."

All Sherry Walsh knew was that Rory Linden was alive because the bomb hadn’t detonated.

She wasn’t clear on the specifics of what had happened at the scene.

She was certain there had to be another reason for the change in Rory Linden’s attitude toward Sean Harrison.

The car drove all the way to the entrance of Sherry Walsh’s law firm.

Sherry Walsh was already waiting in the coffee shop downstairs with Leo Linden.

Leo Linden was holding a small Rubik’s Cube, and next to his chair was the robot dog, Bianca.

Bianca was wearing a little knitted sweater in the style of "Pleasant Goat."

Passersby couldn’t help but stare.

"Mommy!"

When Leo Linden saw Rory Linden, he jumped right off his chair and ran over.

Rory Linden crouched down.

The little boy wrapped his arms tightly around Rory Linden’s neck, nuzzling her ear with his fluffy hair.

After a good while, Leo Linden reluctantly let go.

Rory Linden gently pinched her son’s chubby cheek. "Have you been a good boy for your godmother these past few days?"

"Mhm!"

Leo Linden nodded obediently.

"Leo was as good as gold. Forget me, even my colleagues at the firm love him."

Sherry Walsh came over and also spoke up for Leo Linden.

Having grown up with just Rory Linden, Leo Linden was much more self-sufficient than other children his age.

He would communicate his needs on his own and rarely caused trouble for others.

Many adults were fond of him.

"As long as he wasn’t too much trouble for you."

Rory Linden stood up, taking her son’s hand.

"No trouble at all. In the future, if you two have something to do, you can just leave Leo at my firm," Sherry Walsh said with a smile.

While the two women were talking, Sean Harrison stood quietly behind them.

When they had decided on lunch and were about to get in the car,

Leo Linden shouted, "Bianca, get in the car!"

The robot dog came hopping over, but because its legs were short, it jumped a few times without successfully getting into the car.

Sean Harrison bent down, lifted the robot dog into the car, and then buckled Leo into his safety seat.

The group got into the car.

Rory Linden sat in the front passenger seat.

Sherry Walsh sat in the back.

She looked at Sean Harrison in the front and teased, "I have Rory to thank for this. I’m finally getting a ride from a hundred-billionaire CEO."

Sean Harrison laughed. "If Rory Linden needs it, I don’t mind changing careers to become her driver, Young Harrison."

"Whoa, if I remember correctly, I haven’t seen you two for just a few days. Why does it feel like it’s been years?"

Sherry Walsh leaned forward to get a better look at Rory Linden’s expression.

Rory Linden sighed. "I can’t afford such an expensive driver."

Sean Harrison smiled. "It’s free. If needed, I can even pay you for the privilege."

"Alright, alright, that’s enough! Save it for when you two are alone. You’re giving me a toothache."

Sherry Walsh said, theatrically clutching her jaw.