Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 36: She Doesn’t Need Him Anymore

Thea Lynch stood at the door, gazing distantly at Ian Preston, with a blank expression.

She considered herself to be a reasonably smart person, yet somehow, upon hearing Ian’s words, her brain suddenly short-circuited.

Chewing over the words repeatedly, sparks fired within her mind, attempting to reconnect and swiftly decipher the deeper meaning behind his statement.

What did he count as? Good question.

Of course, he was a family brother, what else could he be.

Ian’s eyes were deep and narrow, hiding emotions she couldn’t understand, just quietly staring at her, offering no chance to escape.

Meeting his gaze, Thea smiled, "If outsiders heard this, they’d surely think I did something ’unforgivable’ to you, Third Brother."

"Speaking of which, Third Brother was so good to me before, I have a good memory, I wouldn’t forget everything."

A tsunami surged in her heart, invading her territory recklessly, yet Thea’s face remained unmoved.

Her tone was indifferent, as if telling someone else’s story, "Especially what happened that year, all of it, I won’t forget."

"So if Third Brother needs me to do anything henceforth, feel free to say."

Thea had to admit, Ian was indeed kind to her, she’d never denied this. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have romantically thought he liked her too.

Hearing this, the man sitting in the chair lifted the corners of his lips, revealing an ambiguous smile. Thea didn’t know what he was smiling at, and seeing he wouldn’t leave, she no longer urged, and frankly said:

"However, in the future, Third Brother really doesn’t need to take such good care of me anymore. I can completely live independently now. Whatever I do, right or wrong, I can discern and bear the consequences."

"Third Brother, you can’t keep treating me as that child who would hide behind you when something happens."

Yes, she didn’t need him anymore.

——

Back in the hotel, Thea lay on the bed and exhaled a long sigh.

Her brain had resumed working, but she didn’t want to ponder Ian’s specific meaning.

No matter what he meant, she no longer wished to know.

One question would always lead to another, even many others, she couldn’t let herself fall into a vicious cycle, not knowing how long it would take to come out again.

Waste of time.

Thea hadn’t drunk little in the first half of the gathering today, she was already a bit dizzy on the way back. Lying on the bed for a while, drowsiness came over her, she hugged the quilt and gradually fell asleep, forgetting to take off her high heels.

Unsure how long had passed, Thea heard knocking on the door in her dream, increasingly clear. She slowly opened her eyes, subconsciously thinking it was already the next morning.

Had she slept for so long?

Staring at the time on the phone for quite a while, Thea finally confirmed it was ten o’clock in the evening, not ten o’clock in the morning...

The knocking continued outside, annoyed, Thea climbed off the bed, forgetting she was still wearing high heels, twisting her right foot as she stood.

"Ouch..." With that, Thea’s drowsiness completely woke.

——

The hotel staff waited at the door repeatedly, finally the tightly closed room door opened from inside.

"Miss Lynch..."

Faced with Thea’s unfriendly gaze, the staff was startled and immediately fell silent.

"What’s the matter?"

"Uh, it’s like this. A gentleman asked the hotel to send you some hangover soup, and this is what he asked me to give you, said it’s something you left behind."

The staff handed over the paper bag from the dining cart, Thea stared at it for a moment before reaching out to take it, stepping aside to let them deliver the hangover soup inside.

Opening the bag, Thea saw a Richard Mille crystal diamond watch.

She touched her wrist, realizing her watch was missing.

Recalling carefully, she remembered taking off the watch during the first round of drinking, casually placing it on the table. The bracelet was also supposed to be taken off, but after thinking it over, she wore it back.

Rushing because of Ian, she didn’t notice her watch was left behind.

"Where’s the person who sent it?" Thea called out to the staff ready to leave.

"The gentleman? He returned to his room."

"He’s staying here too?" What exactly was Ian up to.

"Yes." Realizing their relationship was complicated, the staff didn’t conceal: "Mr. Preston is staying on a floor above you."

"... Alright, thank you."

——

Back in her room, Thea drank the hangover soup, dropped onto the sofa, kicked off her high heels. She bent over to rub her ankle, no sensation, just pain walking.

She only wanted to rest now, not worrying about this matter, took a quick shower and removed her makeup before going to sleep. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

By the next morning, when Thea awoke again, her ankle was already swollen.

The heels she wore last night weren’t particularly high. Tried moving them, fortunately, the bones weren’t hurt.

Called the front desk, and the hotel quickly sent up ice packs and spray, asking if she needed to go to the hospital.

"No need, just a minor issue."

Once left alone, Thea applied ice and spray for a while herself.

The plan to go out today was completely ruined.

She always said she disliked going out, Silas insisted she stay here and stroll, now it’s settled, she won’t be going out at all.

After a simple lunch in her room, Thea rescheduled her return train ticket.

The assistant had returned to Coronet to work already this morning, she originally planned to leave tonight, now she had to stay another day.

——

Coronet, Stratus Development One.

With Thea not around, Silas had to hold the meeting with Foreman Chandler as the second in command.

Halfway through the report, Foreman Chandler’s phone on the table suddenly rang.

In the main seat, Silas clicked his pen against the table, "What’s going on?"

Foreman Chandler explained, saying he’d forgotten.

The emergency meeting had him rush to attend from the laboratory with documents in hand. Plus, no one usually called him during work hours, he forgot about the phone.

He signaled to the assistant to turn off the phone.

The assistant glanced at the caller ID, asked, "It’s Foreman Lynch’s call, should I hang up?"

Foreman Chandler made a puzzled sound, didn’t answer. Instead looked at Silas, tentatively asking, "Mr. Cheney, should I hang up?"

This matter needed Silas’s decision.

As expected, Silas pointed at his phone with the pen, gesturing him to answer.

Foreman Chandler jogged back, hearing Silas say before picking up the call, "Speaker on."

"Alright!"

"Hello, hey hey hey Foreman Lynch, it’s me, are you still in Riverbend?"

"Yes, I’m not heading back tonight, taking another day off. Any work issues, we’ll discuss by phone."

"You’re staying another day in Riverbend?"

Thea responded with a sound, explaining, "A minor unexpected issue, can’t head back today."

Hearing this, Silas, initially eavesdropping, picked up a pen and tossed it at Foreman Chandler. The latter looked at him, cluelessly.