Chapter 296: Chapter 296: "Leo Asked Me if We Could Play for a Few More Days Before Going Back.

Sherry Walsh was sure Noah Sterling would try to talk her out of it, or maybe even threaten her with her father.

But she never expected him to go completely off-script!

"You’re right. Even in a mutually beneficial arrangement, there have to be boundaries. Grabbing a meal or attending an event is one thing, but living together is definitely not appropriate."

Noah Sterling fell silent for a moment before continuing, "Lawyer Walsh, you’re beautiful and successful. You come from a happy home with loving parents. For us to be working together... frankly, I’m the one who’s punching above his weight."

"Hey, wait a minute..."

Sherry Walsh’s brain short-circuited for a moment.

In her eyes, she was the one who had been punching above her weight in this partnership.

’With his status, Noah could find any girlfriend he wanted.’

She, on the other hand, was thirty. She had a good job, a decent income, and parents with status and influence.

She wanted to find a man who was her equal.

Most men found her too headstrong and assertive.

But with the more average guys, she felt they weren’t interested in her for who she was, just for her family background. They just wanted to marry up and climb the social ladder.

"To be honest, I figured you’d refuse before I even called. I have ways to handle it. Sorry for interrupting your dinner." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Noah Sterling’s tone was level.

But for some reason... it held a hint of grievance.

Sherry Walsh couldn’t help but ask, "So if I don’t go, how are you going to handle it?"

"Well..." Noah Sterling hesitated. "I haven’t quite figured that out yet. But it’s only for two days. I might just need you to call and ’check up on me’ a couple of times. Nothing else."

Sherry Walsh felt a knot of frustration.

She couldn’t quite put her finger on why.

She swirled her chopsticks in the instant noodles before her and blurted out, "You’re not just hoping I’d refuse so you can get back together with Jane Jenkins, are you?"

"Lawyer Walsh, let me be perfectly clear," Noah said seriously. "I did have genuine feelings for Jane Jenkins in the past, but I’ve moved on since the breakup. I don’t care what her intentions are for contacting me now—I’m not going back."

Noah Sterling’s tone was grave.

Even though there was little emotion in his voice, Sherry could sense something through the phone. It was as if he was...

’...angry?’

"I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I’ll stop making wild guesses."

Sherry Walsh felt a sudden pang of guilt. As if to make it up to him, she asked, "So... if I go to the resort with you, you’d be okay with sleeping on the couch, right?"

She made her position perfectly clear.

"Of course," Noah was quick to agree. "You can rest assured. You take the bed, I’ll take the couch. If there’s no couch, I’ll sleep on the floor."

Sherry Walsh lowered her gaze to the broth of her instant noodles. "Fine. I happen to be free this weekend anyway. I might as well see this through and help you out."

"Okay. Thank you, Lawyer Walsh."

Noah Sterling’s tone was polite and proper.

But for some reason, it also felt a bit distant.

Sherry Walsh felt a little sheepish. "Don’t mention it. What can I say? I’m just too beautiful and kind-hearted for my own good."

Noah Sterling played along. "Then thank you, oh beautiful and kind-hearted Lawyer Walsh."

-

For the rest of the week, Sherry Walsh could think of nothing but the upcoming weekend trip to the resort.

She ordered new pajamas and lingerie online.

Usually, she only got manicures, settling for a basic pedicure.

But on Friday, she made a special trip to her regular salon and got her toenails done, too!

She tried her best not to bother Rory Linden about the weekend.

But after she got home from her nail appointment...

...and finished packing her suitcase...

...she just couldn’t contain her anxiety any longer and sent Rory a message.

[Rory! Call me back when you have a minute!]

After sending the message, Sherry Walsh sat in front of her small suitcase, lost in thought.

A moment later, a voice call request from Rory Linden popped up on her phone.

"Rory!" Sherry Walsh answered, immediately asking, "Where are you? Are you busy? Is now a good time to talk?"

"We were on a cruise for the past few days and just disembarked in Country D today," Rory said. "We’ll probably be here for three or four days before heading home next week."

After giving a quick update on her travel plans, Rory asked, "What’s wrong? Did something happen?"

Sherry Walsh explained that she was going to the resort with Noah for two days, starting tomorrow.

"Aaaah, honestly, I’m kind of regretting it now," Sherry said, sounding deflated. "Two adults sharing a room... it’s just too easy for something to happen."

"Well... if you’ve already set boundaries, and if Lawyer Sterling is a gentleman, then it should be fine."

After the last few days they’d spent together, the tension in Rory Linden and Sean Harrison’s relationship had eased.

She trusted Sean Harrison’s character, and by extension, his judgment in friends.

’Since Noah Sterling is Sean Harrison’s friend, his character can’t be that bad.’

"That’s true. He doesn’t seem like the type to try anything," Sherry added. "And if he dares to get handsy, I’ll kick him right in the face!"

"See? You already know what kind of person Lawyer Sterling is. Otherwise, you never would have put yourself in this situation."

Rory Linden and Sherry Walsh had been friends for years.

She knew her friend’s personality inside and out.

With her parents’ support, Sherry had never been one to compromise or put herself in a position she didn’t want to be in.

’Her feelings for Noah Sterling must be different.’

’It’s just...’

’...it doesn’t seem like the right time for a friend to intervene.’

"You’re right." Sherry Walsh finally felt at ease. "I’m going to bed then. You should get some rest too."

Rory Linden and Sean Harrison were staying in the presidential suite of a hotel in Country D.

She had just received Sherry’s message as she was about to go to Leo Linden’s room to check if he was asleep.

Sean Harrison had been the one to put him to bed tonight, and she was a little worried.

When the call came in, she decided to take it in the living room.

By the time she hung up, Sean Harrison had already come out of their son’s room.

"Is Leo asleep?"

Rory Linden asked softly.

Their relationship had quietly changed over the past few days on the cruise.

Although they had booked adjoining suites, the entire crew on the cruise ship treated them like a family of three.

The father and son went rock climbing every day.

Even though Sean Harrison couldn’t show his back, he still wore casual beach attire and went surfing with Leo Linden.

Rory Linden usually didn’t join in, content to watch from the sidelines.

Undeniably, those few days on the cruise were the happiest of Leo Linden’s entire life.

It wasn’t just because Leo had grown so fond of Sean Harrison.

It was also because she had always been too busy with work to spend much time with her son.

"Yes." Sean Harrison walked over and sat on the other end of the loveseat. "Was that Sherry Walsh on the phone?"

Rory Linden briefly recounted the phone call.

"Noah is a good man, and your friend is great, too," Sean Harrison stated definitively.

"I agree, but this is something they have to figure out for themselves. There’s not much we can do as outsiders," Rory Linden shared her view.

They had disembarked a little after five and didn’t check into the hotel until past seven.

He’d gone to put Leo to bed right after dinner and hadn’t even had a chance to change.

He was still in his slacks and shirt.

The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a hint of skin.

Sean Harrison draped an arm over the back of the sofa, turning to face the woman beside him.

"Just now, Leo asked me if we could stay and play for a few more days before we go back."