Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 31: Covered in Red Roses

Senior student said auction information can be found, soon she sent her a link.

Thea Lynch clicked in, and it indeed stated that the diamond necklace was ultimately bid on by a mysterious person. She double-checked the necklace, it was indeed the same one.

Nearly five million dollars, converted, over thirty million.

This sum of money isn’t a big deal in Thea Lynch’s eyes, and it’s even less so for Ian Preston, yet she thinks neither of them would generously give this amount away for no reason.

For a moment, Thea Lynch felt the necklace in her hand was no longer a necklace, but stacks of hefty cash.

Such a valuable thing, Ian Preston actually wanted her to give it to Norbert Rhodes, is he doing charity?

Putting the necklace back, Thea Lynch called Ian Preston, but no one answered...

After finishing her shower and coming out of the bathroom, Thea Lynch saw several missed calls on her phone, all from Ian Preston without exception.

Before she could call back, she noticed a friend request notification on WeChat. She took her hand off the towel, tapped in, and saw that familiar avatar and name.

It was Ian Preston.

Just two words in the remark: [Open the door.]

Thea Lynch looked up slowly, towards the door.

It’s been an hour since he called back. Has he been waiting outside all this time?

No, why is he back?

Putting down her phone, Thea Lynch walked over briskly.

No sound was coming from outside, and she didn’t see anyone through the visual doorbell.

Curiously, she gently opened the door a crack and peeked out.

The dark hallway was fully lit by the sound of her opening the door, roses were laid on the floor, stretching out of sight.

The heartbeat at this moment was deafening. She opened the door completely, stepping out in a daze, but because there was nowhere to step, she only managed a small step, barely standing.

She stood at the door for a good few minutes until the sound-activated lights went out. As if waking from a dream, everything returned to tranquility.

Thea Lynch cleared her throat, and the light returned to her sight once again.

Not a dream, the flowers were still there.

The fragrance rushed in, the red petals particularly striking, making it impossible to ignore.

Coming to her senses, Thea Lynch was momentarily at a loss, not knowing what to do.

Didn’t Ian Preston just give her a bouquet of roses? What is all this for?

After all, today is Valentine’s Day...

Returning to fetch her phone, Thea Lynch accepted the friend request, typing away for a while before sending out a message.

"Third brother, are the flowers outside your doing? Didn’t you already send some during the day? There are too many at the door, how should I clean this up?"

The other party seemed to be waiting for her, replying almost instantly, "The ones at the door are. The daytime bouquet has nothing to do with me. Take as many as you like inside, the rest will be tended to in the hallway daily."

He replied to each question, yet it’s his usual style, concise and to the point, unchanged over the years as if typing a couple more words might tire him to death.

Thea Lynch silently grumbled, replying with her hands, "Then what’s the point of sending me so many flowers, leaving them in the hallway?"

Her apartment has two units per floor, no one lives next door, she’s the only one on this floor, so there’s no worry about disturbing anyone, she just doesn’t understand the point of Ian Preston’s actions.

This time Ian Preston’s response was somewhat delayed, only after she carried in over ten flowers did she see his message.

Ian Preston: "Afraid you’ll be swayed by a single bouquet from someone else. Seeing them in the hallway every day on your way in and out will lift your spirits."

"..." Thea Lynch replied with a string of ellipses, "Am I really that easily swayed?"

Not to mention she’s already twenty-four, even at fourteen she couldn’t be tricked into being swayed by a single flower.

Ian Preston didn’t reply, only said: "Throw away the office bouquet tomorrow."

Thea Lynch: "Already did. [smile]"

"Hmm." A cold single word, just like him. Through the screen, Thea Lynch could imagine his expression at the moment.

She mimicked his stern look, hmn’d back, amusing herself.

Turning her head, she spotted the diamond necklace on the table, took a deep breath, nearly forgetting business.

"Third brother, you’ll have to take the necklace back someday, it’s too precious. I’ve transferred the money to Norbert, no need to repay with the necklace."

After sending the message, one minute, two minutes passed - Thea Lynch leaned against the wall, boredly fiddling with her fingers.

After five minutes passed, still no reply.

Intuition told her he’s deliberately not responding.

——

The next morning, as Thea Lynch was leaving for work, she was startled by the flowers at the door. Casually grabbing a bouquet, she brought it to the company and placed it in a vase.

From the drawer, she found yesterday’s card with no claimant, Thea Lynch examined it closely.

After searching her memory for a while, she remembered it was Norbert’s handwriting.

The penmanship on the card Ian Preston showed her previously resembles this one. It signifies it was Norbert, as besides that, nobody would stealthily send her flowers.

After finishing work in the morning, Thea Lynch took time to message Norbert, "Flowers received, thanks, but I don’t like them. Please don’t send me anything again. If you continue, I will be very troubled."

"Regarding your feelings, I am still firm in my stance, you’re nice, but I have someone I like, it’s impossible between us."

After sending the message, she transferred some money to Norbert, for yesterday’s flowers. Without waiting for his reply, she deleted him as a contact.

In the afternoon, before lunch break ended, Thea Lynch received a call from Silas Cheney.

She half-closed her eyes, lying in her chair, squinting a little more before pressing accept on the call.

Initially assuming Silas wasn’t calling for anything serious, he unexpectedly said he wanted to take her on a business trip.

"Me?" Thea Lynch opened her eyes, switched hands holding the phone. "Can’t someone else go?"

"You’re the main person in charge of this project, who would be more suitable than you? Besides, don’t worry, it’s just to report progress to Valiant, and connect with them, very easy."

"... Isn’t this kind of thing something you can find anyone for?" Why does it have to be her? 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Silas Cheney: "Isn’t this for your own good? You’ve been working so hard lately, take the opportunity of this trip to relax. Giving you three days off, once you finish with Valiant, enjoy two more days in Riverbend."

Thea Lynch closed her eyes again, sounding listless, "No need. I’m already quite relaxed now, don’t need to go out to unwind. Thanks, boss."

"Love work so much? Have you fallen into the money pit?"

"Do you think I work for that petty amount? My monthly salary isn’t even enough to fill the gaps between my teeth."

"Then what’s it for?"

"Of course, it’s for our little General Manager Silas to become a billionaire soon."

Silas Cheney: "..."