Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 62: Don’t Make It Too Hard for Me

"..."

The dinner next weekend?

Thea Lynch’s expression went blank for a moment.

Her face was complicated, and Ian Preston assumed she found it troublesome and didn’t want to accompany him.

"It’s just going through the motions." He emphasized again, "It won’t take up much of your time."

Such occasions are just for business circle networking, without any outsiders. He usually attends these events without a female companion, only accompanied by an assistant.

Unfortunately, his words had no soothing effect. The expression on Thea Lynch’s face didn’t improve.

After pondering for a long time, she hesitated and said, "I don’t think I can make it."

"Working overtime that day?" It’s no wonder Ian Preston thought of this, since Thea Lynch always used overtime as an excuse to brush him off before.

Thea clicked her tongue, "It would be better if it were overtime."

It wouldn’t be so difficult to decide then.

"Hmm?" Ian Preston’s brow furrowed, this time he genuinely had no idea what she meant.

"Unfortunately, I have an appointment that day."

Thea Lynch’s network in Coronet is simple and clear, and there’s no one she knows that Ian doesn’t.

So, almost instantly, Ian guessed who it was.

"Sean Bell?" It seemed like a question, but his gaze was very certain.

Thea feigned surprise, "So easy to guess?"

A quick process of elimination made the answer obvious.

"I already agreed to him this afternoon. You’re just a little late."

"Next time then." Thea gave him enough face, unlike before, and joked with him: "Didn’t I tell you before, my schedule is also very full. Let me know in advance next time, and I’ll definitely make time for you."

"But this time, it can’t be helped, first come, first served. Both sides are brothers, don’t make it too hard for me."

Compared to attending such events with Ian Preston, she obviously felt more comfortable with Sean Bell.

After all, when Ian Preston shows up, he’s the focus, and she doesn’t want the spotlight.

Silas Cheney and Sean Bell took a while to return, not only buying her pea cakes but also some of her usual favorites, making a snack box.

At this time, Thea usually wouldn’t eat, though she doesn’t worry about her figure and isn’t afraid of gaining weight, she drinks very little water this late.

On the way back, holding the box, she couldn’t resist the temptation, secretly pinched a piece and put it in her mouth.

Today was supposed to be a heavy day, but with this piece of delicate pea cake, she seemed... not as sad anymore.

——

It seems that autumn arrives in Coronet in an instant, with no transition period at all. Clearly, it was summer in the morning, and by afternoon, the wind was blowing, and the rain started. The temperature changed too quickly, even though Thea wore a jacket every day, she couldn’t escape catching a cold.

After hearing her sneeze three times in five minutes, Foreman Chandler raised his head from behind the monitor and asked worriedly, "Foreman Lynch, you sound a bit serious. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the hospital?"

"There’s nothing urgent today, maybe you should go have it checked. I’ll keep an eye on things here."

Thea wiped her nose with a tissue, speaking in a nasal voice, "I took medicine in the morning, it’s just a minor cold, nothing serious."

"The temperature’s been dropping fast lately, you should be more careful."

"Yeah, yeah." Thea, being naturally frail, always has a hard time during season changes, but it never gets seriously ill, just uncomfortable for a couple of days.

During lunch break, due to the cold, Thea slept very deeply.

The assistant knocked on the door outside for a long time with no response.

After waiting at the door for a while, the assistant cautiously pushed the door open. Seeing Thea still asleep, he quietly placed the meeting notes on her desk. Then he noticed Thea’s computer screen was still on.

The recent test data was displayed, something only Thea and Foreman Chandler had seen.

Stepping closer to get a better view of the text, the screen suddenly went black in the next second.

Turning his head, he met Thea’s cool gaze.

"Uh... Foreman Lynch."

He nervously took a step back, explaining, "I didn’t see anything, I was just curious."

"And before I came in, I knocked on the door for a long time, you were asleep and didn’t hear."

He hurriedly explained the reason, as he had been on edge for a while due to Thea picking on him. Under her scrutiny of details, working under her was nerve-wracking and exhausting.

Thea frowned, her gaze moved away from him, and she flipped through the meeting notes he brought.

The assistant didn’t dare to breathe, waiting at the side for her decision.

"You can go."

"Huh?" The assistant was stunned.

He had prepared for a scolding from Thea, but... just like that?

Thea: "Anything else?"

"No, no!" The assistant pointed to the door, "I’ll just, just head back now."

Thea didn’t respond, lying back down to continue resting.

Three steps back, the assistant kept looking back, even after leaving the room, he still couldn’t believe it was real.

Could it be because she was sick and didn’t want to waste her energy?

In the past, Thea would at least lecture him for a while.

Today was really his lucky day...

Time proved the assistant’s thoughts were correct.

Because of the cold, Thea had been listless all day, resting whenever there was a chance. Her voice was weak, her appearance slightly unhealthy, and she dealt with issues by making problems smaller, and trivial ones disappear.

"Foreman Lynch, are you still working overtime today?" Foreman Chandler was packing up to leave, noticing Thea still seated with no intention of going.

Thea glanced at the time on the computer’s lower right corner and answered dreamily, "No overtime, I’m heading home too."

"That’s fine, I thought you’d be working sick."

Thea stretched lazily, "I wouldn’t go against myself unless Silas Cheney pays me overtime."

Foreman Chandler chuckled and walked downstairs with her.

"Foreman Lynch, remember to take your medicine on time, see you tomorrow." Foreman Chandler waved to her.

Thea smiled and nodded, "See you tomorrow."

As soon as she walked out the door, the wind brought her back to life. In Coronet, it’s as if it’s skipping autumn altogether.

Pulling her jacket tightly, Thea walked forward with her head down, wanting nothing but to get home and sleep.

"Thea!" Upon hearing her name, Thea slowly turned towards the voice.

Norbert Rhodes jogged over, looking a bit uneasy.

"It’s you." Thea sighed, "Did you need something from me?"

Since she put him on the blacklist, they hadn’t been in touch for a while.

Thea almost forgot about him until they met again.

"Recently, Aunt Lynch’s birthday is coming up, and since my mom’s out of town, she asked me to deliver a gift. But I can’t get into the estate, so passing by your office today, I thought I’d give it to you."

Norbert handed her the paper bag, "Could you help pass it on, please?"