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Chapter 20: Chapter 20: I Promise I Won’t Come Find You Again

”But that doesn’t mean my son should get beaten up for nothing!” Frank Wyatt snapped instinctively, then immediately realized this wasn’t the place for him to lose his temper. He forced a smile. ”I know, Mr. Jennings, but our families are both in Quartos, and we both have a certain standing. Compared to a mere bar patron, our families should be closer, don’t you think?”

”You’re not wrong,” Jasper Jennings said with a smirk. ”But I’m a businessman. And what matters more to me than a close relationship is...” His expression cooled as he softly uttered the final word: ”Money.”

Frank Wyatt wanted to flip the table and start cursing, but he didn’t have the nerve. This had happened on Jasper Jennings’s turf. Even with plenty of onlookers, no one would dare say a word for fear of the Jennings family. He couldn’t find out anything even if he tried.

He composed himself and said through gritted teeth, ”I can give you the plot of land I just acquired at the recent auction. I hope Mr. Jennings will consider it.”

Jasper Jennings wanted to laugh. He did indeed want that plot of land, but with the man beside him intermittently radiating a glacial aura, he wouldn’t dare make the trade. ’Not a chance,’ he thought.

Ian Sterling, who hadn’t said a word since entering, finally spoke, his face expressionless. ”Fine. Prepare the transfer agreement. You can have the security footage after it’s signed.”

Frank Wyatt felt a visceral pang, but the words had been spoken, and it was too late for regrets. He stood up. ”I’ll go back and prepare it now.”

Jasper Jennings personally saw the man to his car before strolling leisurely back inside. Seeing Ian Sterling sitting motionless in the same spot, he asked with a faint smile, ”What? Are you really going to give it to him?”

Without looking up from the screen he was tapping, Ian Sterling said casually, ”Cut the beginning. Just send the part where I threw the first punch.”

Jasper Jennings cracked up at Ian Sterling’s shamelessness, leaning against the counter and doubling over with laughter.

Lynn Winslow hadn’t had a good night’s sleep since arriving in Quartos. But now, with Kiki by her side—its fur so well-cared-for by her that it didn’t even shed—she just held her pet close and slept soundly for the whole night.

As expected, she felt completely refreshed when she woke up. She rubbed Kiki’s head, then went to the bathroom to wash up. With nothing on her schedule for the day, she decided to head to Ian Sterling’s company and orchestrate a chance encounter.

Spring weather was fickle. While the day before had been bright and sunny, a light rain this morning had cast a chill over Quartos once more.

After breakfast, she waited for her stylist to pick out an outfit, and after changing, she had them style her hair. It was nearly noon by the time she finally went out.

Lynn Winslow had her driver drop her off downstairs from Ian Sterling’s company. She found a window seat in a nearby café and, resting her chin on her hand, idly watched the pedestrians go by.

It was lunchtime, and office workers began streaming out of the skyscrapers. Lynn Winslow pulled her phone from her purse, bit her lip in thought, and finally sent Ian Sterling a message.

But Ian Sterling wasn’t at the office. After leaving the Jennings family’s residence last night, he had been dragged home by his older brother. He was now having lunch with his parents, his older brother, and his sister-in-law.

He was in the middle of a lecture from his father, his head propped on his hand, letting the words go in one ear and out the other. When his phone buzzed, he glanced down at it.

Spencer Sterling paused, watching as his son’s expression shifted from bored irritation to conflicted unease.

”Finn, if you have something urgent at the office, you should go,” Nina Norton said. She was also getting fed up with her husband but couldn’t rebuke him in front of their son and daughter-in-law. Seeing Ian’s reaction, she offered him an excuse to leave.

Spencer Sterling shot his younger son a cool glance and huffed. ”Then get out of here.”

Ian Sterling pressed his lips together and put down his phone. ”It’s nothing urgent. Let’s eat.”

He picked up his chopsticks to start eating. Just as the other four were about to do the same, they heard a sharp CLACK. They all looked up to see Ian Sterling already on his feet, saying distractedly, ”Mom, Dad, Elias, you guys eat first. I’m going back to the office.”

With that, he strode away. Nina Norton shot a look at her elder son, and Elias Sterling nodded, making no move to stop his brother.

Lynn Winslow finished her coffee out of boredom. She was now slumped over the table, idly swinging her legs as she watched the world outside.

When she saw a figure approaching in the distance, Lynn Winslow’s eyes lit up. She grabbed her phone and ran outside, stopping in front of the man and catching her breath. ”You weren’t at the office? I only messaged you because I thought you were there.”

Ian Sterling lowered his gaze to look at her, his voice deep. ”Weren’t you having me followed?”

”Oh.” Lynn Winslow hadn’t expected him to know. She avoided his gaze, not daring to look at him, and said awkwardly, ”I already told them to stop. It was only for a few days.”

Ian Sterling’s face was impassive as he said coolly, ”Didn’t I tell you to stop looking for me?”

”I don’t know anyone in Quartos. I don’t even have someone to eat with, so I had no choice but to find you.” Lynn Winslow blinked, extending a slender, pale hand to pinch the cuff of Ian Sterling’s shirt. Her voice took on a wheedling tone. ”I’m hungry.”

She was an expert at playing the victim. Ian Sterling knew that every word from her was bait, designed to reel him in. He pulled his sleeve from her grasp and took a step back. ”I don’t have time to eat with you. If you have no one for company in Quartos, you can go back to Morelia.”

Lynn Winslow lowered her head, looking aggrieved. She bit down on her lip, a little too hard.

Ian Sterling couldn’t bear to look at her. He averted his gaze and said coldly, ”Isn’t the reason you left in the first place because you had your grandfather, your childhood sweetheart, and your friends back in Morelia?”

His brow furrowed, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his fists. He bit out each word, ”So what are you doing back in Quartos? Did you come back to play me for a fool again?”

Lynn Winslow felt a sting in her nose, and her eyes gradually reddened. Those shimmering, expressive eyes of hers now welled with tears. Taking a step closer to Ian Sterling, she gently took his hand as if she had finally made a decision.

”Just have one meal with me. After we eat, I’ll go back to Morelia. I promise I’ll never bother you again.”

Hearing this, Ian Sterling’s heart constricted so painfully that the color drained from his face. He pulled his hand back, composed himself for a moment, and said, ”Let’s go. Remember your promise.”

Lynn Winslow froze for a second, then trotted to catch up with him. ”So you’ll have lunch with me?” she asked softly.

”Mm,” Ian Sterling affirmed faintly.

Lynn Winslow’s eyes crinkled in a smile, the unshed tears still glistening in them making her look both pitiful and adorable.

Ian Sterling led her to a nearby private Chinese restaurant. The owner personally came forward to greet him. Surprised to see a woman with Ian, the owner’s gaze inevitably fell upon Lynn Winslow. Once he got a clear look at her face, he found he couldn’t look away.

Ian Sterling narrowed his eyes, took a subtle step to block the owner’s view, his expression turning dangerous.

The owner gave an awkward cough and led them into a private room, asking with a smile, ”The usual?”

Lynn Winslow had been curiously looking around since she walked in and hadn’t noticed the subtle exchange between the two men at all.

It was only when she heard the owner’s question that she realized, ’So this is a place Ian Sterling eats at often.’

”Yes. And hurry,” Ian Sterling said, a hint of impatience in his voice.

Lynn Winslow pressed her lips together. ’He must be in a hurry to finish so he can get rid of me,’ she thought.