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Chapter 41: Chapter 41: What Do You Want With All This? Mmm, I Want To.

The sky was still dim when Lynn Winslow awoke from a dream. The space beside her was empty.

She frowned and pushed herself up to sit, only to see Ian Sterling in the same spot as before. He sat under the same dim, yellow light, his head still bowed low.

”What’s wrong? Regretting it already?” There was an unavoidable edge to her voice.

Ian Sterling’s head shot up. Pressing his lips together, he asked in a hurt tone, ”Are *you* regretting it?”

Lynn Winslow clutched the blanket to her chest. ”Weren’t you?” she said coldly.

”I don’t regret it.” Ian Sterling shook his head. He hesitated for a moment before standing up, walking over to the bed, and sitting on the edge. ”I didn’t use anything last night,” he apologized in a low voice.

Lynn Winslow froze for a second, then looked up at him, the corner of her lip curling into a smile. ”It’s fine. I’ll just take a pill later.”

”I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.” He lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of her neck and inhaling her faint fragrance. His eyes flickered with an almost unhealthy obsession as he sighed and murmured, ”You smell so good.”

Lynn Winslow lifted her arm, her fingers gently kneading the back of his neck. ”I smell like you,” she said softly.

Ian Sterling let out a muffled laugh. He was about to pull her closer when Lynn Winslow shoved him away. Her expression changed in a flash as she scoffed, ”Get off me. Have you forgotten your place? Are you really in a position to be doing something so intimate?”

”...” Ian Sterling froze, staring in disbelief at the way Lynn Winslow had just flipped on him. His jaw went slack, utterly dumbfounded.

”Get out.” Lynn Winslow’s face was hard as she jabbed a finger toward the door.

Ian Sterling clenched his jaw, stood, and strode out of the room. His retreating back radiated anger and frustration.

Lynn Winslow pulled the covers over her face, muffling the laughter she could no longer hold back.

The moment Ian Sterling stepped out of the room, he came face-to-face with Kiki in the hallway. Without Lynn Winslow around, Kiki was perfectly docile, rubbing against Ian Sterling’s legs and occasionally flicking its tail around his calf. Ian Sterling, his face grim, crouched down, grabbed the cat, and pet it roughly against the grain a few times, clearly venting.

Lynn Winslow, now dressed, walked out to see him ruffling Kiki’s fur until it stood on end. She bit her lip to stifle a laugh. ”What are you doing?”

Her sudden voice made Ian Sterling jump. He stood up and brushed the cat hair from his hands, looking a little awkward.

”I ordered takeout; it should be here soon. Let’s eat.” Lynn Winslow bent down to pick up Kiki, but her back ached so much she almost couldn’t straighten up. Ian Sterling, ever observant, quickly reached out to steady her.

Lynn Winslow bit her lip. Out of Ian Sterling’s sight, she rubbed her lower back. ’Damn you, Ian Sterling,’ she cursed internally.

The medicine arrived with the takeout. Lynn Winslow sat at the dining table while Ian Sterling poured her a glass of warm water. After she took the pill, she looked up to find him sitting across from her, his gaze fixed on her.

”What?”

”I’ll be careful next time.”

Lynn Winslow propped her chin on one hand, using the other to stroke the head of Kiki, who was sprawled on her lap. ”Okay,” she said softly. ”I know.”

During the meal, Ian Sterling was busy peeling shrimp and pouring water for her. Lynn Winslow glanced up at him several times but never refused his help.

Once Lynn Winslow was full, Ian Sterling immediately put down his chopsticks as well, sitting up straight like an obedient schoolboy.

Lynn Winslow took a sip of water from her cup, licked her lips, and asked him, ”Why did you dye your hair back?”

Ian Sterling froze, clearly not expecting the question. He turned his head to the side and said with some irritation, ”My dad said if I didn’t dye it back, he’d get my older brother to shave my head while I was sleeping.”

”Pfft.” Lynn Winslow couldn’t help it, nearly spitting her water all over Ian Sterling.

The tips of Ian Sterling’s ears turned red. Seeing this made Lynn Winslow’s heart soften. She walked around the table, ruffled his hair, and coaxed him softly, ”It’s fine. It looks good this way, too.”

She had always been one to offer a sweet word after a harsh one. Just moments ago, she had mercilessly pushed him away, and now here she was, coaxing him like a small child.

And yet, Ian Sterling fell for it every time. He wrapped his arms around her waist and nuzzled against her. His tone was casual, yet it held a hint of a playful whine. ”I bought a lot of boxes. They’re being delivered soon.”

Lynn Winslow’s brow furrowed at his words. She looked down at the top of his fluffy head, fighting the urge to smack him. ’I just managed to coax him back,’ she thought. ’It’s probably not a good idea to hit him now.’

Right on cue, the doorbell rang. Ian Sterling released her and walked briskly out of the villa to take two large bags from Evan Carson. ”You can go home,” he said casually. ”I’ll count today as overtime. Pick me up here tomorrow morning.”

Evan Carson sized him up. Seeing his boss’s radiant expression and the two huge bags of... supplies... he knew the man must have had a very good night.

Being the discreet man he was, he turned and left, suppressing any nosy thoughts.

Lynn Winslow was genuinely stunned when Ian Sterling walked back in carrying two massive bags.

”Why did you buy so many? What are you planning to do?”

Ian Sterling pursed his lips. ”That.”

???

The question marks practically materialized over Lynn Winslow’s head. Suspecting she’d misheard, she asked, ”What did you just say?”

”I said, I’m planning to do... that,” Ian Sterling replied, looking up. His cheeks were slightly flushed, but his tone was brazen despite being in the wrong.

Lynn Winslow’s fingers started to itch. ”Take them with you,” she said, biting out each word. ”Don’t leave them here.”

Ian Sterling feigned ignorance, taking a step forward and pushing his luck. ”In that case, will you come stay at my place?”

”Oh, sure. You change your tune pretty fast, don’t you?” Lynn Winslow gave him a dramatic eye-roll, then got up and headed upstairs with Kiki trotting at her heels.

A smile touched Ian Sterling’s lips. He lowered his gaze to mask his expression, then picked up the bags and followed her right upstairs.

The master bedroom door was open. Lynn Winslow was on the sofa in the attached sitting area, playing with the cat and watching TV.

First, Ian Sterling took the clothes from one bag and hung them in Lynn Winslow’s walk-in closet next to hers. Then, he took out the newly bought toiletries and arranged them beside her things. Finally, he stashed two boxes of ”necessities” in the bathroom before proceeding to distribute the rest in every corner of the room where he and Lynn Winslow might... *do something*.

Lynn Winslow frowned, watching him pace back and forth with several small boxes. ”What do you think you’re doing?” she asked coldly.

She deliberately avoided her usual phrasing, afraid the shameless Ian Sterling would twist her words again.

”I just want to make up for the last three years,” Ian Sterling said, his tone and expression the picture of innocence as he blinked at her.

Seeing him act this way, Lynn Winslow suppressed her anger, took a deep breath, and simply ignored him.

Ian Sterling continued his patrol of the room, like Kiki on its first day here, eager to leave his mark on every single corner.

He pushed the last three years to the back of his mind, acting as if their separation, their arguments, and all their distance had never existed.

Once he finished, he walked over to the sofa and stood beside it, watching Lynn Winslow with bright, intense eyes.

Lynn Winslow frowned and looked at him quizzically. Ian Sterling bent over to embrace her.

”What are you trying to do now?” Lynn Winslow dodged away, her eyes widening as she stared at him.

Ian Sterling gave her that same innocent look again, repeating his excuse. ”I want to make up for the last three years.”

”No. It’s been enough. You can go home now,” Lynn Winslow said, scooting farther back.

As she moved, her nightgown rode up, and Ian Sterling found it impossible to tear his eyes away from the exposed sliver of skin.