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Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Kissing on the Racetrack

”That’s the guy who was trending with me a few days ago.”

Lynn Winslow thought back for a moment before she recalled the comment.

The son of that big shot from the FR Holdings annual gala—the one you weren’t supposed to gossip about.

The man stood up, leaned forward slightly, and extended a hand with a smile. ”Hello, sister-in-law. I’m Nigel Abbott. I guess that makes me Finn’s future brother-in-law?”

A big shot with the surname Abbott? Only one person came to Lynn Winslow’s mind. She chuckled softly and extended her fingers to briefly shake Nigel Abbott’s hand.

Ian Sterling pulled Lynn Winslow’s hand back, squeezing it in his own. He said, displeased, ”Who said you’re my brother-in-law? My older sister isn’t interested in you. And another thing, don’t play the gentleman with me.”

Nigel Abbott let out a stifled laugh and sat back down.

Kenneth Keller gave the two a meaningful look. ”Have a seat,” he said. ”We’ve been waiting for you.”

Ian Sterling proactively walked over and pulled out a chair for Lynn Winslow. Only after she was seated did he sit down beside her. Seeing the two take their seats, the people around them began to gather in small groups. Some left, while others stayed to continue their meal. No one dared to approach the table of young masters who stood at the top of the social pyramid.

Ian Sterling attentively poured Lynn Winslow some juice and carefully cut her steak into small, easy-to-eat pieces. At the side, Zachary Quincy couldn’t bear to watch. He rolled his eyes and was the first to leave.

The few who remained were more composed. Seeing Ian Sterling’s blatant simping, they merely watched with faint smiles on their faces.

Suddenly, Jasper Jennings spoke up. ”Are you going to Mr. Powell’s birthday banquet tomorrow?”

He was looking at Ian Sterling, so the question was obviously for him. As the heirs to their families, which had long-standing ties with the Powell family, the others had to attend. But Ian Sterling was different. He could go if he wanted to show face, or skip it if he didn’t.

Ian Sterling didn’t answer him, instead looking at Lynn Winslow, who was quietly eating her steak with her eyes lowered.

Sensing his gaze, Lynn Winslow looked up at him. Ian Sterling asked in a low voice, ”Are you going to your grandfather’s birthday banquet tomorrow?”

His voice was so soft, as if speaking any louder might startle her. Jasper Jennings was left speechless.

Lynn Winslow’s lips curved into a smile. ”I’m not going,” she said softly. ”I’ll just have someone send a gift over.”

Ian Sterling said, ”Oh,” then told Jasper Jennings, ”Then I’m not going either.”

”It’s a good thing Ethan isn’t here today. If he were, he’d definitely chew you out,” Nigel Abbott said, his fingers resting on his lips as he suppressed a smile.

Ian Sterling looked completely unconcerned, but Lynn Winslow raised a hand and tugged on the corner of his shirt. ”You should go,” she said gently. ”You and my cousin are close, so it wouldn’t be right for you to skip it. You can take my gift for me.”

Ian Sterling frowned, wanting to refuse, but Lynn Winslow reached up and pinched his earlobe. He swallowed the words he was about to say and agreed.

Jasper Jennings couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up and said, ”You two eat. I’m going to go check on my car.”

Seeing that two had now left, Kenneth Keller and Nigel Abbott exchanged a look, then also got up and departed, leaving the couple alone at the table.

Lynn Winslow took a few casual bites, then said to Ian Sterling, ”I want to see your car.”

Ian Sterling agreed and led Lynn Winslow by the hand to the private garage where his car was parked. As soon as the garage door opened, a deep red, modified race car sat there quietly. Lynn Winslow couldn’t help but gasp, ”It’s beautiful.”

Ian Sterling hugged her from behind, his lips brushing against her ear as he murmured, ”Not as beautiful as you.”

Lynn Winslow raised a hand to caress his cheek, which was pressed against her ear. A smile touched her eyes as she chuckled, ”So cheesy.”

”Just telling the truth.”

Lynn Winslow pushed him away and walked to the front of the car. Her fingers hovered in mid-air just before touching it. She looked up and asked, ”Can I touch it?”

Ian Sterling followed her, leaned in, and took her hand, placing it on the car. ”Why not?” he said in a low voice. ”You can touch me whenever you want, let alone a car.”

”Who wants to touch you?” Lynn Winslow gave him a light, teasing glance, the corners of her eyes brimming with an intoxicating charm.

She turned, walked around to the driver’s side, and got in. She hadn’t planned on driving, but seeing the car changed her mind. ”I want to take it for a spin,” she said to Ian Sterling.

How could Ian Sterling refuse? He took her to change into a protective racing suit, handed her a brand-new helmet, and willingly sat in the passenger seat. He reached over to adjust her helmet and said gently, ”Let’s go to the other track.”

The track they usually drove on was built around a mountain and was excessively winding. Plus, several cars were already speeding along it, making it unsuitable for an inexperienced novice like Lynn Winslow.

Lynn Winslow raised an eyebrow. ”Looking down on me?” she asked nonchalantly.

Ian Sterling was just worried about her safety. After all, that group drove like they had a death wish.

Lynn Winslow ignored him and started the car herself. The engine roared to life, and the car shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, following the signs directly onto the mountain circuit.

The wind howled past their ears as the dark red race car executed a perfectly controlled drift around a corner. Ian Sterling held his breath, unable to help himself. He glanced sideways at the calm and composed Lynn Winslow, feeling his heartbeat synchronize with the car’s speed, the THUMP-THUMP-THUMP of it deafening.

When the car finally shot past the finish line, Ian Sterling was gasping for air. ”That was incredible,” he said, stunned.

It was the first time he’d ever felt such an intense thrill, something he’d never experienced in all his years of racing.

The cars that had followed pulled up steadily beside them. The drivers all got out, expecting to see Ian Sterling in the driver’s seat, but were shocked when Lynn Winslow emerged instead.

Zachary Quincy took off his helmet and shook his head in surprise. ”How are you the one who was driving?”

”Why couldn’t it be me?” Lynn Winslow’s attitude toward him was cold, because Zachary Quincy always gave her the cold shoulder.

Zachary Quincy was choked up by her words. He opened his mouth but couldn’t find anything more to say.

Ian Sterling slowly got out of the car. He watched Lynn Winslow take off her helmet and fix her hair, then took off his own helmet and strode over, pulling the surprised Lynn Winslow into a tight embrace.

His arms trembled with excitement, unstoppable. Ian Sterling wished he could pull her into his very being. His eyes were moist and slightly red as he said in a hoarse voice, ”Do you know what I was just thinking?”

Lynn Winslow didn’t struggle. ”What?” she asked softly.

”I was thinking, if the car had flown off the track just now, and we died together in a lover’s pact, it would have been its own kind of perfect ending.”

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and buried his face in the crook of her neck. If Lynn Winslow hadn’t been wearing a racing suit, she would have surely felt the dampness overflowing from his eyes.

His words didn’t stir any particular emotion in her. She just chuckled softly, clutching the fabric of his suit at his waist, and let him hold her, trembling.

The two of them embraced. The others stood by for a moment before getting back into their cars. Several vehicles then sped down the mountain, their roaring engines echoing one after another across the entire track.

Lynn Winslow let him hold her for a long time before giving him a light push.

”We should head down the mountain, too.”

Ian Sterling took the opportunity to loosen his grip slightly. He looked at her delicate face, lowered his gaze, and kissed her fiercely.

They kissed on the empty racetrack at the summit, with only the dark red race car beside them, its headlights shining.