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Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Crying and Begging for Lynn Winslow

Ian Sterling waited until he heard the shower running, then furtively picked up Lynn Winslow’s phone. He tapped the screen a few times before quickly locking it and placing it back in its original spot.

Lynn Winslow walked out of the bathroom, rubbing her lower back. Seeing Ian Sterling sitting on the edge of the bed with a clearly guilty look on his face, she asked suspiciously, ”What are you so guilty about?”

”Nothing,” Ian Sterling said, shaking his head as if nothing was wrong. Lynn Winslow nodded slowly, pushing her suspicion aside for the moment.

”Do you want to go out for dinner tonight?” Ian Sterling asked with a slight cough, his eyes darting away. ”You know that post I made? My older sister saw it and said she wants to meet you.”

”Your older sister?” Lynn Winslow frowned slightly. She had met Ian’s sister back when she was living with the Powell family. The woman was a force of nature in public, a bit intimidating even, but around her family, she was... Lynn couldn’t quite find the right word.

”Yeah.” Ian stood up and took her hand, his gaze lowered so he wouldn’t have to see her reaction. ”I know it’s a bit sudden,” he said softly. ”If you don’t want to, I can just tell her.”

”Of course I’ll meet her. Why wouldn’t I?” Lynn swept her hair back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and tilted her head. ”Am I not fit to be seen in public?”

Ian leaned in to kiss her. ”You have no idea how captivating you are,” he murmured.

Lynn blocked his mouth with her hand and scoffed. ”What’s with you? Are you touch-starved or something?” she said teasingly. ”You’re always trying to hug me and kiss me.”

”Because I love you.” Ian’s dark eyes gazed deeply at her, the corners turning red with emotion.

”Oh, give me a break.” Lynn shot him a glare, but she couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from turning up. She poked his chest. ”Move it. I need to go get changed.”

”What for?” Ian grabbed her hand, the passion he’d just reined in already stirring again.

Lynn let out a sharp ”Hah!” She blocked him with her knee and made a snipping motion with her index and middle fingers, narrowing her eyes at him in warning.

Ian instantly let go and took a step back, his hands raised in surrender. Lynn rolled her eyes at him, flipped her hair, and headed for the walk-in closet. When Ian made a move to follow, she spun around and made a finger gun. Ian pressed his lips together and stopped in his tracks.

Lynn clasped her hands behind her back and meandered around the walk-in closet. She honestly had no idea what to wear.

’Is this considered meeting the family? I guess so.’

’My usual style doesn’t seem quite right, but dressing too formally feels a bit like I’m putting on an act.’

”Babe,” she called out. Ian hurried in immediately.

”What’s wrong?”

Lynn jutted her chin toward the glass-fronted closet. ”What do you think I should wear to meet your sister?”

”Just wear your favorite style. She’s seen photos of you. Besides, that time at Vespermount, Nigel Abbott sent her a picture he took of you, and she even complimented me on your great fashion sense.”

’Really?’ Lynn studied his face, and seeing not a hint of deception, she nodded.

She pulled an outfit from the closet and laid it on the bench. Just as she was about to change, she glanced back at Ian, silently telling him to get out.

Ian shrugged with theatrical regret and turned to leave. His expression made Lynn laugh. She was still smiling to herself as she started to change.

Ian sat on the sofa, thought for a moment, and then pulled out his phone to text Zoe Sterling.

[Sis, you are not to say anything stupid in front of her.]

[Don’t mention a single word about the last three years.]

[If you do, don’t blame me for turning on you. And you can forget about me approving of you and Nigel Abbott.]

[I mean it!]

Zoe Sterling was driving, with Nigel Abbott in the passenger seat scrolling through his phone. He heard the phone in the dashboard mount buzzing nonstop and raised an eyebrow. ”You gonna get that?”

Zoe glanced at the screen and sneered. ”It’s Finn. He’s trying to threaten me.”

Nigel’s curiosity was piqued. He reached over and grabbed the phone. Reading Ian’s messages, he let out an exasperated laugh.

He held down the voice message button and recorded a reply, his tone dripping with indignation.

”Finn Sterling, have you no conscience? All our lives, I’ve taken the fall for you and done your dirty work. How many times? And now you’re using my shot at happiness to threaten your sister? How dare you?”

Zoe couldn’t stop laughing at his fuming voice. She glanced at him, pulled the car over, and turned in her seat. ”Oh? What sort of trouble did you cover for him? What dirty work?”

Nigel froze. He cleared his throat and gave a hollow laugh. ”Nothing, really. I was just saying that to mess with him.”

”Is that so.” Zoe said with a smile and a nod. Just as Nigel was about to breathe a sigh of relief, her expression hardened. ”Get out of the car,” she said icily. ”And don’t call me until you’ve figured out what you did wrong!”

Nigel opened his mouth, about to argue, but one look from Zoe made him shut it. He gave a weak, awkward smile, opened the door, and got out.

Just as he was about to shut the door, he heard Zoe call out to him.

”My phone.”

Nigel tossed the phone onto the passenger seat. He slammed the door shut one second and got a face full of exhaust the next.

He couldn’t hold back a quiet curse. Planting his hands on his hips, he called Ian.

The moment the call connected, Nigel launched into a tirade.

”Finn Sterling, you’ve really done it now! You and your sister are exactly alike, you know that? She’s the classic ’use you and lose you’ type. She’ll turn on you in a heartbeat. Usually, she just treats me like her personal tool. She only calls me when she needs something or when she’s in the mood, and then tells me to get lost when she’s done. Well, I’m telling you, this time is different! Even if your sister comes begging me on her knees, I’m not letting her push me around anymore!”

Silence on the other end of the line.

”Say something!”

Lynn looked over at Ian, who was in the middle of changing. They both had the same strained expression of people trying desperately not to laugh.

A moment ago, while Ian was changing, his phone had rung. He’d asked Lynn to answer it and put it on speaker so he wouldn’t have to stop.

And so, the furious voice of the well-known Mr. Abbott had echoed throughout the secondary walk-in closet.

Lynn bit her lip, holding back a laugh, and handed the phone to Ian. Ian, on the other hand, didn’t bother holding back at all. He laughed and taunted, ”Nigel Abbott, did you ever picture this day would come back when you were mocking me for being so lovesick?”

Nigel seethed. ”Easy for you to say, now that you’re on your high horse! Have you forgotten when you were crying and begging us for Lynn?! You get back together and suddenly you have amnesia? Don’t you dare act all high and mighty with me. I’m telling you, I took a video. Watch out, or I’ll post it for everyone to see.”

”...”

Ian glanced up at a slightly stunned Lynn and hastily hung up the phone.

”Um...”

A slow smile spread across Lynn’s lips. She met his gaze, leaning in closer and closer. Just as their lips were about to touch, she murmured, ”Could you ask him to send me that video?”

”I know you’re a crybaby, but I’ve never seen you in full-on ’crying and begging’ mode.”

Ian lowered his head and bit her lip—hard. Lynn’s interpretation of this was simple.

He was lashing out from pure humiliation.