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Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Is Your Waist Okay? Will It Still Work in the Future?

Seeing this, the doctor left the hospital room. Ian Sterling then pulled Lynn Winslow closer and joked, ”Don’t worry. This won’t get in the way of your future happiness.”

Lynn Winslow’s tears turned to laughter. She glared at him and said, ”You’d better not.”

Ian Sterling clutched his back, trying to roll over, but the recently realigned joint was still throbbing with pain. Lynn Winslow immediately rushed over and pressed him down, warning him not to move.

”Alright, fine.” Ian Sterling gave in, continuing to lie on his stomach.

Lynn Winslow sat on the edge of the hospital bed, looked at him, and said, ”I don’t know if it was the hospital director, but someone just called Zachary Quincy and told him you injured your back.”

Ian Sterling stared blankly. ’What?’

”He called your phone several times, so I finally answered. He said he’s on his way here now.”

Ian Sterling’s eyes widened in panic. ”Shit! Help me up, we have to go home! Hurry! He’s definitely going to make fun of me if he sees me like this.”

”Too late. I’m already here.” Zachary Quincy pushed open the door, having heard Ian Sterling’s every word. He grinned. ”Finn, how’s that back of yours? You still gonna be up for it in the future?”

He nodded to Lynn Winslow. Lynn returned a faint smile and stood up. ”You can have my seat. I’m going to go buy some breakfast.”

Zachary gave a ”Sure,” and plopped down on the edge of the bed without a shred of ceremony.

Once Lynn Winslow was gone, Ian Sterling asked through gritted teeth, ”Why the hell did the hospital director call you?!”

Zachary Quincy raised an eyebrow. ”The director kept my number from when my mom had surgery. He probably figured if something serious happened to you, it would be hard to explain to the Sterling Family, so he gave me a call.”

”Damn it. So nosy,” Ian Sterling muttered, turning his face away.

Zachary suppressed a laugh. ”In the hospital for your back at this hour... My mind can’t help but wander.”

”I fucking fell!” Ian Sterling roared, not even bothering to turn his head.

”Ooooh...” Zachary drew out the sound, nodding slowly. He didn’t argue. Instead, he lowered his gaze, pulled out his phone, and sneakily snapped a photo of Ian, posting it in their group chat. At this hour, their carousing group of rich kids were all still asleep, so naturally, no one replied. Zachary wasn’t worried. He’d just wait to see their reactions when they woke up.

After a long silence, Ian Sterling asked, still annoyed, ”Why aren’t you asleep? Who answers their phone at this hour?”

Zachary kept typing, replying nonchalantly, ”Just got home.”

He glanced up at Ian Sterling’s back and teased, ”It’s just a slipped joint. Why do you need to be admitted? Don’t tell me it’s actually serious and you’re just hiding it from me, right?”

”My fucking back hurts, can’t I just rest here for a bit?! Can you just get lost and call my wife back in?” Ian Sterling’s fists were clenched. If he wasn’t in such an awkward position, he would have gotten up and slugged Zachary Quincy.

Zachary shot back mercilessly, ”What ’your wife’? Has she agreed to marry you? God, you’re shameless.”

”Get out!” Furious, Ian Sterling tried to push himself up, ready to get up and hit Zachary despite the pain. Seeing this, Zachary quickly backed away, suppressing a laugh. ”Alright, alright, I’m going! I’ll visit you again when you’re home.”

He stepped out of the room and immediately saw Lynn Winslow sitting on a bench in the hallway.

Lynn Winslow’s face was pale as she bit down hard on her lip. Guilt and unease hammered at her chest, making it difficult to breathe.

Zachary pursed his lips, sat down beside her, and said gently, ”It’s not a big deal. Why do you look so miserable?”

Lynn Winslow glanced at him before silently turning away, saying nothing.

”He doesn’t think it’s a big deal. At most, he’s just a little embarrassed. Honestly, we’ve known each other since we were kids—who doesn’t have embarrassing stories? You don’t need to feel guilty. Your guilt will only make him miserable.”

Zachary understood Ian Sterling. The man was completely love-struck; he cared more about Lynn Winslow than he did about himself.

Lynn Winslow said softly, ”Thank you.”

”Nothing to thank me for. If you ever treat him badly, I’ll be the first one to chew you out.” Zachary got up languidly and walked toward the elevators without another word.

By the time he reached the lobby, the sky outside had brightened considerably. His phone buzzed a few times, and he glanced down at it.

In the group chat, only Nigel Abbott was awake. His position didn’t afford him the luxury of sleeping in.

[What’s the situation? @Zachary Quincy]

A smirk touched Zachary’s lips as he typed back: [His back’s out of joint.]

[Way to go, Finn.]

Nigel Abbott even sent a thumbs-up emoji. He walked out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom, gently shaking the still-sleeping Zoe Sterling.

Zoe Sterling frowned, raising an arm to swat him away. Nigel Abbott caught her hand and whispered, ”I have big news for you.”

Zoe Sterling pried her eyes open, her gaze murderous. ”This had better be good. Otherwise, you’ll be the one leaving this room on a stretcher.”

”Look at this and tell me it isn’t.” Nigel held out his phone. Zoe glanced at the screen, and all sleepiness instantly vanished.

She shot bolt upright, snatching the phone for a closer look. ”Finn’s in the hospital for a slipped joint?” she asked, shocked. ”At this time of night?”

”Yes. At this time of night.” Nigel pursed his lips to hold back a smile, repeating the crucial detail.

They weren’t innocent kids. At this hour, living with the woman he loved, in the hospital for his back... what other explanation could there be?

Zoe Sterling stared at the photo on the phone and murmured, ”Is he really that fragile?”

Nigel nearly burst out laughing. He took his phone back, forwarded the photo to her, then kissed her on the forehead. ”He’ll be heading home soon,” he advised. ”Probably to Lynn Winslow’s place. If you want to go see him, remember to call Lynn for the address. I’m heading to work.”

Still reeling, Zoe Sterling simply nodded.

After Nigel left, she picked up her own phone to look at the photo again. She was about to forward it to the family group chat, but after a long moment of hesitation, she decided against it.

’If Mom finds out, she’ll absolutely lose it.’

She stood up and called Lynn Winslow.

Lynn Winslow was in the middle of feeding porridge to Ian Sterling. His back was already feeling much better, but he was deliberately playing it up, acting pitiful to get Lynn to feed him.

When her phone rang, Lynn promptly shoved the porridge bowl into Ian Sterling’s hands and stepped outside the room to answer it.

”Zoe.”

Zoe’s voice was gentle. ”Lynn, Nigel told me Finn’s in the hospital. Is he alright?”

”It’s nothing serious, just a slipped joint. They’ve already put it back in place.” Lynn lowered her gaze to the slippers she’d hastily thrown on, biting her lip. ”Zoe... this is my fault. I kicked him, and that’s why he fell and hurt his back.”

Zoe chuckled softly. ”It’s not your fault, don’t take it to heart. When Finn gets discharged, are you taking him back to Calyx Hall, or to your place?”

”My place. I’ll take care of him.”

”Alright. Send me your address, then. Let me know when he’s out, and I’ll come by to see him.”

Zoe knew there was no such thing as a perfect secret. If she saw the situation for herself, she could run interference and explain things when the rest of the family inevitably found out.

Lynn agreed. After hanging up, she sent her location to Zoe. They had added each other as contacts at the Aetherium Club, but she never thought this would be the reason for their first real conversation.

Lynn rubbed her cheeks and sighed.