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Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Can’t Even Stand One Day

She pursed her lips and let out a soft breath. While Elder Winslow was still stunned, she stood up and said quietly, ”I’m going back to my room to catch up on sleep. Grandpa, Joel, take your time.”

She turned and left without a second glance. Elder Winslow called out to her a few times, but she pretended not to hear.

”Oh, this mouth of mine!” Elder Winslow slapped the table in frustration.

As the younger generation, Joel Winslow shouldn’t have interjected, but he couldn’t help but explain on his sister’s behalf. ”Grandpa, Sis is still really hurt that Mom and Dad left her behind. It’s just that she hasn’t shown it for all these years. But every time someone mentions them, she gets upset.”

”How could I not know? It just slipped out! I just made her unhappy right after she got back. Do you think she’ll hold it against me?” Elder Winslow sighed, rubbing his temples as he watched his precious granddaughter’s retreating back disappear from the garden.

The butler stepped forward and said softly, ”Elder Sir, the young miss won’t hold it against you. She just gets a little upset when the master and madam are mentioned. Please don’t worry.”

”It’s all the fault of those heartless parents of hers. Get my phone. I’m going to call and chew them out right now.”

Lynn Winslow returned to her room alone and pulled the curtains shut, plunging the room into darkness.

She sat on the edge of the bed for a moment before picking up the phone she had left behind. She saw a missed call from Ian Sterling from half an hour ago.

A small smile played on her lips. With a flick of her finger, she dialed Ian Sterling back.

The moment the call connected, a cacophony of noise came from the other end—deafening music and the chatter of people talking.

Lynn Winslow frowned slightly. ”What time is it? Why are you still out?”

Ian Sterling hurried toward an empty private room in the distance. As soon as the door closed behind him, the deafening noise was shut out.

In that moment, he was grateful to Jasper Jennings for insisting on soundproofing every private room during renovations.

He didn’t answer Lynn Winslow’s question. Instead, he sat down on an armchair and asked softly, ”Why didn’t you pick up my call just now? Did you just wake up?”

Lynn Winslow pulled back the covers, got into bed, and sighed softly. ”No, I was having breakfast with my grandpa and my brother. I left my phone in my room.”

Ian Sterling pursed his lips, a little unhappy, but he knew it wasn’t a big deal. So, he cut straight to the question he was most desperate to ask, the one he felt was most important.

”When are you coming back?”

Hearing this, Lynn Winslow laughed. ”What’s the rush? I’ve only been back for two days, all told. I was planning on staying for another ten days or two weeks.”

”...” Ian Sterling was silent for a moment before saying, ”I’m booking a flight right now. I’ll come find you in Morelia tomorrow.”

Lynn Winslow was slightly taken aback. ”What would you come here for?”

”To find you.” As he spoke, Ian Sterling put the phone on speaker and looked down to message his assistant to book the flight.

”Wait a minute,” Lynn Winslow said, amused. ”It’s only for a couple of weeks. Is this really necessary?”

With a serious expression, Ian Sterling said firmly, ”Absolutely. I can’t stand even one more day of this.”

Lynn Winslow’s soft, warm laughter traveled through the phone. Ian Sterling’s fingers, typing on the screen, paused for a fraction of a second. His heart pounded, and a flush instantly crept into his eyes.

Once Lynn Winslow finished laughing, she said softly, ”Alright then, come. Send me your flight number, and I’ll come pick you up.”

Ian Sterling rubbed his nose and agreed. Then he heard Lynn Winslow continue, ”Didn’t I tell you? You need to sleep earlier and drink less. Are you at Nys?”

”It’s Jasper Jennings’s birthday. It’s just for today. I only had two drinks, not much. We’re about to wrap up,” Ian Sterling explained. ”I’ll head back as soon as it’s over.”

Lynn Winslow said, ”Okay. Let me know when you get home. I’m going to get some sleep.”

”Okay.”

As soon as Lynn Winslow hung up, his assistant called. He said the only flight to Morelia was tomorrow night and asked if that would be alright.

Ian Sterling frowned and checked himself. He found that there really was only a flight at ten-something in the evening. He considered the possibility of taking a private jet but decided it would be too much trouble.

He was a little irritated, but he had his assistant book it anyway.

He returned to the private room where a few people were still playing cards and drinking. Ian Sterling walked over to Jasper Jennings and leaned in close to his ear. ”I have to head back to Aerie Garden. I’m leaving now.”

Jasper Jennings glanced at him and nodded, not insisting he stay.

After all, the fact that he had come at all—and even ordered him a watch in advance as a birthday gift—was already touching enough for Jasper Jennings.

’This little brother... I didn’t dote on him for nothing,’ Jasper Jennings thought, downing the wine in his glass as he watched Ian Sterling walk out of the room.

Once Ian Sterling was out of Nys, his driver, who was waiting in the parking lot, immediately drove over after getting his call.

”Back to Aerie Garden.”

The driver nodded, floored the accelerator, and the car sped off, smooth and fast. They arrived at Aerie Garden in just half an hour.

Ian Sterling strolled lazily into Aerie Garden. His father, Spencer Sterling, was still sitting in the living room watching TV, a glass of red wine in hand.

Seeing him, Spencer Sterling was a bit surprised. He frowned and asked, ”Why are you back?”

”Am I not allowed to come home?” Ian Sterling said calmly. ”Where’s Mom?”

Spencer Sterling knew his youngest son’s damn temper all too well. If it had been either of his other two sons, he would have dragged them into the study for a stern lecture about respecting their elders.

But this particular son had grown up by his own late father’s side, and he had copied his grandfather’s temper perfectly—if not made it even worse. Spencer truly couldn’t control him, so he’d stopped trying.

”What time is it? She went to bed long ago.”

Ian Sterling nodded, went to his room to shower and change, and then, seeing his father was still in the living room, came back downstairs to join him, pouring himself a glass of red wine as well.

”Why aren’t you watching in the third-floor living room?”

He didn’t quite understand his father’s behavior. After all, there was a separate living room right outside his parents’ bedroom.

”Your mother said I was being too loud.” Spencer Sterling propped his head on his hand, making no effort to hide the fact that his wife found him annoying.