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Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Not Clingy as a Child, but Clingy to His Girlfriend When Grown Up

Ian Sterling’s lips twisted into a smirk as he shot his old man a look of unabashed mockery.

”...” Spencer Sterling’s fists clenched. He fought back his anger and managed not to lash out.

”What are you doing back here?” Spencer asked with a fake smile. ”You don’t even go back to your own place. I’m surprised you have time to come here.”

Ian Sterling raised his stemmed glass, took a sip of red wine, and said nonchalantly, ”I’m going to Morelia tomorrow afternoon. I’ll probably be there for a little over ten days. Just came by to let you know.”

”Hah,” Spencer scoffed. He placed his empty glass on the table, gesturing for Ian to pour him a drink. ”Even when you’re in Quartos, your mother and I never see you. You don’t need to ’let us know.’”

Ian ignored his father’s passive-aggressive tone. After leaning over to refill his father’s glass, he stood up to head upstairs.

He stretched as he walked, tossing a comment over his shoulder just as he reached the second floor.

”Get some sleep. Staying up late isn’t good for someone your age.”

Spencer was so angry he laughed.

Ian returned to his room and sat on the balcony, his gaze lowered as he scrolled through his chat history with Lynn Winslow. He pressed his lips together.

’He wasn’t really being clingy. He was just scared—scared that Lynn wouldn’t come back, scared he’d be abandoned just like three years ago.’

He ran a hand roughly through his hair, messing up the soft curls even more. A few strands stuck up on top of his head. If Lynn were here, she would have found it adorable.

In the morning, Nina Norton heard from Spencer Sterling that her precious youngest son had stayed the night. She went to knock on Ian Sterling’s door as soon as she woke up.

Ian, lying on his side, heard the knocking and irritably pulled the blanket over his head. Thankfully, Nina didn’t knock again, but by then, most of his sleepiness had vanished.

He sat up and saw a message Lynn had sent him before she went to bed.

”Babe, remember to tell me when you get on the plane.”

He rubbed his face, a smile touching his lips as he sent Lynn a cute ”mhm” sticker.

Ian got out of bed, pulled open the curtains, and stretched in the sunlight that streamed in. He glanced down and was surprised to see his parents leisurely watering the flowers in the garden below.

”Hey, beautiful,” he called out. His mood had done a complete one-eighty, all thanks to Lynn’s ”babe” and her thoughtful reminder.

Nina Norton looked up at him, her heart soaring at her son’s ”beautiful.” She called back, ”Sweetheart, come down for breakfast.”

Ian nodded, then gave his father a little wave. A grin spread across his face. ”Dad, you should take better care of yourself. Standing next to Mom, you look a good ten years older than her.”

Spencer got so mad he was about to spray Ian with the hose, but Nina snatched it back.

”Why are you bullying my son?” she snapped, glaring at Spencer.

Spencer: ”...”

’Wasn’t it just a moment ago you were the one furious with him?’

Since Ian’s return last night, the frequency with which Spencer got angry had risen dramatically.

’Just let them all leave. It’d be great to have the house to myself and my wife.’ Spencer sighed and followed Nina back into the villa.

Yawning, Ian came downstairs and plopped down lazily at the dining table. The butler, smiling, brought them breakfast, his gaze toward Ian full of affection as he lowered his eyes.

”Finn, it’s been a while since you’ve been back. What have you been up to lately?”

”Not much. Just messing around.”

Hearing this, Spencer looked up at him and frowned. ”How long do you plan on keeping that company of yours open?”

”I’ll stop when it goes bankrupt,” Ian said slowly. ”What’s the matter? Aren’t my brother and sister enough for you?”

Spencer’s face darkened. He usually didn’t react much to jokes, but the moment the conversation turned to business, he looked ready to lecture someone.

Nina tugged on the corner of his shirt, but Spencer pretended not to feel it. ”We don’t care how you fool around or what games you play,” he said coldly. ”But you need to have some awareness about your own future.”

Ian put down his chopsticks and met his father’s gaze directly. ”What awareness do I need to have?” he asked lightly. ”Dad, don’t you already know how my company is doing?”

”You—” Just as Spencer was about to continue his lecture, Nina reached out and gave his side a vicious pinch. ”Shut your mouth,” she hissed. ”My son finally comes home for a visit, and what do you do? Are you trying to raise hell?”

Spencer hissed in pain and had no choice but to swallow the words on the tip of his tongue.

Nina looked at her youngest son and said gently, ”Don’t mind your father. Hurry up and eat. Will you go to the mall with Mom later?”

”Sure,” Ian nodded. ”I’m flying to Morelia tonight, so I can only stay with you until the afternoon.”

Nina paused, confused. ”What are you going to Morelia for?” She didn’t know Lynn Winslow had gone back.

”To find Lynn,” Ian said bluntly. ”She went back three days ago. I’m worried.”

Nina shot to her feet in surprise. ”What? She left again?”

Panic began to set in. She thought Lynn had abandoned her son all over again.

Nina walked over and sat down beside Ian, taking his hand to comfort him. ”Sweetheart, don’t be sad. This time, we can’t just—”

Ian pulled his hand back, frowning. ”What are you talking about? She just went back to see her grandfather. She’ll be back in a few days.”

”Then why are you following her?” Nina was still worried, her expression filled with pity. She thought her son was just afraid to face the truth.

”She’s already been gone for three days, and she’s planning to stay for another ten to fifteen days. I want to go see her.”

Nina’s pitying expression instantly morphed into one of disdain. So, he just missed her. She stood up and returned to her seat, her face a mask of disbelief as she walked. ”You were never clingy as a child, but now you’re all over your girlfriend. How pathetic.”

Spencer let out a cold laugh, already mentally prepared for his son’s pathetic behavior. ”You’ve known about his crappy attitude for ages,” he casually remarked to his wife. ”What’s so hard to accept?”

”...” This time, it was Nina who was left speechless.

After breakfast, Spencer volunteered to be the driver. He had to go to the office, so he dropped the mother and son off at the entrance of a Sterling Family-owned mall.

The luxury boutiques Nina frequented were all on the fourth and fifth floors. She didn’t bother browsing the other levels, heading straight for her destination with a bored Ian trailing behind her.

Seeing Nina, the boss’s wife, the manager respectfully came forward to greet her. He smiled and led them inside, saying, ”Madam, that bag you wanted has been transferred over for you. I’ll go get it right now.”

”Good,” Nina nodded. The manager stole a glance at the expressionless Ian and continued, ”You’re so fortunate, Madam. Your children take turns accompanying you on your shopping trips.”

Nina glanced back at Ian as well, her lips curving into a smile. ”Yes, I am.”

Mother and son both sat on the sofa. The manager brought the bag over and, with white-gloved hands, meticulously described every detail of it to Nina.

Ian leaned against the sofa, his eyes glued to his phone. Nina called out to him, ”Finn, help Mom out. Does this bag look good?”

He had no choice but to look up, glance at it, and nod. ”It’s alright.”

Getting an ”it’s alright” from him meant the bag was actually quite nice. Nina turned to the manager, who was a little embarrassed by Ian’s terse review. ”Don’t mind him,” she said. ”Wrap it up.”