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Chapter 102: Chapter 102: After All, She Was Truly Greedy

It was just as Ian Sterling had predicted.

Upon seeing Ian Sterling, Nina Norton was torn between heartache and exasperation.

”I’ll grant you, it was impressive that you saved Lynn Winslow and your sister. But couldn’t you have been just a little more impressive? Like, by saving them *without* getting yourself hurt?”

Spencer Sterling let out a cold snort. He unceremoniously grabbed Ian Sterling’s uninjured arm and said with disdain, ”Not an ounce of muscle on you. When you get back, you’re going to your second uncle’s for some proper training.”

”...” Ian Sterling pulled his hand back, frowning. ”Dad, can you not spout nonsense in front of Lynn? What do you mean I have no muscle?”

”I don’t care if you have any or not. You’re going to your second uncle’s, and that’s final.” Spencer Sterling shot him a glare, then turned to chat with Elder Winslow.

Nina Norton held Lynn Winslow’s hand. Seeing the guilt on her face, she comforted her, ”Don’t you worry. His dad and I aren’t the type to blame our future daughter-in-law when our son isn’t smart enough to stay out of harm’s way. If you don’t believe me, just ask your future sister-in-law.”

’Future daughter-in-law... Future sister-in-law...’

Lynn Winslow felt a little awkward. Ian Sterling, who was listening from the side, was delighted. Sophia Shaw smiled and said to Nina Norton, ”Mom, please don’t say things like that. You’re making Miss Winslow shy.”

”Ah,” Nina Norton said. Lowering her gaze to Lynn Winslow’s slightly flushed cheeks, she said with a wide grin, ”My apologies, my apologies.”

Lynn Winslow shook her head. Sophia Shaw sat down beside her and said softly, ”But what Mom said is true. They really aren’t like that, so don’t worry.”

”Thank you, Uncle, Auntie,” Lynn Winslow said with a small smile. The more Nina Norton looked at her, the more curious she became.

”I didn’t expect her to have such a sweet and gentle personality.”

Ian Sterling cut in. ”Mom, she’s just intimidated by you. Could you please stop holding her hand and let her come over here and keep me company?”

Nina Norton threw him a look but stubbornly refused to let go of Lynn’s hand. ”Don’t pay any attention to him,” she said to Lynn.

Lynn Winslow could only blink playfully at Ian Sterling, her eyes brimming with triumph.

When Ian Sterling caught her look, he covered his eyes with his arm, amused.

’He knew it. Lynn was hardly the meek type. She was just putting on a little act since it was her first time meeting his family.’

Meanwhile, Spencer Sterling and Elder Winslow were sitting together. Grateful that Ian Sterling had saved his granddaughter, Elder Winslow couldn’t stop praising him.

”I’ve always known that all five of your children are remarkable, each in their own way. Especially your Finn. An old man like me truly appreciates how sensible he is.”

Spencer Sterling smiled while thinking to himself, ’Sensible? It’s all an act for your benefit.’

But he didn’t burst Ian Sterling’s bubble. Instead, he smiled and said, ”Lynn is the wonderful one—so well-behaved and obedient. I’m actually hoping she can teach our Finn to be a little more mature.”

Elder Winslow, however, had a different opinion. In his heart, no one could ever compare to his precious granddaughter.

He accepted Spencer Sterling’s compliments with a smile and warmly insisted they all stay the night at Winslow Manor.

Spencer Sterling was hesitant at first, but with Elder Winslow’s persistence, he finally agreed. ”I’m terribly sorry,” he said, a little abashed. ”I can’t believe we’re imposing on you like this.”

”It’s only proper.” Elder Winslow instructed the butler to prepare the guest rooms and, beaming, personally refilled Spencer Sterling’s teacup.

The two groups chatted away happily, leaving a pitiful, ignored Ian Sterling to lean against the headboard and browse his phone one-handed.

Somehow, the people in his group chat had found out he was injured, and messages checking in on him were flooding in one after another.

[How bad is the injury? We’re flying to Morelia tomorrow to see you.]

Ian Sterling replied: [It’s not serious. It’s nothing.]

[A gunshot wound is ’nothing’? The news is all over the world, and you’re calling it ’nothing’?]

Ian Sterling actually hadn’t realized the news had spread, but he replied anyway: [The bullet hit my shoulder. The wound isn’t deep, I just lost a bit too much blood. It’s almost healed already.]

[Oh yeah? If you’re healing that fast, then come to the boxing gym when you get back. You can go a round with each of us.]

The message was dripping with sarcasm. Speechless, Ian Sterling pursed his lips, sent back a cursing emoji, and put his phone away.

He rested his head sideways on the pillows, quietly gazing at Lynn Winslow, who was chatting happily with his mother and sister-in-law.

This very moment was, for him, the picture of perfect contentment.

He stared for a long time, his blinks growing slow, his eyes filled with adoration.

Nina Norton was the first to notice. She gestured for Lynn to look at her son’s hopelessly lovesick expression.

Curious, Lynn Winslow glanced over, and her eyes met Ian Sterling’s. She bit her lip, feeling a little shy.

’He doesn’t even know how to be a little more reserved in front of his parents.’ Lynn Winslow shot him a glare.

Ian Sterling let out a low chuckle. He draped his arm over his forehead, breaking eye contact to stare up at the chandelier.

Seeing that he was about to fall asleep, Lynn Winslow said quietly to Nina Norton, ”Auntie, you, Uncle, and Sister-in-law should go to your rooms and rest. You must be exhausted from the long flight.”

Nina Norton glanced at her drowsy son, and Lynn’s thoughtfulness made her heart soften even more. Smiling, she patted the back of Lynn’s hand and gestured for Sophia Shaw and Spencer Sterling to leave with her.

Lynn wasn’t worried, as she knew her grandfather would take care of them. She remained by Ian Sterling’s side, gazing at him, lost in thought.

His once arrogant and aloof face was still pale, lending him an air of vulnerability. As he lay there quietly, Lynn couldn’t resist leaning down and pressing her cheek against his.

’She didn’t know if other people felt this way when they were in love. Sometimes, when she looked at Ian Sterling’s face, she felt an uncontrollable urge to do something affectionate.’

’She used to tease Ian Sterling about being touch-starved, but now, it seemed she was the one with the problem.’

’She remembered when she’d first returned, how Ian Sterling had coldly rejected her and tried to send her away. Even though she had been heartbroken at the time, she was still determined to win him back.’

’Aside from the fact that no one could ever surpass or replace his kindness toward her, there was also his face and body. She just couldn’t get enough of them.’

Lynn Winslow never minded if people called her boy-crazy. After all, she truly did hunger for Ian Sterling.

Ian Sterling was fast asleep. Lynn took off her shoes, climbed onto the other side of the bed, took his hand, and closed her eyes to rest.

She was tired too. She hadn’t had any proper rest since Ian Sterling’s injury. Now, in the quiet, a wave of drowsiness washed over her.

Ian Sterling didn’t wake up until evening. Seeing that he was awake, Lynn personally wiped his face and hands. Only after she had cleaned up that face she adored so much did she ask him what he wanted to eat.

Ian Sterling was a picky eater. He had forced down several meals of restorative soup for Lynn’s sake, but now he truly couldn’t stand it anymore.

”I don’t want any more of that stuff. Can’t I have something else?”

”And what would ’something else’ be?”

”Like, something spicy? Or maybe some seafood?”

Lynn’s smile vanished in an instant. She let out a cold scoff and turned to walk away.

”You’re getting restorative soup. Don’t even think about it. Spicy food? Seafood? In your dreams.”

She turned on him so fast that Ian Sterling barely had time to react before she was gone. She even made a point of letting him overhear her instructing the staff to make more restorative soup for dinner.

Ian Sterling called out to her, ”Lynn Winslow! Lynn! Don’t do this to me! I’m seriously going to puke if I have to drink that soup one more time!”

”You’ll drink it even if you puke. Otherwise, I’ll go have a word with your father and suggest you spend some extra time at your second uncle’s when you get back.”