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Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Stop Acting Like an Elder in the Sterling Family

Stella Shaw sat back down beside Mrs. Shaw and muttered, ”They’re not even engaged, yet she has the nerve to accept someone else’s gifts.”

Mrs. Shaw patted Stella, reminding her not to say such things. She looked up with a smile and said, ”Stella is nearly finished with her studies, so we don’t plan on returning to Faeland this time.”

Nina Norton glanced coolly at Stella Shaw. She hummed in acknowledgment but didn’t reply.

Stella Shaw, however, couldn’t hold back. She asked, ”Auntie, Finn’s fiancée isn’t even officially engaged to him yet. How can she be living here with the Sterling family? Isn’t that a little inappropriate?”

”What’s inappropriate about it?” Nina Norton chuckled, her tone as warm and friendly as if she were chatting with a close friend. She said to Mrs. Shaw, ”You have no idea. The moment our Finn got a girlfriend, he practically wanted to marry into her family. The girl hadn’t even given him a firm ’yes’ before he was chasing her all the way to Morelia to meet her parents. Then he begged her to come here and meet us.”

Mrs. Shaw’s smile became a little strained. ”Is that so? It seems Finn really does like his girlfriend.”

Mr. Shaw caught the mention of Morelia in Nina’s words. ”Finn’s girlfriend is from Morelia?”

”That’s right. Didn’t Spencer tell you? She’s from the Winslow family of Morelia. Since you’re abroad so often, you must have crossed paths with the Winslows, haven’t you? She’s Elder Winslow’s treasured granddaughter, and also the granddaughter of Mr. Powell of the Powell family, right here in Quartos. They dote on her like the apple of their eye. Our Finn is so fortunate to have finally won her over.”

Mr. and Mrs. Shaw fell silent. Nina Norton let out a soft laugh and exchanged a glance with Spencer Sterling.

”Auntie, Finn is so wonderful, and you dote on him so much. How could you be willing to let him chase after someone like that?” Stella Shaw asked, unwilling to give up.

”Why wouldn’t I be? Her family’s status is on par with our Sterling family, and she was raised with the utmost care. If Finn didn’t pursue her with all his heart, how could he possibly win her over? Besides, she’s beautiful and mature. I fell in love with her myself. I was almost tempted to pursue her on his behalf.” Nina Norton raised an eyebrow, upping the ante. ”Thankfully, Finn made us proud and won her heart. Otherwise, his uncle and I would’ve considered him useless.”

Her words had barely faded when the couple in question came downstairs.

The three Shaws looked up to see Ian Sterling holding Lynn Winslow’s hand, descending the stairs at a leisurely pace. They looked incredibly close.

When the couple reached them, Nina Norton made the introductions. ”Lynn, these are your sister-in-law’s parents and her younger sister, Stella. You can just follow Finn’s lead and call them Uncle and Auntie.”

Lynn Winslow smiled with gentle grace. ”Hello, Uncle and Auntie. Hello, Stella.”

Stella Shaw bit her lip and said nothing. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw, having already seen how protective Spencer Sterling and Nina Norton were of their future daughter-in-law, replied, ”Hello.”

Ian Sterling pulled Lynn Winslow over to a nearby armchair. He sat on the armrest, his gaze fixed on Stella Shaw, sharp as a blade.

”Have you no manners?”

Stella Shaw glared at Lynn Winslow with resentment. Hearing the threat in Ian’s tone, Mrs. Shaw gave a dry laugh and tried to smooth things over. ”Finn, don’t be upset with Stella. She’s still young and doesn’t know any better.”

Ian Sterling scoffed. He rested his hand on Lynn Winslow’s shoulder, idly twirling a strand of her hair between his fingers.

Lynn Winslow maintained her smile, leaning slightly against Ian. Her gaze settled on Stella Shaw’s face, studying her intently for a moment.

’She’s pretty, I’ll give her that. But it seems she’s all beauty and no brains.’

And right on cue, Stella Shaw proceeded to display her foolishness in its purest form.

”Finn, there’s a spot here. Why are you sitting on the armrest?” Stella Shaw shifted to the side, patting the space next to her with a beaming smile.

Ian Sterling acted as if he hadn’t heard a thing, his eyes lowered as he spoke to Lynn.

Stella Shaw clenched her fists. Just as she was about to speak again, Mr. Shaw chided her, ”This is the Sterlings’ home. It’s not your place to tell Finn where to sit.”

’He was finally getting the picture. The entire Sterling family, from top to bottom, was making it clear in every way possible that they weren’t welcome.’

He turned to Spencer Sterling and Nina Norton. ”It seems I’ve failed in raising Sophia. Her own parents return from abroad, and she doesn’t even bother to come down and greet us. When she finally shows up, I’ll be sure to teach her a lesson.”

Lynn had been chatting idly with Ian, but upon hearing Mr. Shaw’s words, she couldn’t suppress a soft, mocking laugh.

Mr. Shaw’s head snapped toward her. ”Miss Winslow,” he asked sternly, ”did I say something wrong? I am disciplining my own daughter. It would be best for you not to meddle in matters that don’t concern you.”

”Uncle, if you’re going to throw a tantrum, do it in your own home. Don’t come to my house and pretend you’re some respected elder.”

Everyone present knew Ian Sterling had a short fuse. He had been holding back out of respect for Sophia, but Mr. Shaw reprimanding Lynn right in front of him was the last straw.

He rose to his feet and slowly paced behind the sofa where the three Shaws sat. ”Before you accuse my fiancée of meddling,” he said slowly, ”you should take a good look in the mirror and ask yourself if you’re even qualified to speak. My sister-in-law married into the Sterling family, which makes her a Sterling. She is the wife of this family’s eldest son, and it’s not the place of an outsider who never gave a damn about her to come here and discipline her.”

Elias Sterling had just taken a call and rushed back to the office, so he wasn’t home. Naturally, Ian had to step up and protect his sister-in-law in his older brother’s absence.

Hearing this, Stella said tearfully, ”Finn, how can you say that to my dad?”

Ian ignored her. He walked up to Mr. Shaw and said coolly, ”Uncle. See yourself out.”

Mr. Shaw’s face flushed with rage. He shot to his feet and glared at Spencer Sterling and Nina Norton. Forgetting for a moment that these were people he couldn’t afford to offend, he demanded loudly, ”My dear in-laws, are you just going to let him humiliate me? Is this what passes for a Sterling-family upbringing?”

”Yes,” Spencer Sterling remained silent, but Nina Norton answered with a smile. ”If a member of the Sterling family allowed one of their own to be bullied, *that* would be a true lack of upbringing.”

”You... All of you...”

Ian Sterling moved to block Mr. Shaw’s path. His long, narrow eyes were cold and dark as he stared intently into Mr. Shaw’s.

”Do I need to have you escorted out, or will you leave on your own?”

Stared down by Ian, Mr. Shaw felt a chill run through him despite the summer heat. Gritting his teeth, he turned and stormed toward the door. Halfway there, he realized his wife and daughter weren’t following and spun around, shouting, ”Let’s go! The Sterlings are powerful beyond measure! They clearly look down on the Shaw family, so what are you two still doing here?!”

Mrs. Shaw bit her lip, reluctant to go. She feared that leaving now would sever their ties with the Sterlings for good, and the Shaw family would lose a powerful backer.

Stella, who had been crying all this time, her eyes now red and swollen, stood up and walked toward Ian. ”Finn,” she sobbed, ”why are you being so cruel to my family?”

Ian didn’t even bother to look at her. He turned and walked back to Lynn’s side. Seeing her looking up at him with star-struck eyes, he chuckled. ”Impressed? Did you think your man was pretty badass just now?”

”It was like watching a child’s squabble. You were like a fox borrowing a tiger’s might,” Lynn said, reaching up to pinch his cheek. ”But you look so handsome when you’re being protective. I love it.”

That was the last straw for Stella. She burst into a full-blown wail and started dragging Mrs. Shaw toward the exit.

Nina Norton gave the butler a meaningful look. The butler nodded and hurried out after them.

The Shaws were just about to get into their car when the butler approached them.