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Chapter 138: Chapter 138: I’m Not Weak, Am I?

Lynn Winslow snorted. ’And this counts as a shared interest?’

She hugged Ian Sterling tightly and yawned. ”I wonder when Mrs. Jennings and your mom are planning to hold the charity auction. I need to find something to do, or else I’ll just be sitting at home with a full belly, thinking about... you know.”

Ian Sterling’s lips curved as he looked down at her. ”Thinking about what?”

Lynn Winslow raised her hand and covered Ian Sterling’s eyes. ”Never you mind. Go to sleep.”

Ian Sterling chuckled for a moment, let out a breath, and wrapped his arms around Lynn Winslow.

It was probably the weather. They both found themselves getting sleepy at the same time, taking naps for a few hours during the day and still getting drowsy on schedule at night.

When Nina Norton came to visit and saw them like this, she thought they were sick.

”You can’t just stay home all day. You need to get out, take a walk, and see the sun. Otherwise, you’ll definitely get weaker over time.”

”Weaker?” Ian Sterling looked up at Lynn Winslow, his tone clearly suggestive. ”I’m not weak, am I?”

Lynn Winslow didn’t scold him in front of Nina Norton. She just opened her mouth and silently mouthed a single word at Ian Sterling.

”Scram.”

Ian Sterling stifled a laugh and gave her an ”OK” sign.

Nina Norton had been around the block and could naturally see the couple’s lovey-dovey antics. But, afraid that Lynn Winslow was thin-skinned, she pretended not to notice.

”I came not only to see you two, but also to let you know that the charity auction is tomorrow night.”

Lynn Winslow had already asked Mrs. Sterling to send the donated items to the Jennings family. Hearing this, she nodded. ”I was hoping to help, but I didn’t realize you and Mrs. Jennings had already handled everything.”

”Why would we need you? We just had other people do it.”

Nina Norton smiled softly. Then, as if remembering something, she cautiously glanced at Lynn Winslow and said in a low voice, ”This time, the Powell family also made a substantial donation. It was sent directly to the Sterling Family, and the person who delivered it was Miss Powell.”

There were no girls in the younger generation of the Powell family, so this ”Miss Powell” was Lynn Winslow’s mother, Cecilia Powell.

Lynn Winslow froze for a second before quickly composing herself. She smiled and said, ”This is a collective donation for the mountain regions from all the great families of Quartos. Of course the Powell family wouldn’t be absent.”

She just pretended not to understand the real meaning behind Nina Norton’s words.

Ian Sterling watched her quietly, trying to read something in her expression. But Lynn Winslow hid it extremely well, even looking at him with a puzzled expression. ”What’s wrong?”

The moment Nina Norton left, Ian Sterling pulled the slightly slumping Lynn Winslow into his arms.

”If you don’t want to see them, you don’t have to. Don’t force yourself and get upset.”

The Powell family would definitely be at this auction. To see Lynn Winslow, her parents would surely come.

Lynn Winslow shook her head and said softly, ”Whether they come or not, I have to go.”

”My mom wouldn’t mind if you didn’t go.” Ian Sterling lowered his head and kissed her shoulder. ”My mom really likes you.”

”This has nothing to do with your mom.” Lynn Winslow raised a hand to stroke Ian Sterling’s cheek, then pulled him back into the living room.

「The next afternoon」

Lynn Winslow went to find Nina Norton early. Ian Sterling wanted to go with her, but Lynn refused.

”Don’t be so clingy all the time.”

Ian Sterling frowned. ”Why can’t I be clingy with you?”

”Absence makes the heart grow fonder,” Lynn Winslow said righteously. ”If you’re stuck to me every day, the novelty will wear off. Not just for me, but for you, too.”

Ian Sterling said with great solemnity, ”I won’t.”

But he was still left behind by Lynn Winslow, standing with his hands on his hips in a huff as he watched her drive away.

Lynn Winslow glanced at his retreating figure in the rearview mirror and couldn’t help but smile.

When she arrived at the appointed meeting place, Nina Norton and Mrs. Jennings had already been chatting for a while.

Seeing Lynn Winslow arrive by herself, Nina Norton smiled and asked, ”Where’s Finn? I thought for sure he’d be stuck to your side again.”

Lynn Winslow first greeted the two ladies before sitting down. ”He wanted to come, but I wouldn’t let him.”

Nina Norton put on an exaggerated, pained expression. ”You poor thing. You even have to take care of my immature little boy.”

Mrs. Jennings covered her mouth with a demure laugh, perhaps afraid other ladies might see. She whispered, ”Oh, come on. Finn is wonderful. If you had a son like mine, you’d be furious to death.”

Lynn Winslow was amused by Mrs. Jennings’s dramatic words, but Nina Norton replied, ”What about my second son? And my little daughter? They’re both just like Jasper. I’m not worried, so why are you?”

”At least you already have a daughter-in-law, and your son-in-law is set. Look at me—I only have one son, and he’s still completely unsettled.”

When women got together, they either talked about their children or their husbands. Lynn Winslow listened from the side, treating it all as gossip.

They were currently upstairs at the auction venue, and people coming and going were all from the prestigious families attending the event that evening.

Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax arrived together. They approached Lynn Winslow as soon as they saw her.

”Mrs. Sterling, Mrs. Jennings.”

Nina Norton knew that Lynn Winslow was on good terms with Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax in Quartos. Realizing they were here for Lynn, she said considerately, ”It must be boring sitting with us. Go have fun with them.”

Lynn Winslow nodded and walked a little further away with Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax.

After they sat down in a booth, Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax started to gossip.

”Everyone says Mrs. Sterling is bad-tempered, but isn’t she really nice?”

Lynn Winslow rested her chin in her hand, raised her other hand to call a waiter, and ordered a coffee. Without answering Chloe Clayton’s question, she tilted her chin at the two of them, asking what they wanted.

They both ordered their favorites. After the waiter left, they turned their gossipy gazes toward Lynn Winslow in unison.

”She has a great temper. It’s just that because of her status, she can’t be too friendly in public.”

”That’s true,” Flora Fairfax nodded. ”My mom’s the same way in public—super aloof, but secretly a huge gossip.”

The three of them let out quiet laughs and chatted for a bit before Ian Sterling, Jasper Jennings, and the others arrived.

Seeing Lynn Winslow, Ian Sterling subconsciously started to walk toward her but was yanked back by Kenneth Keller.

”Where do you think you’re going?”

Ian Sterling frowned. ”Let go.”

”Why are you so clingy? Don’t you know absence makes the heart grow fonder? If you’re together all the time, you’re bound to get sick of each other. Even if you don’t, you have to consider if Lynn Winslow will.”

Kenneth Keller tried to reason with him, but Ian Sterling had never been one to listen since he was a child. In fact, he had his own way of thinking.

”Worst case, I’ll just change up my style often. I refuse to believe she’ll still get sick of me.”

Kenneth Keller: ”...”

Jasper Jennings couldn’t help but laugh from the side. Zachary Quincy rolled his eyes. Esther Abbott let go of Zachary Quincy’s hand, glanced at each of the men, and went straight to find Lynn Winslow.

Lynn Winslow hadn’t seen Esther Abbott in a long time and was actually a bit stunned to see her now.

”Long time no see.”

Lynn Winslow snapped back to reality. ”Long time no see.”

Esther Abbott didn’t stand on ceremony. She sat right down next to Lynn Winslow and greeted Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax.

”I need to talk to Lynn Winslow about something. Could I trouble you to...”

Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax took the hint, standing up to give them space.