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Chapter 142: Chapter 142: I Also Like Playing Daddy

Lynn Winslow looked at him seriously and realized he didn’t seem to be lying.

”Alright.” Her temper came and went quickly. Since Ian Sterling hadn’t lied to her, she wasn’t so angry anymore.

Ian Sterling breathed a sigh of relief, got up, and sat down beside her, looking quite pleased.

”The butler will be here with the ingredients soon. Is there anything else you want to eat? I can order it for delivery in advance. Or is there a specific cuisine you’re in the mood for today? I can have a chef come to the house and cook for you.”

Lynn Winslow bit her fork and thought for a moment. After confirming there wasn’t any particular cuisine she was craving, she shook her head. ”I’m fine with anything. Why don’t you ask them what they want to eat?”

”Alright.” Ian Sterling then posted a message in their group chat.

[What do you guys want to eat tonight besides barbecue?]

They were all at work. Among the few people who were close to Ian Sterling, none were as idle as he was.

By the time the two of them finished breakfast and were leaning on the sofa petting the cats, someone finally piped up in the chat.

Jasper Jennings: [Whatever. I’m just looking forward to hanging out.]

Ian Sterling casually sent back an ”OK” emoji, then tossed his phone aside. He went back to petting the cats while watching Lynn Winslow play a single-player game on her phone.

Even with a simple game like this, Lynn Winslow got incredibly frustrated. She grit her teeth, threw her phone away from her, and said in disgust, ”What a crappy game. A total waste of my emotions.”

Ian Sterling bit his lip to keep from laughing. Not daring to say anything, he took his own phone, opened a game he often played, and handed it to her.

”I play this one a lot. Give it a try. If you like it, we can play together.”

Lynn Winslow gave him a suspicious look, took the phone, and tentatively played a round.

”This is fun! One more round.” Lynn Winslow’s eyes lit up, her confidence soaring. She never expected to lose the second round so miserably.

She picked up the phone, ready to throw it, but suddenly realized it was Ian Sterling’s. She had to stop herself and hand it back to him, huffing, ”I’m never playing games again!”

”Okay, okay, no more games from now on. Don’t be angry.” Ian Sterling scooped up Kiki and Huffy and placed them both in her arms.

Petting the cats, Lynn Winslow finally calmed down a little. She took the phone back and, in a fit of pique, uninstalled all the games, which made Ian Sterling unable to hold back his laughter.

The butler entered from outside with several staff members. Seeing the two of them sitting in the living room, he smiled and came forward to greet them. ”Finn, Miss Winslow.”

He tactfully led the staff to the backyard to set everything up. After stocking the refrigerator with all the ingredients, he and the staff took their leave.

Lynn Winslow rested her chin on Ian Sterling’s shoulder, watching their retreating figures. ”Is that butler... the same one from before?”

Ian Sterling hummed in affirmation.

This butler had been with him since he came of age. However, the butler hadn’t been around when he and Lynn Winslow broke up, so he didn’t actually know much about what had happened between them.

Lynn Winslow shifted her position, dangling her legs as she thought. ”Is it okay if I invite Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax? Will your friends find it awkward?”

These privileged young men each had their own temperaments, and Lynn Winslow didn’t want her friends to come only to feel unwelcome.

Ian Sterling said, ”Why would it be awkward? They all know each other, they’re just not that close. Don’t worry.”

Only then did Lynn Winslow send the message and address to Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax. They both replied quickly, telling Lynn they would both come.

”I’m sleepy. I’m going to take a nap.”

Ever considerate, Ian Sterling picked her up and carried her back to the room. Lynn Winslow had barely been asleep for a moment when the doorbell rang downstairs, and Ian Sterling’s phone vibrated a few times.

Fortunately, Ian Sterling wasn’t asleep. He was leaning against the headboard, looking at a tablet. When he felt his phone vibrate, he instinctively glanced at Lynn Winslow, afraid the sound would wake her.

Jasper Jennings and the others had arrived. They were at the door, wearing sunglasses and complaining about the heat while messaging Ian Sterling.

They had come too early. The sun hadn’t set yet, and it was right during the time of the intense afternoon sun.

Ian Sterling saw their messages, went downstairs without a sound, and opened the door. Just as they were about to complain about how slow he was, a sharp look from him stopped them in their tracks.

”Keep it down.”

Kenneth Keller glanced upstairs and asked in a low voice, ”Don’t tell me she’s still sleeping.”

”Yeah, she didn’t sleep well last night.” Ian Sterling opened the shoe cabinet in the entryway and let them get their own slippers.

After grabbing a pair of slippers and putting them on, Jasper Jennings stretched. Making himself right at home, he opened the living room refrigerator, pulled out a few bottles of water, and tossed them to Kenneth Keller and Zachary Quincy. He twisted one open, took a sip, and looked up, only to lock eyes with two cats perched on top of the fridge, staring at him warily.

Huffy was leaning against Kiki’s leg. Seeing Kiki’s posture, it copied her and glared at Jasper Jennings, too.

They looked like they were watching an intruder, ready to pounce and scratch at any second.

Kiki was one thing—as a full-grown cat of her breed and size, she looked genuinely intimidating. But Huffy was still small; no matter how you looked at it, the kitten was just a paper tiger.

Jasper Jennings burst out laughing. Kenneth Keller and Zachary Quincy, who were walking over, saw the scene as well.

”So small, yet trying to act so fierce. Talk about a paper tiger.” Kenneth Keller leaned in, wanting to tease Huffy, but he didn’t expect Kiki to be so protective. She swiped a paw at him, and if Kenneth hadn’t been quick, he would’ve definitely been left with a scar.

Ian Sterling walked over, scooped both cats into his arms, and carried them upstairs. He opened the bedroom door, found some wet wipes to clean their paws one by one, and then tucked them inside the room.

Lynn Winslow wasn’t awake yet, and he didn’t want to disturb her, so he turned and left the room.

”Dude, your cats. Why are they so fierce?”

Zachary Quincy wandered around the villa out of boredom, then said to Ian Sterling, ”We only came here once, right after you moved in. You never invited us again after that. We all thought you just didn’t like people in your territory. We never expected Lynn Winslow to already be living here. Even her cats are more familiar with your place than we, your childhood friends, are.”

Ian Sterling raised an eyebrow. ”Lynn Winslow is my future wife. Kiki and Huffy are my cat-sons. Of course they can live here.”

Zachary Quincy rolled his eyes, but Kenneth Keller was amused by Ian’s words and started laughing.

”Do you have that much of a thing for being a pet’s dad?”

Ian Sterling coolly retorted, ”Not only do I like being a pet’s dad, I like being a person’s dad, too. If you guys want, I can be yours.”

Men always seem to love trying to be each other’s ’daddy’. Jasper Jennings sneered, and the three exchanged a look. They grabbed Ian Sterling, pushed him down on the sofa, and gave him a half-serious beating.

”Are you guys crazy?” Ian Sterling yelled as he fought back. ”Coming to my turf to beat me up!”

”So what if it’s your turf? You bully us on our turf all the time,” Jasper Jennings snorted, landing a punch on Ian Sterling’s shoulder.

Ian Sterling clutched his shoulder and hissed, muttering a curse. ”Shit, I think I twisted something. You really know where to hit.”

The three of them jumped in alarm and stopped at once. Ian Sterling sat up, clutching his shoulder, and said with a frown, ”You guys are really crazy.”