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Chapter 198: Chapter 198: If You Call Me Nicely, I’ll Spare You

He took a careful look at how snugly the ring fit around Lynn Winslow’s finger. Although it had been custom-made to her measurements, he was still worried it might not be a perfect fit.

Seeing it was just right, he relaxed and asked Lynn, ”Is it pretty?”

Lynn nodded, praising it. ”It is. It’s beautiful. You have really good taste.”

Ian Sterling puffed out his chest, tilted his chin up, and said, ”Of course I do.”

Lynn gave him a smiling glance and went back to admiring the enormous pink diamond on her finger.

She had plenty of jewelry, including rings like this one, but this one was different. It was a gift from Ian Sterling.

The flight from Quartos to Griermount was just over three hours, so Lynn Winslow managed to get a nap in.

When Ian Sterling tried to wake her, she kept acting spoiled and refusing to get up. It wasn’t until Zane Lancaster had a good laugh at her expense that she reluctantly rose, leaning her entire body on Ian as they deplaned.

Seeing her like this, Elder Winslow frowned and asked, ”What time do you two usually go to bed? How come you’re always so sleepy?”

”...”

”...” Lynn Winslow shot Ian Sterling a furious glare.

She could have gone to bed early last night, but after Ian Sterling got back, he refused to let her sleep. She’d yelled and she’d hit him, but nothing could stop the shameless Finn Sterling from having his way.

Thankfully, he’d had some conscience in the end and finished quickly to let Lynn rest. Otherwise, Lynn wasn’t sure she would have been able to get out of bed this morning.

’Men. So selfish!’

Ian Sterling guiltily averted his gaze, avoiding the others’ eyes. Zane Lancaster, hands in his pockets, turned back to cast a meaningful look at the two of them before slowly looking away and continuing forward.

’It doesn’t hurt that much,’ he thought. ’It just feels... a little strange.’

Aiden Powell didn’t understand. He looked quizzically at Ian Sterling and Lynn Winslow, but just as he was about to ask, Zane Lancaster grabbed his head and turned it forward. ”Watch where you’re going,” Zane whispered. ”Don’t talk to shameless people.”

”Huh?? Oh.” He still didn’t get it, but he obeyed.

At the hotel, Lynn Winslow was still draped over Ian Sterling’s back, drowsy. This left Ian unable to look after the two elders. Fortunately, they had brought a butler along this time. The butler handled check-in and escorted the elders to their rooms. Aiden Powell was still young, and the original plan was for him to sleep with Mr. Powell, but when it came time to settle in, he refused, insisting he wanted to stay with Zane Lancaster.

Resigned, Zane Lancaster had no choice but to lead him away.

Lynn Winslow and Ian Sterling were still in the hotel lobby. Ian bent down to give her a piggyback and asked, ”Want to go back to the room and sleep a little longer?”

Lynn shook her head. ”No more sleeping. Let’s go for a walk outside, okay?”

”Not tired anymore?” Ian Sterling glanced back, surprised. He had wanted to take advantage of the alone time to go for a stroll with Lynn, but seeing her so limp, he had assumed she didn’t want to go out and hadn’t mentioned it.

”Not tired.” Lynn raised an arm and pointed at the entrance. ”Let’s go, let’s go.”

Ian Sterling had to signal the butler to take their things to the room first, adding a word of instruction: ”If the elders ask, just say we’re nearby.”

The butler acknowledged, and Ian Sterling walked out of the hotel with Lynn on his back.

Lynn Winslow sniffed the air and said, ”The air here really is nice.”

The hotel they were staying at was very close to the mountainous area they were visiting. Nestled between mountains and water, the scenery was beautiful. Lynn loved this kind of environment.

She slid off Ian Sterling’s back and linked her arm with his as they walked at a leisurely pace.

When you’ve been together for a long time, you don’t always have a lot to say. They were mostly silent, making occasional small talk. But because they were in an unfamiliar place, there was a sense of novelty, and Lynn Winslow was brimming with delight.

She brought up Joel Winslow.

”Grandpa told me that Joel wants to come to Quartos.”

Ian Sterling chuckled softly and hummed in agreement. ”That’s good.”

He lowered his eyes, suddenly recalling something Spencer Sterling had said the night before they left. He asked casually, as if it were an afterthought, ”So when are your parents planning to come back?”

”I’m not sure, actually. They might come with Joel, or they might not come back for a while. After all, with both of us in Veridia, there’s no one left to look after the Winslow family.”

Ian Sterling said, ”They can’t even get away for a few days?”

Lynn let out a questioning ”Ah?” her voice rising in confusion. ”Why? Is something going on?”

”No, just asking.” Ian Sterling’s lips curved into a smile as he draped his arm over her shoulder.

Lynn didn’t press him and instead stretched her back.

They didn’t walk for too long. When Lynn started feeling tired, they returned to the hotel.

They had dinner at the hotel, ordering some of Griermount’s local specialties. Ian Sterling couldn’t get used to the flavors, but Lynn loved them.

Thinking about their early start for the mountains the next day, Ian Sterling was especially well-behaved that night—so well-behaved that Lynn grew suspicious.

”Don’t tell me... you can’t get it up anymore?”

Ian Sterling narrowed his eyes, his gaze heavy as he looked at her.

’They have to go to the mountains tomorrow, and it’s not a short journey. He was worried she’d be tired, and this is the thanks he gets?’

Lynn shrank back, trying to explain. ”That’s not what I meant. Hey, don’t...”

He was usually so restless. Even when it was inconvenient, he’d still get handsy, teasing her without offering any real satisfaction. This time, he hadn’t even touched her anywhere he shouldn’t; he just held her quietly. How could Lynn not be suspicious?

Ian Sterling sneered, ”I was trying to be considerate of you, and what do I get? You just have to say something to provoke me.”

With that, he rolled over, pinning Lynn’s hands by her sides. He gritted his teeth. ”I’ll show you whether I can ’get it up’ or not.”

Lynn struggled and begged for mercy in a soft voice, ”I was just kidding! I know you can! I was just talking. Don’t take it so seriously! We have to get up early tomorrow to go to the mountains.”

”It’s fine. If you can’t walk, I’ll carry you.”

Ian Sterling’s fingers traced a slow path across Lynn’s cheek, neck, and collarbone, moving ever lower.

Lynn flinched, whimpering as she hoped Ian Sterling would let her off this once. In any other situation, Lynn would have been more defiant, but right now, she didn’t dare, afraid it would backfire.

She had no choice but to say she’d make it up to him later.

”But I want you to know *tonight* just how capable I am.”

”Let’s not, baby,” Lynn pleaded, shaking her head pitifully.

Ian Sterling’s lips curled. His fingers were restless, and pressed so close to him, Lynn easily noticed his arousal. She wanted to cry but had no tears.

”Call me ’Hubby,’ and I’ll let you go.”

”I won’t.”

”You won’t?” Ian Sterling applied a little pressure. Lynn let out a soft moan, biting her lip, unwilling to surrender.

”Alright then. I’ll just have to trouble you.”

As he spoke, Ian Sterling grabbed her waist and pulled her toward him. Seeing that he was serious, Lynn’s eyes went wide. She scrambled, ”I’ll say it, I’ll say it! Is that okay?”

Ian Sterling froze, his dark eyes now tinged with crimson. He said in a husky voice, ”Go on. If it sounds good, I’ll spare you.”

Lynn’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes moist. She parted her lips and whispered a single word.

”I can’t hear you. You must not mean it.”

With that, Ian Sterling resumed his unfinished business. Lynn yelped in alarm and shouted, ”Hubby!!!”