You're not leaving this time.

Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Afraid He’s Playing It a Bit Too Wild

”What’s wrong with you guys?”

Ian Sterling frowned, displeased. ”I haven’t hung out with you all in a while, that’s all. Is this really necessary?”

”Of course it is! We’re not letting you leave until you’re drunk.”

”...” Ian Sterling was lost for words and looked away. ”Suit yourselves.”

’Besides, I don’t even know if I can get back in the house tonight.’

Nigel Abbott, who was sitting across from him, sent a message that Ian Sterling couldn’t see. He messaged Lynn Winslow in their group chat.

”We’re holding your future husband hostage tonight. Don’t blame us if we send him back drunk.”

They had known each other for a long time, so there was no need to put up a front. They were always direct with one another.

Lynn Winslow only replied after they had already started eating. Her response was a single word: ”Okay.”

Meanwhile, Lynn Winslow was busy. Mrs. Sterling was in the kitchen preparing dinner for her, peeking into the living room from time to time.

”Is Finn not coming back for dinner?”

She had arrived at Calyx Hall rather late and didn’t know that Ian Sterling had left because Lynn Winslow had kicked him out.

Lynn Winslow took a moment from her task to reply, ”He’s not coming back. Just make something simple for me.”

Mrs. Sterling agreed with a helpless sigh and returned to the kitchen. She couldn’t possibly make something simple—she knew better than anyone how picky Lynn Winslow was.

Lynn Winslow watched with a frown as the staff arranged the decorations. She stood to one side, periodically adjusting their positions, wanting every piece to be placed with millimeter precision.

This surprise had been in the works for a long time. The main issue was that it wasn’t convenient for Lynn Winslow to find an outside venue, and with how sharp Ian Sterling was, he would have easily figured it out.

Fortunately, Lynn Winslow had a habit of messing with Ian Sterling. By kicking him out, he would have no idea what she was up to at home.

The butler noticed her constant pacing was making the staff nervous, and nervous people make mistakes. He approached her proactively. ”Miss, why don’t you go sit and rest for a bit? We’ll call you when we’re finished.”

Lynn Winslow pursed her lips and nodded. She decided to go to the dining room to find Mrs. Sterling instead.

Seeing her, Mrs. Sterling asked, ”How did you manage to get Finn out of the house?”

Even Mrs. Sterling knew how much Ian Sterling loved to stick close to Lynn Winslow.

Lynn Winslow let out a soft laugh, leaning against the counter and turning her phone screen for Mrs. Sterling to see. Grinning, she said, ”I kicked him out, of course. He must be feeling so pitiful right now.”

”You know he feels wronged, yet you still kicked him out. Don’t you feel bad for him?” Mrs. Sterling chided her with a look.

”I do, but I want to give him a surprise.”

Mrs. Sterling patted her head with her freshly washed hands and sighed wistfully. ”Our little Lynn is getting engaged soon.”

”You have to stay by my side in the future, Mrs. Sterling,” Lynn Winslow said, hugging her and putting on a cute, pleading tone.

”Alright. As long as you don’t mind an old woman like me, I’ll stay and take care of you and Finn. And when you two have children, I’ll help you look after them, too.”

At this, Lynn Winslow bit the corner of her lip and said shyly, ”What are you talking about, children? That’s not even on the horizon.”

”Alright, I won’t bring it up again.” Mrs. Sterling was amused by her shyness. ’When is our Lynn ever shy?’ she thought. ’She’s gotten so easily flustered lately.’

Worried about the progress in the living room, Lynn didn’t stay with Mrs. Sterling for long. She returned to the living room, and seeing that they were moving quickly, she finally relaxed. She looked down, took out her phone, and watched the photos and videos of Ian Sterling that his friends had sent.

In the video, he was rambling drunkenly. ”Why is my wife like this? I just said one little thing wrong, didn’t I? I’ve said it plenty of times before, so why is she so mad this time? I already apologized, but she still kicked me out... I’m so heartbroken, boo hoo hoo...”

As he spoke, his eyes actually started to turn red, startling his friends into quickly trying to comfort him. The rest of the audio was just them trying to console him.

Lynn Winslow smiled, pressing her lips together, but she still felt a pang of pity for him. ’He’s so upset,’ she thought. ’It’s going to be a real pain to cheer him up later.’ She could only hope that the surprise she had prepared for Ian Sterling would soothe his hurt feelings and that he wouldn’t hold a grudge.

*

Ian Sterling’s cheeks were flushed from drinking. Probably because he was upset and trying to drown his sorrows, his tolerance for alcohol was especially low tonight. Before long, he was slumped over the table, half-asleep.

Jasper Jennings frowned and exchanged a look with Kenneth Keller.

”We’re just sending him back like this? I don’t think Lynn’s side is ready yet, right? Besides, look at the state he’s in. What if Lynn says we’re the ones who got him plastered?”

”What other choice do we have? Where else are we gonna dump him? If we leave him at a hotel or somewhere else, I’m afraid Lynn will get the wrong idea. Why don’t one of you take him home for the night?”

”...” Nigel Abbott silently tried to sneak away but was grabbed by Zachary Quincy. ”Where do you think you’re going? You’re his brother-in-law, so you’re the best person to look after him. If that doesn’t work, just send him back to the Sterling Family estate.”

Nigel Abbott sounded helpless. ”I really can’t handle him. I have to travel to another province tomorrow morning, and Zoe is out of town, too.”

The remaining three exchanged a look, then all thrust their hands into the center in unison.

”Same old rules. Loser takes him home.”

”Deal.”

The unlucky loser was Zachary Quincy. With a pained expression, he helped Ian Sterling into the car. As the driver headed toward his private residence, Zachary snapped a picture of Ian’s pathetic state and sent it to the group chat. He messaged Lynn, ”I’m taking him to my place for now. Let me know tomorrow when I can cut him loose.”

Lynn replied: ”Sorry to trouble you. Thanks.”

Zachary put his phone away and shot Ian an irritated look.

Ian’s eyes were narrowed, his thin lips opening and closing as if he were saying something. Zachary couldn’t quite hear, so he leaned in closer.

”Wife... baby...”

”Forgive me... Or you can just slap me a few times to feel better.”

”I miss you so much...”

Zachary sat back, his face grim, and gritted his teeth.

He and Esther Abbott had only been together for a short time before they broke up. It was just a casual relationship. He’d liked her, but he couldn’t stand being used, so he’d ended things decisively. He didn’t have time to wallow in sentimental nonsense, which was why he couldn’t comprehend Ian Sterling’s behavior at all.

Zachary knew Ian could be a bit of a lovesick puppy and clingy, but he’d never really witnessed the full extent of it. Now he finally understood. Everything else was just an act; the only real thing was Ian’s Lynn-obsessed brain.

’He’s even dreaming about Lynn slapping him. This guy’s probably into some kinky stuff...’

When they arrived at his residence, Zachary helped Ian out of the car and into the elevator up to his apartment.

Zachary’s apartment was a duplex; his bedroom and study were on the second floor. He dumped Ian on the sofa, then stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at him for a good while. Finally, seeing no other choice, he bent down and took off Ian’s shoes.

Ian struggled to roll over on the sofa, clutching a throw pillow and murmuring, ”Baby, give me a kiss...”

’Honestly, this is terrifying,’ Zachary thought. He’d never seen anything like it. Deciding it was a case of ”out of sight, out of mind,” he quickly headed upstairs.

Perhaps because the sofa was uncomfortable, Ian Sterling woke up around three in the morning. He sat up, completely disoriented and confused.

He remained dazed for a long while before finally getting up to find some water in the kitchen. After drinking, he went upstairs and knocked on Zachary Quincy’s bedroom door.