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Ian Sterling gently lifted his eyes, his lips glistening.

“Because I love you.”

Lynn Winslow chuckled and tilted her head back, her eyes narrowing. She reached up, grabbed his hair, and tightened her grip.

Later, when they returned to the room, the curtains were open, revealing that the sky outside had already grown dark.

Lynn Winslow lay quietly on her side, gazing out the window. Ian Sterling gently embraced her from behind.

“You should go.”

“Go where?” Ian Sterling closed his eyes and nuzzled the back of Lynn’s neck. It was a favorite old habit of his—this constant, affectionate nuzzling that was part playful plea, part pure instinct.

Lynn Winslow’s lips pressed into a thin line. She steeled herself and said, “This was a one-time thing. Don’t come looking for me again.”

Ian Sterling slowly opened his eyes to look at the back of her, not the least bit upset by her words.

‘He understood Lynn’s stubborn, conflicted nature. He couldn’t bear to let her say harsh things to drive him away only to feel heartbroken afterward.’ So, he chuckled, tightened his arms around her, and joked, “You can’t just use me and then kick me out. How heartless! I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here.”

Lynn bit her lip, the pressure draining the color from it. She still hadn’t recovered from what had just happened, a lingering thrill still running through her body.

‘She couldn’t deny it; she missed him too. She missed the sweet moments they used to share. She had been completely lost in what just happened, and it was inexplicably giving her second thoughts.’

‘Maybe I should just give in. I was the one who broke up with him. He came looking to get back together, and here I am, still being so difficult. Isn’t that awful? Isn’t that so unfair to him?’

But another thought kept bubbling up.

‘What if he just wants to get back together so he can dump me? What if this is just for revenge? Could I bear the pain of being heartbroken and losing face at the same time?’

Lynn knew herself. She couldn’t bear it. But—

The constant warmth radiating from behind her made her feel an inexplicable sense of grievance. It was a sweltering summer day, yet the room was cool, and she was in the arms of the man she loved—how could she not enjoy it? And yet, she couldn’t make sense of it all.

“I already dumped you, so why did you come looking for me? Are you trying to get revenge?”

Lynn’s voice was soft, but Ian heard her clearly. He kept his eyes closed, but a smile played on his lips as he explained, “I can’t forget you. I miss you. I miss you so much I can’t sleep.”

Lynn’s lips twitched, but Ian couldn’t tell whether she believed him. So, he simply sat up and stared at her, saying seriously, “I’m not joking.”

“…” Lynn turned her head to look at his face. After a moment of silence, she gave an awkward “mhm” before turning back to the window.

Ian Sterling craned his neck to get a look at her expression. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he obediently lay back down.

He had barely slept at all last night. Besides being a light sleeper in a new bed, he’d spent the whole time thinking about how to win Lynn back.

‘Whether that was real or just some manipulated dream, she was the one who came back to chase him. So what if he chased her in return? Why did men have to be so concerned about saving face? He couldn’t worry about his pride while trying to win his girl back, could he? Besides, when had he ever had any pride to speak of in front of Lynn? Except, of course, for that short time when she was the one chasing him and he was playing hard to get.’

In their drowsy states, their thoughts were surprisingly in sync. Each was busy with their own brand of self-manipulation.

Ian Sterling didn’t sleep for long before the doorbell from downstairs woke him. Lynn irritably pulled the covers over her head, so Ian had no choice but to get up and go downstairs to answer the door.

Zane Lancaster was leaning against the doorway, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The moment Ian Sterling opened the door, a gust of hot air rushed in, carrying the thick smell of tobacco.

He covered his nose, glaring at Zane Lancaster with cold disdain. ℴ𝒗ⅇ𝑙.

Zane Lancaster hadn’t expected to see him. He frowned in confusion and asked coldly, “What are you doing here?”

Ian Sterling stopped covering his nose. He nonchalantly tugged on his collar, revealing the marks on his collarbone for just a second. Zane Lancaster understood immediately.

He gritted his teeth, cursing Ian Sterling viciously in his head, but on the surface, he remained nonchalant. Seemingly unfazed, he scoffed and drawled, “Oh. So it’s like that.”

Zane Lancaster made to step inside, but Ian Sterling moved to block his way.

“Lynn is tired and still sleeping. It’s probably not a good time for you to come in.”

“Is that so?” Zane Lancaster raised an eyebrow, a faint smile on his face. “Didn’t you know I have my own room in Lynn’s house?”

Ian Sterling glared at him, a wave of jealousy completely overwhelming him. The sour sting of it rushed to his nose, almost bringing tears to his eyes.

Zane Lancaster’s face was a mask of provocation. He was suddenly shoved back by Ian Sterling, and before he could react, the door was slammed shut in his face.

Suppressing a laugh, he walked around to the side to look through the floor-to-ceiling window. He watched Ian Sterling stomp up the stairs, his back radiating fury, and felt a surge of delight.

“Such a petty man.”

Ian Sterling returned to the second floor and threw open the doors to each room, one by one. Sure enough, there was a guest room with gender-neutral decor!

He was about to die of anger. He strode into Lynn Winslow’s room and, finding her still asleep, shook her awake.

“What is it?” Lynn Winslow asked, her voice laced with weary irritation, her eyes still closed.

Ian Sterling questioned her, his voice full of hurt and anger, “Why do you have a room for Zane Lancaster here?”

Lynn Winslow blearily opened her eyes to glance at him before closing them again. “Zane Lancaster’s room? What?” she mumbled.

“The guest room over there!”

She was too sleepy to understand what Ian Sterling was saying. Her whole body ached with a fatigue that made it impossible to even sit up, and she flopped weakly back onto the bed.

Ian Sterling knelt by the bed, sniffling and poking Lynn’s cheek, determined to wake her up and demand an explanation. He seemed to have completely forgotten that they had already broken up.

Annoyed by his poking, Lynn Winslow shot up in bed and glared at him. “Are you going to sleep or not? If you’re not, then get the hell back to where you came from.”

“Why did you keep a room for Zane Lancaster?” Ian Sterling demanded, pouting with a wounded expression.

“When did I ever keep a room for Zane Lancaster?” Lynn Winslow scratched her hair and said through gritted teeth, “You came up with some wild guess and decided to wake me up over it? Don’t you know how rude it is to wake someone up? Especially after wearing them out!”

Ian Sterling grabbed her hand to keep her from flopping back down. Pointing toward the guest room, he said unhappily, “I didn’t just guess! Zane Lancaster was just here, and he told me! He said he has a room here!”

Lynn Winslow frowned, glancing in the direction he was pointing. It took her a moment to process what he was saying.

To keep him from whining endlessly, Lynn rolled her eyes at him and said, “That room has always been there, and no one has ever stayed in it. In all the time I’ve had this house, besides me, you’re only the second person to ever stay the night.” ⅇℓ.

“Are you satisfied now?” Lynn Winslow gestured for him to release her hand. “If you’re satisfied, let go. I’m going back to sleep.”

Ian Sterling’s heart soared. He was so excited he could have shouted for joy. He obediently let go of her hand and, with a docile smile, said, “Okay, you get some sleep. I’ll sleep too.”