Chapter 155: A Confused Mother

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: A Confused Mother

"Auntie, Ian is coming to pick me up and take me to his company, so I can’t hang out with you two."

Nina Norton had initially wanted to help ease the atmosphere between the mother and daughter, but then she realized it was only getting more awkward. Not wanting to embarrass her son’s future mother-in-law, she had resorted to texting Ian Sterling.

Hearing Lynn Winslow say this, Nina nodded. She stood up and advised with concern, "Then you two should get going. Don’t get caught in the rain, and come back early tonight."

Lynn Winslow smiled and nodded, saying softly, "I’ll be going then. I’ll wait for him in the parking garage."

"Go on, go on."

Lynn Winslow turned and was about to leave when the look in Cecilia Powell’s eyes flashed through her mind. She pursed her lips, turned back, and said, "I’ll go see Grandpa when it stops raining. Could you please tell him for me?"

Cecilia Powell stood up and nodded. She opened her mouth with difficulty, about to say something, but Lynn Winslow just lowered her head and said, "Goodbye."

After speaking, she turned and left as if she were fleeing.

Cecilia Powell raised a hand to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye and sat back down. She looked at Nina Norton apologetically and said, "Thank you."

Although both she and Nina Norton were from Quartos, a bit of an age gap meant they weren’t very familiar with each other. Still, she had heard of Nina—a woman who doted on her children, especially her younger son, the one now dating her own daughter. He was the apple of Nina’s eye.

Cecilia Powell felt she could never measure up to Nina Norton.

Nina Norton just smiled gently and shook her head.

Ian Sterling arrived very quickly. Lynn Winslow hadn’t been waiting long in the parking garage when she saw him and threw herself into his arms, her face a mask of grievance.

Her unhappiness was written all over her face. Ian Sterling’s heart ached as he held her tightly, coaxing her in a soft voice, "Feeling wronged?"

Lynn Winslow whimpered and shook her head, but Ian Sterling knew she must be feeling utterly miserable to act like this.

"I’ll talk to my mom later. This is all her fault."

But Lynn Winslow said, "It’s not Auntie’s fault."

’She knew Nina Norton was doing it for her sake. It was just that she still couldn’t face it right now. She always felt so wronged, which was why she couldn’t handle a face-to-face conversation.’

Ian Sterling opened the car door, lifted her up, and placed her in the passenger seat. He leaned against the doorframe, touching his forehead to hers. Looking into her glistening eyes, he was overwhelmed with a tenderness he couldn’t suppress. He tilted his chin down and placed a kiss on her eye, feeling her trembling lashes brush against his lips.

"Good girl, baby." His lips barely moved as he gently breathed out the three words.

Lynn Winslow pulled back slightly, then looked up and kissed Ian Sterling. The kiss was explosive, a release of pent-up emotion, and she bit the corner of his lip, breaking the skin.

Ian Sterling didn’t react, instead raising a hand to gently stroke the hair on her back in a gesture of complete acceptance.

Suddenly, a few people walked out of the elevator. Lynn Winslow flinched and pulled away, saying coldly, "Drive. To your company."

Ian Sterling froze for a second, then let out a laugh. He raised his hand, swiping his thumb across his lip, and said in a husky voice, "Baby, every time you treat me so heartlessly, it excites me more than when you’re being affectionate."

Lynn Winslow’s cheeks were already flushed, but his words made them turn crimson, as if they were about to drip blood.

"You’re such a pervert."

Ian Sterling chuckled, tidied Lynn Winslow’s hair for her, then closed her door and walked around to the driver’s seat.

Because he had to give them a ride, Ian Sterling was driving the van that Elias Sterling kept at Aerie Garden. Ian wasn’t a fan of it, but Lynn Winslow found it very comfortable.

"Come with me to the Powell family’s house tomorrow, if it’s not raining."

Ian Sterling nodded in agreement. Lynn Winslow looked down at her phone and let out a breath.

Not long after Lynn Winslow left, Cecilia Powell also took her leave. She was in no mood to shop now and had her driver take her directly back to the Powell family home.

Because of the rain, Mr. Powell hadn’t gone out. He had just called the butler to play a game of chess with him.

Seeing Cecilia Powell return, he asked in confusion, "Why are you back so suddenly?"

Cecilia Powell sat down beside Mr. Powell, glanced at the chessboard, and then said, "I ran into Lynn. She said she’ll come back to see you when the weather clears up."

Mr. Powell frowned. "What’s going on?"

’He didn’t believe Lynn Winslow would suddenly tell Cecilia Powell that she was coming to the Powell family home to visit him.’

"Well, I told her you missed her." Cecilia Powell looked a little guilty. The truth was, part of the reason she’d said it was that she wanted to see Lynn Winslow more herself.

As expected, Mr. Powell got angry. He stood up, frowning, and began to scold her, "You really are..."

He shook his head, walked away, picked up the phone from the living room, and went upstairs to his study to call Lynn Winslow.

Lynn Winslow had just finished touring the company with Ian Sterling, and they had just gotten back to his office when Mr. Powell called.

Lynn Winslow was surprised for a moment. When she answered, she said in a sweet voice, "Grandpa, did you miss me?"

Mr. Powell said sternly, "Lynn, don’t you mind that muddle-headed mother of yours. I’ll have your cousin bring me to see you instead."

"Grandpa, it’s not right for an elder to visit the younger generation. I just checked the weather forecast. It’s not supposed to rain tomorrow, and the temperature won’t be too high. Ian Sterling and I will come visit you."

Leaning against Ian Sterling’s side, Lynn Winslow’s mood had already improved considerably.

Mr. Powell sighed. "You’ve been wronged."

"I haven’t been wronged," Lynn Winslow said with a smile, pursing her lips. "If anything, I’m the one at fault for not visiting you."

The grandfather and granddaughter chatted for a long time. Ian Sterling was starting to get agitated. Her soft body was leaning against him, and she kept getting handsy with him from time to time, yet he couldn’t do a thing about it.

When she finally hung up, Ian Sterling stood up, scooping up a surprised Lynn Winslow—who had almost toppled onto the sofa when he moved—and strode toward the private lounge.

Tossed onto the bed, Lynn Winslow yelped, "No!"

Ian Sterling stood by the bed and asked, "Why not?"

Lynn Winslow blinked innocently. "While I was waiting for you earlier, I went to the bathroom and discovered Aunt Flo had come to visit."

"..." No exaggeration, Ian Sterling’s vision went black. He tried to calm down for a long while but couldn’t. Glaring at a gloating Lynn Winslow, he turned and stalked into the bathroom to take a cold shower.

Lynn Winslow covered her mouth, giggling. When she heard the sound of the shower, she stopped holding back, collapsing onto the bed and rolling with laughter.

Standing under the stream of water, Ian Sterling could hear Lynn Winslow’s laughter, unable to be drowned out even by the shower. Annoyed, he shoved his face directly into the water, forcing himself to cool down.

When he came out, Lynn Winslow was lying on her stomach on the bed, swinging her legs as she played on her phone. Seeing him emerge, she gave him an ingratiating smile.

Ian Sterling forced a smile. "Fine. It’s okay."

Lynn Winslow heard the teeth-grinding anger in his tone. She stopped her leisurely fidgeting and cleared her throat. "Oh, come on, I forgot about it. If I had remembered, I definitely wouldn’t have teased you just now."

Ian Sterling let out a cold laugh. ’As if he didn’t know what was going through her mischievous little mind.’

Lynn Winslow got up and knelt by the edge of the bed, holding her arms open. "Hugs," she cooed. "Let me comfort you."

"The best way to comfort me would be for you to stop bullying me." Though he said that, Ian Sterling still stepped forward and let her wrap her arms around his waist.

Lynn Winslow hugged him and swayed. "Don’t be so petty."

"Can’t be helped. I’ve been petty since I was a kid. Didn’t my mom tell you?"