Chapter 84: Why Are You Bullying Him?

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: Why Are You Bullying Him?

I’m in the lounge. Come over.

You have ten minutes.

After seeing the message, Lynn Winslow casually replied with a "1" and got out of the car with Ian Sterling.

Ian Sterling held out his arm, gesturing for her to take it. After a glance at him, Lynn Winslow resignedly linked her arm with his.

Zane Lancaster was leaning back in a sofa, a pair of sunglasses perched on his nose, staring down at his phone with a cold expression on his face.

Lynn Winslow led Ian Sterling to the entrance of the VIP lounge. One glance inside and she saw Zane Lancaster, who looked as if the whole world owed him money. She casually called out to him.

Zane Lancaster looked up, drawling lazily, "I give you ten minutes, and you use exactly ten minutes. Not a second more, not a..."

His words died in his throat as he got a clear look at the two of them.

They had dyed their hair the same color and stood with their arms intimately linked. As Zane watched, the man even wrapped an arm around the woman, pulling her into his embrace and gazing at him triumphantly.

Zane Lancaster’s eyes narrowed behind his sunglasses, and the corner of his mouth twitched into a faint smirk. "I must be quite the big shot, to have Mr. Sterling himself come and pick me up."

"Not at all. You’re Lynn’s childhood friend. She’s always seen you as a brother. Now that Lynn and I are together, I’ll naturally treat you like a brother, too." As Ian Sterling spoke, Lynn Winslow squeezed his hand. He continued talking, his fingers caressing the back of her hand.

Zane Lancaster had to admit he felt an undeniable pang of pain at Ian Sterling’s words, but he didn’t let it show on his face. He chuckled softly. "That’s right. We grew up together, so we’re practically brother and sister. That’s why she tells me everything—including the fact that you rejected her not too long ago and made her cry. I know all about it."

Ian Sterling gritted his teeth. He was about to fire back a retort, but Lynn Winslow shot him a glare, and he had no choice but to swallow it.

Zane Lancaster took a few steps forward, and Lynn Winslow said in a gentle voice, "You must be tired. Is your hotel booked? We’ll take you there to rest first. Once you’re settled, we can all have dinner together."

She was never usually this nice to him; she was just acting out of a subconscious sense of guilt.

Zane Lancaster grunted in acknowledgment and shoved his suitcase directly at Ian Sterling. He smiled. "Since Finn here sees me as a brother, you can help me with my luggage. Thanks."

For once, Ian Sterling was at a loss for words. He didn’t want to take the suitcase, but in the next second, Zane Lancaster added, "What’s wrong? Weren’t you the one who said Lynn and I are practically brother and sister? So what’s the problem with helping your big brother-in-law with his luggage?"

Ian Sterling said through gritted teeth, "Fine, brother-in-law."

Zane Lancaster then grabbed Lynn Winslow by the wrist and started walking, pulling her ahead.

Lynn Winslow looked back at Ian. Seeing his pitiful gaze, she subconsciously stopped in her tracks, ready to wait for him.

Zane Lancaster threatened in a low voice, "Before I came, Mr. Winslow specifically instructed me to size him up for him. If you wait for him, just guess whether or not I’ll say a few...unflattering things to Mr. Winslow."

"Wait, Zane Lancaster, you..." Lynn Winslow was incredulous.

"Shh." Zane Lancaster cut her off. He glanced back at the vexed-looking Ian Sterling and asked considerately, "Mr. Winslow asked me to discuss something with Lynn Winslow when I saw her. Finn wouldn’t mind, would he?"

’He did mind! He minded a lot! He minded a whole, whole lot!’

’But what could he do? Zane Lancaster’s excuse was airtight.’

His teeth ached from grinding them. He managed a short grunt of assent.

Lynn Winslow shot Zane Lancaster a glare. "Why are you bullying him?" she chided.

Zane Lancaster ignored her question, saying with disgust, "Why did you dye your hair the same color as his? It’s hideous!"

Lynn Winslow fiddled with a strand of hair that fell over her chest. "You don’t think it’s nice?" she asked, puzzled. "I think it looks great. I’m the one who chose the color."

"It’s not nice because it’s the same as his," Zane Lancaster sneered. "You’re seriously heartless. You get together with him and don’t even tell me? Mr. Winslow and Joel Winslow don’t even know. And you’re using a picture of you two as your profile pic."

"How was I supposed to tell you? You blocked me! You said it would be for a week, but look how long it’s been, and you still haven’t unblocked me. You even had Joel Winslow give me your flight number. So how, may I ask, was I supposed to tell you? Telepathy?" Lynn Winslow was completely exasperated. "And you text me? Did you pick up when I called you back?"

Zane Lancaster was rendered speechless by her rapid-fire rebuttal. He rubbed his chest, which ached from his anger, and kept quiet.

Seeing that she had actually angered him, Lynn Winslow felt a pang of guilt and asked stiffly, "How long are you staying?"

"None of your business." Zane Lancaster was still fuming. "Just go worry about your Mr. Sterling," he said sarcastically.

Lynn Winslow stopped in her tracks and glared at Zane Lancaster, letting out a laugh of pure exasperation. "Fine, then. Get to the hotel by yourself. Ian Sterling and I are going home."

Zane Lancaster hissed. Even his sunglasses couldn’t hide his fury as he grabbed Lynn Winslow’s arm again and dragged her forward.

His tone suddenly turned serious as he asked for Lynn Winslow’s opinion. "I’m planning to start my own company, right here in Quartos. What do you think?"

Lynn Winslow lowered her gaze in thought for a moment before asking, "If you do that, what will you tell Uncle Cruz?"

"He has plenty of other sons; why would he waste his time worrying about me?" Zane Lancaster said slowly, his hands in his pockets. "Even if he hadn’t relieved me of my post, I was already planning to come to Quartos."

He glanced around at the predominantly Veridian faces, and the thought of his innocent mother made him say softly, "You could say this is a second home to me."

His mother had been the most innocent of them all. After getting into university, she’d saved up money from a part-time job to take a trip to Rhodo. There, she caught the eye of his father, who was also in Rhodo with a mistress, surrounded by a flock of women. He’d forcibly taken her to Morelia and made her give birth to him. But his philandering father forgot all about her as soon as he met the next woman, and in the end, she died of depression.

The Winslow family and the Cruz family had been friends for generations. As the sole heir of her generation of the Winslows, and as a close friend of Zane Lancaster, Lynn Winslow naturally knew all about it.

Lynn Winslow was silent for a long while before suddenly breaking into a smile. "Of course. Why not? I support you."

Zane Lancaster glanced at her from the side, the corners of his lips curving up.

The car was in the parking garage. It wasn’t until the three of them got there that Ian Sterling finally had a chance to speak.

He’d driven an SUV today, which towered over the other cars in the garage. Suppressing his anger, he put the suitcase in the trunk, then said softly to Lynn Winslow, "I’ll drive. You can ride shotgun and keep me company."

Lynn Winslow nodded. Knowing he felt wronged, she gave his palm a reassuring squeeze.

Just as Ian Sterling opened the front passenger door for Lynn Winslow, Zane Lancaster strode over and slid into the seat himself. He gave Ian Sterling a faint smile. "Finn, let Lynn sit in the back. I get carsick. You don’t mind if I take the front seat, do you?"

Lynn Winslow and Ian Sterling: "..."

’I do mind!’ Ian Sterling’s fists clenched in anger. He shot Lynn Winslow a look that was a clear, accusatory complaint.

A wave of helplessness washed over Lynn Winslow as she looked between the two of them. With a sigh, she stepped forward and hugged Ian Sterling, glaring at Zane Lancaster over Ian’s shoulder as she placated him.

She whispered, "Just bear with it a little longer. We’ll drop him off at his hotel soon. Then we can go home, and I’ll make it up to you, okay?"