You're not leaving this time.

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: With You, I Won’t Be Lonely

Lynn Winslow had been in the hospital for several days. Mrs. Sterling only agreed to her discharge after the doctor repeatedly assured her that Lynn was fully recovered.

The Lumina Gala was approaching, so Lynn Winslow wasn’t in a rush to settle scores with Mia Rhodes. She spent several days at home, spacing out while holding Kiki.

Lynn Winslow was a little surprised to get a voice call from Esther Abbott.

”Hello, Miss Abbott.”

Esther Abbott chuckled. ”Lynn, no need to be so formal.”

Hearing this, Lynn Winslow’s eyes crinkled in a smile, her voice filled with pleasure. ”Esther, what’s up?”

Esther Abbott glanced up at Ian Sterling. Though he was in the middle of a mahjong game, his ears had clearly perked up, so she deliberately lowered her voice so he couldn’t hear.

”Aetherium Club. Ian’s here. You coming?” Esther Abbott got straight to the point.

Lynn Winslow lowered her gaze and gently squeezed Kiki’s paw. ”I don’t think I’ll go,” she said softly. ”It’s too late.”

”You don’t have any friends in Quartos. It must be so boring at home, so why not come have some fun?” Esther Abbott said, propping her chin on her hand and tapping her cheek. ”Come and see the look on Ian Sterling’s face.”

Lynn Winslow was tempted for a moment, and agreed.

Esther Abbott stood up, wine glass in hand, and circled the four-person mahjong game. ”Oh, dear,” she said with feigned helplessness. ”I was just thinking that Miss Winslow doesn’t have any friends in Quartos, so I invited her to come have some fun. But she said she was afraid she’d annoy a certain someone if she came, so she turned me down.”

Her gaze drifted to Ian Sterling, and just as she expected, she saw him press his lips together, his spirits visibly sinking.

Jasper Jennings, sitting upstream from Ian Sterling, leisurely discarded a tile. ”That’s to be expected,” he said calmly. ”After all, few of the people here actually like her. Why would she come? Just to annoy someone?”

Esther Abbott rested her hand on the back of Zachary Quincy’s chair. She lazily drained her glass, set it down in front of him, and said with a smile, ”That’s true. But Lynn Winslow is just so beautiful, and I adore her personality. And as it happens, my family’s been nagging my little brother to find a girlfriend. I should introduce him to Lynn. Who knows, she might just become my sister-in-law.”

The Abbott family’s young master, Owen Abbott, was a notorious wastrel in Quartos. Compared to him, the kinds of things Shawn Wyatt got up to were mere child’s play. If not for the Abbott Family’s influence and his sister Esther’s protection, he would have been behind bars long ago.

Ian Sterling scoffed, glaring up at Esther Abbott. ”Are you sure you like her and don’t actually hate her?” he said sarcastically. ”Have you forgotten what a monster your brother is?”

Esther Abbott wasn’t fazed. She shrugged and continued, ”If my brother’s not an option, I have cousins too. They’re all like brothers to me. No matter which one of them manages to win her over, Lynn will still be my sister-in-law.”

Ian Sterling shoved his tiles forward. ”I’m done. I’m leaving,” he said coldly, and stood up.

When Esther Abbott saw that he was genuinely angry, she burst out laughing. ”Oh dear, I forgot! Lynn said she’s coming after all. I’ve been so busy lately my brain’s turned to mush. My memory’s shot.”

Hearing this, Ian Sterling gritted his teeth. He was left standing there, not knowing whether to leave or stay.

The others were happily watching the drama unfold. Esther Abbott deliberately provoked him, ”What’s wrong? Didn’t you say you were done playing? We won’t force you to stay. Besides, you hate Lynn Winslow. What if you give the poor girl the cold shoulder when she gets here? You’d better get going.”

Ian Sterling’s fists clenched, his thin lips pressing into a hard line. He looked like he was actually about to leave. Kenneth Keller, having enjoyed the show long enough, saw that Ian was genuinely angry. He shot a look at Esther Abbott, then stood up and pulled Ian back down.

”What are you going home for? It’s barely late. Get back here and keep playing.”

Ian Sterling took the offered excuse to back down and sat back in his seat. Jasper Jennings glanced up at Esther Abbott, his eyes carrying a faint warning. Esther Abbott just scoffed and walked away, empty glass in hand.

Lynn Winslow had her driver drop her off, telling him to wait for her right at the entrance.

Because she felt that it wouldn’t be long before Ian Sterling angered her into leaving.

To her surprise, it was as if Ian Sterling had turned over a new leaf. He hadn’t opened his mouth since she’d walked in, merely playing his tiles in silence.

Lynn Winslow glanced at him several times, but he pretended not to notice. Zachary Quincy, on the other hand, looked like a spooked cat the moment he saw Lynn. He was just about to open his mouth with a sarcastic comment when a casual glance from Ian Sterling shut him up.

Zachary Quincy sullenly bit his tongue.

Kenneth Keller, unable to stand Ian Sterling’s melodrama, spoke up. ”How about we stop playing this? We could go over to the lounge area and do something else?”

Jasper Jennings raised an eyebrow in agreement. ”Works for me. Finn, what do you think?”

Ian Sterling gave a quiet ’mhm,’ and was immediately rewarded with an eye-roll from Jasper Jennings.

Once they were settled on the sofas, Lynn Winslow greeted Esther Abbott, then walked over to the men.

She greeted each of them in a gentle voice. As the saying goes, you can’t hit a smiling face. So, as displeased as Zachary Quincy was, he held it in, managing only a sullen ’mhm’ in reply.

Jasper Jennings simply nodded with a faint smile. Kenneth Keller, on the other hand, seemed quite interested in Lynn Winslow and struck up a brief conversation.

Lynn Winslow kept a smile on her face the whole time. Once Kenneth Keller fell silent, she leaned closer to Ian Sterling and asked in a soft voice, ”Ian, are you unhappy that I came?”

Zachary Quincy, who was sitting nearby, heard her and rolled his eyes dramatically.

Lynn Winslow ignored Zachary Quincy as if he were thin air. She continued to watch Ian Sterling, her gaze soft, looking as though she would leave immediately if he said he was unhappy.

Ian Sterling looked down at her. ”Didn’t you say you were going back to Morelia?” he asked coolly.

Lynn Winslow blinked, explaining with utmost sincerity, ”I had already booked my flight, but then I received an invitation to The Lumina Gala. I thought I’d attend it before I go back.”

Ian Sterling frowned. In their circle, The Lumina Gala was nothing special. It was mostly for people in the entertainment industry and some film investors, with a few rich heirs thrown in who were just looking to hook up with young starlets.

Lynn Winslow saw his skepticism and offered an explanation. ”This year’s host is a very famous director from Veridia. My grandfather is a huge fan of his films and even had him over as a guest once. When he heard I was in Veridia, he sent me an invitation.”

She blinked, feigning a troubled expression. Reaching out a small, delicate hand, she gently tugged on Ian Sterling’s sleeve. ”But I don’t know anyone in Veridia,” she whispered. ”And I’ve only met the director once, so we’re not really acquainted. Won’t I be terribly lonely if I go by myself?”

She looked up, her eyes clear and bright.

”Did you get an invitation? Are you going to go? If you’re there, I don’t think I’ll be so lonely.”

Ian Sterling was silent for a long time before finally giving a quiet ’mhm.’

Esther Abbott, who had appeared beside them at some point, had heard every word of their conversation. When Lynn Winslow glanced her way, Esther gave her a wink, her eyes filled with nothing but admiration.

Lynn Winslow’s lips curved into a smile, her expression as harmless as ever.

Zachary Quincy simply couldn’t stand it anymore and dragged Ian Sterling a little ways away.

”What are you dragging me for?” Ian Sterling demanded impatiently.

”Oh, sure, sure. You use that soft, gentle voice for Lynn Winslow, but you use *this* tone with me, is that it?” Zachary Quincy was exasperated with him. ”Can’t you see she’s doing all of this on purpose?”

”What’s on purpose? Stop dragging me,” Ian Sterling said, slapping his hand away with a frown.