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Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Born to Clash

Selene Sterling said coolly, ”There’s no need for Miss Rhodes to worry about our Finn.”

With that, she hung up the phone. Her face grim, she immediately called Ian Sterling, but the phone rang and rang with no answer.

Seeing her reaction, her assistant tried to placate her in a low voice, ”Something probably came up for Finn.”

’What could he possibly be busy with? He’s probably just afraid I’ll chew him out, so he’s not daring to pick up.’

In the entire Sterling family of seven, even including Mr. Sterling’s branch, no one treated Ian Sterling worse than she, his second-oldest sister, did.

Their age gap wasn’t that large, and Selene Sterling had a bad temper of her own, one that could rival Ian Sterling’s. Therefore, unless the situation was exceptional, Nina Norton would never ask her youngest daughter to intervene. She was afraid that once the siblings started arguing, they would never stop.

Selene Sterling hung up. As she dialed her mother, she narrowed her eyes and told her assistant in a cold voice, ”We’re going back to Veridia first.”

Her next performance was a violin concert at a theater in Faeland, but her word was law. The assistant hesitated for a second, but after receiving a slightly threatening glance from Selene Sterling, she quickly nodded and went to negotiate with the organizers in Faeland.

There wasn’t much of a time difference between Selene Sterling’s current country and Veridia, so Nina Norton answered the phone quickly.

”Selene, what’s wrong?” Nina Norton’s tone was light; clearly, she had no idea what ”good deed” her dear Finn had just pulled.

Selene Sterling said grimly, ”Mom, do you have any idea what your precious Finn has done now? Someone has already called to complain to me.”

Nina Norton was taken aback for a moment before asking cautiously, ”What did he do?”

Selene Sterling had only half-believed Mia Rhodes. The moment Mia had told her, she’d instructed her assistant to investigate what happened at the Clayton estate that evening. Now, she had the full story. Although Mia Rhodes had embellished things a bit, the core facts were largely the same.

Selene Sterling took the tablet from her assistant. Staring at the screen, she enunciated each word clearly, ”He went to the Clayton family daughter’s birthday party, found Lynn Winslow, and groveled to coax her in front of all the guests. You didn’t know?”

Nina Norton genuinely had no idea. Selene Sterling continued, ”I’m coming back to Veridia right now.”

”Wait, Selene, please don’t fight with your brother.” Now Nina Norton was truly panicking. She pushed away Spencer Sterling, who was massaging her shoulders, and said anxiously, ”Your brother... he...”

It wasn’t that she was playing favorites; it was just that the siblings seemed destined to clash. When they fought, the entire family was thrown into turmoil.

”Mom,” Selene Sterling cut Nina Norton off, her voice frigid. ”Finn is only like this because you’ve all spoiled him.”

With that said, she hung up, not caring whether her mother had anything more to say.

Furious, Nina Norton slapped away Spencer Sterling’s hand as he reached for her again. ”Who in the world is such a busybody?” she fumed. ”Going all the way to Selene to tattle on Finn!”

The slap stung. Spencer Sterling rubbed the distinct red mark on the back of his hand and asked with a smile, ”What is it? What ’good deed’ has our Finn done now?”

”Ask Finn yourself,” Nina Norton snapped. ”This time, if Selene comes back and decides to beat him up, I’m not getting involved.” She slipped on her slippers, her steps angry and hurried as she stomped upstairs.

Spencer Sterling slowly walked aside and poured himself a glass of water. ’He wasn’t about to call his youngest son. That would just be tipping him off, wouldn’t it? It would be good for his youngest daughter to come home and teach the boy a proper lesson. Maybe it would stop him from bullying his siblings and parents all day long.’

He drank half the glass of water before ambling upstairs to soothe his wife.

When Ian Sterling saw the incoming call from Selene Sterling, he pursed his lips, silenced his phone, and pretended he hadn’t noticed. It wasn’t that he was afraid of her; he just found her annoying.

He leaned back in the car, resting with his eyes closed. Evan Carson parked at the entrance to Nys and gently woke him.

Yawning, Ian Sterling ambled inside. Jasper Jennings, Kenneth Keller, and the others had arrived long ago and were now gathered together, playing cards and drinking.

They had all watched the recent incident on video, so when he arrived, they all shot him a teasing look in unison.

Ian Sterling was in a pleasant mood. He raised an eyebrow and returned their gaze. Kenneth Keller was the first to break, asking, ”So? Did you two make up?”

”Nope.” Ian Sterling walked over to a sofa and sat down. He picked up a newly opened bottle of liquor, gave it an appraising glance, then poured himself a glass and took a few sips, satisfied.

Seeing his discerning air, Jasper Jennings rolled his eyes dramatically. ”Like I’d serve you the cheap stuff.”

”You didn’t make up, but there was hugging and kissing,” Zachary Quincy said, glaring at him. Ian Sterling, however, just looked at him in confusion. ”Was there kissing?”

’I don’t think so. We just hugged.’

Ian Sterling wasn’t surprised they knew. After all, one of the rich kids from their group chat was the one who’d told him Lynn Winslow was at the Clayton girl’s birthday party.

Zachary Quincy frowned. ”Is the hugging and kissing really the point here?”

”Then what is?” Ian Sterling continued to play dumb, propping a leg up and starting a game on his phone.

”No, you...” Zachary Quincy started, wanting to have a serious talk with him, but Kenneth Keller gave him a light kick, forcing him to swallow his words.

Jared Sterling, sitting across from Kenneth Keller, casually tossed down a card. Without looking at his cousin, he said coolly, ”You know what Finn’s like. Why even try to talk sense into him? You’re not afraid he’ll just run you in circles?”

Jared Sterling was Ian Sterling’s older cousin. He’d been on a business trip in Morelia for some time and had only just returned to Veridia yesterday. He’d been dragged out for drinks before he could even get over his jet lag.

His face was etched with fatigue as he remarked, seemingly offhand, ”I have to admit, that Joel Winslow is a capable one. An adopted son, yet he’s managed to get all those old geezers in the Winslow family under his thumb.”

Hearing this, a flicker of coldness flashed in Ian Sterling’s eyes. Jared Sterling continued, ”That project I was eyeing—Joel Winslow and Zane Lancaster weren’t interested in it at first. But as soon as they found out I was going for it, they teamed up and screwed me over. Tell me, shouldn’t I make Finn pay me back for that?”

Zachary Quincy snorted. ”That adopted son... seems his motives aren’t exactly pure.”

Kenneth Keller had met Joel Winslow. His methods were gentle yet sharp, and his looks were on par with Ian Sterling’s. But in the end, he was, by title, Lynn Winslow’s brother. Even if his motives weren’t pure, there were many lines he couldn’t cross. The one Ian Sterling should really be worried about was Zane Lancaster of the Cruz family. He was an illegitimate son who had clawed his way to the top past a whole crowd of legitimate heirs in the Cruz family; his methods were undoubtedly ruthless.

”Joel Winslow isn’t the issue. At the end of the day, he’s just her brother in name. The important one is Zane Lancaster. He’s Lynn Winslow’s childhood friend. Aren’t you worried, Finn?”

Ian Sterling set down his wine glass and stretched his arms languidly, his tone laced with undisguised contempt.

”Then let them try.”

He had always been arrogant, but he had every right to be.

Seeing him like this, Kenneth Keller stopped worrying. He just smiled and said, ”I wonder if our Finn is going to get his heart broken again this time.”

Ian Sterling lifted his gaze to him, his dark eyes filled with resolve. He enunciated each word, ”She won’t get the chance.”

Kenneth Keller met his gaze. Seeing the crazed, obsessive look on his face, Kenneth’s heart skipped a beat.

”That’s good.”