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Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Don’t Say Sorry

The pair swept through the secretarial department like a gust of wind, leaving only two fleeting figures in their wake—and a dazzling flash of red.

Evan Carson, the secretary who had been with Ian Sterling the longest, was also the most perceptive and considerate.

A few others gathered around Evan Carson and whispered, ”Is the future boss lady pretty? I saw the boss was holding red roses.”

Evan Carson clicked his tongue and shook his head. ”Our boss,” he lamented, ”is hopelessly in love.”

He told them about the red roses the boss had brought in one day, and how every time he entered the office, he’d find the boss just standing there in silence, staring at the flowers.

The women present were absolutely delighted to hear it.

When the boss used to come to the office regularly, he really put the secretarial staff through the wringer. So, learning about his vulnerable side? Of course they were thrilled.

Once they were inside the office, before Lynn could even say a word, Ian had already shut the door and locked it.

The roses were placed on the desk. Lynn blinked, and Ian had already strode back to her, leaning down to kiss her.

Lynn lost herself in the long, tender kiss. Her eyes were hazy when it ended. She heard Ian whisper something, and it took her a moment to parse the words. He had said, ”I’m sorry.”

Her arms were already draped over Ian’s shoulders. She rose onto her toes and pressed a light kiss to his cheek.

”Don’t say ’I’m sorry.’ I don’t like those two words.”

’Whether in the past or after I returned, nothing that happened between us was truly what either of us wanted. So neither of us should have to apologize.’

But Ian still felt troubled. With a soft smile, Lynn began to soothe him. She soothed him for a long, long time—soothed him until the entire office had emptied out and the sky had grown dark, soothed him right up until Nina Norton called to ask why they weren’t home yet. The family was waiting for them for dinner.

Lynn watched, her gaze languid, as Ian bent over to take the call. Only after he hung up did she sit up, leaning against his shoulder with a weary yawn.

”I didn’t get a nap earlier. I’m exhausted.”

Ian wrapped an arm around her waist, lifted her, and carried her into the bathroom in his private lounge.

He certainly knew how to live well. The lounge was practically bigger than his office. Ian used to sleep here when he worked too late to go home, so it was fully equipped with everything he might need.

But there was no body wash for women, so Lynn had to make do with his.

On the drive back to Aerie Garden, Ian would lean over at every red light, nuzzling the side of Lynn’s neck with his nose.

’The scent of his own body wash on her skin sparked a singular, dark thought in Ian’s mind: it was as if his scent had branded her, this pure flower, with his exclusive mark forever.’

Lynn didn’t mind his affectionate gestures in the slightest. After what they had just shared, the fluttering in her heart had yet to quiet down.

To Lynn’s surprise, upon returning to Aerie Garden, she saw that even Spencer Sterling, who had been out of town for the past couple of days, was back. In fact, everyone was home except for Selene Sterling, who was still abroad.

Upon seeing Ian, Spencer said flatly, ”I hear your older brother had to force you to go to the office today.”

Ian and Lynn sat down across from them, and Ian just gave a noncommittal ”mm.”

”You’re a grown man, but you still act like a schoolboy, needing your brother to drag you to work.” Spencer always found his youngest son’s lazy attitude grating, and his tone soured even more.

Nina loved nothing more than seeing her youngest son and future daughter-in-law being so sweet together. Hearing her husband’s words, she shot Lynn a smile as she lifted her foot and stomped hard on Spencer’s instep.

Luckily, she was wearing slippers. Otherwise, Spencer would’ve surely ended up in the hospital with a broken foot.

”Don’t start lecturing my son the moment we sit down to eat. If you’re not going to eat, you can wait in the living room.”

Nina was the classic ”I’m the only one who gets to criticize my son.” No one else was allowed, not even Spencer.

Spencer reluctantly shut his mouth, but not before shooting Ian a venomous glare.

Ian pretended not to notice. He was like a pre-programmed robot: the moment they were at the dinner table, he began tending to Lynn, making sure she ate well.

If this had been the first time, the family would have kept sneaking glances, amazed to see the Sterling family’s pampered young master actually waiting on someone. But by now, they had eaten with Ian and Lynn so many times that the sight was familiar. They barely looked over, simply focusing on their own meals.

Connor Sterling was usually too busy with work to come back to Aerie Garden, but tonight, he was planning to stay over as well.

His room was on the same floor as Ian’s. The villa was U-shaped, and the two wings had been deliberately decorated in completely different styles.

There was a medium-sized living room connecting them. Just then, a downpour started outside. Connor was on the sofa watching the financial news when he saw Ian sauntering down the stairs. He looked away in disdain. ”I thought you were planning to camp out on the third floor all night,” he said coolly.

Ian came over and sat next to him, slumping lazily against the sofa. He yawned. ”If Mom had let me, I would’ve. Who knew she’d burst in and kick me out the second I got comfortable?”

Connor laughed mercilessly. Having been picked on by both his older brothers today, Ian was starting to get used to it. He couldn’t be bothered to pay any mind to Connor’s mockery.

”Planning to stay for a few days?”

Ian shook his head. ”It depends on Lynn. She likes it here and wants to stay a few extra days to spend time with Mom and my sister-in-law.”

”Lynn is way more considerate than you are,” Connor said, shaking his head with a resigned smile.

Ian took the praise for Lynn in stride, not at all bothered that Connor was complimenting her right after insulting him.

Connor was speechless at his younger brother’s shamelessness.

As the night wore on, Connor finally rose from the sofa to head back to his room. Ian, however, turned in the opposite direction and started up the stairs to the third floor.

”Unbelievable.” Connor let out a laugh, exasperated by his brother’s spinelessness. ’Out of sight, out of mind,’ he thought. ’Best to just pretend I saw nothing.’

As for Ian, once he reached the third floor, he opened the door to Lynn’s room.

Lynn was still awake, waiting for him. Before he’d gone downstairs, he had whispered to her that he would come tuck her in later that night.

When she saw Ian come in, Lynn sat up, still kneeling on the bed. She shuffled on her knees to the edge, reached up to wrap her arms around him, and murmured, ”I’ve been waiting for so long. What took you?”

”Connor was downstairs, so I watched the news with him for a bit. Besides, Mom just went to bed. If I’d come up any earlier, I would’ve been caught for sure.”

Ian held her tight, his hand gently pressing the back of her head to rest it on his shoulder.

”Go to sleep,” he said. ”I’ll stay with you.”

He didn’t intend to sleep there himself. He planned to head back to his own room after she drifted off. Still, just in case anything unexpected happened, he’d locked his own door before leaving.

Lynn nuzzled against his shoulder as he held her and tucked her into bed. As she watched him adjust the thermostat, she whispered something softly.