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Chapter 186: Chapter 186: You Can’t Even Handle the Thatcher Family

”Mr. Powell, Mr. Winslow, is there anywhere you’d like to go? Everything’s been taken care of these past two days. Once you’ve decided, we can leave anytime.”

Elder Winslow actually did have a place in mind. He said with a smile, ”Let’s go to Griermount. I want to see the landscapes there.”

Lynn Winslow frowned slightly. ”Can you handle it? It’s not an easy trip.”

”You’ve never been, so how would you know it’s not easy?” Elder Winslow had finally picked a place, and he wasn’t about to let Lynn shoot it down. He said solemnly, ”We’re going to Griermount. I won’t go anywhere else.”

”You...”

Ian Sterling cut Lynn off and agreed to Elder Winslow’s request. When Lynn shot him a displeased look, he returned it with a reassuring gaze.

They agreed to leave the day after tomorrow. The two old gentlemen left immediately, discussing where they would go have fun today as they walked.

After they left, Lynn asked Ian Sterling, ”Why did you agree to take my grandfather to Griermount? His health definitely isn’t suited for a place like that.”

Ian reassured her, ”Don’t worry, I’ll arrange everything. I promise nothing will happen to them, okay?”

Lynn hesitated for a long time before finally nodding.

Ian ruffled her hair and asked, ”I have to make a trip back to Aerie Garden. Want to come with me?”

”I’ll pass. I want to sleep a little more.” She had woken up because she was starving; now that she was full, she felt sleepy.

Ian didn’t press her. He was going back to talk about the Thatcher Family’s affairs with Nina Norton and Spencer Sterling. Lynn naturally knew this, which was why she refused.

’If I were there, the Sterling Family would definitely not handle this matter rationally for my sake.’

After Ian left, Lynn didn’t actually go back to her room to sleep. Instead, she tried calling Chloe Clayton.

She thought Chloe wouldn’t pick up, or that Liam Clayton would answer, but to her surprise, the call connected, and the voice that answered was Chloe’s.

”Lynn.” The dejection in Chloe’s voice was obvious.

Lynn asked softly, ”Did your brother give you your phone back?”

Chloe hummed in agreement and sighed. ”He just gave it back, and you called right away.”

”I called your boyfriend yesterday. He said you already had someone tell him you were breaking up.”

”Yeah. My brother sent someone.”

Lynn frowned. Thinking of the hypocritical Liam, she felt deep down that he was capable of selling out his own sister to help the Clayton family climb higher. She asked seriously, ”Do you need any help?”

Chloe said, ”No, it’s fine. I promised my brother I’d break up with him and never contact him again.”

”...” Lynn was silent for a long time before finally just humming in acknowledgment and hanging up.

Lynn stood quietly by the French windows for a long time. She could guess what Liam must have said to Chloe after they left. Otherwise, why would Chloe’s attitude have changed so drastically overnight?

But since Chloe didn’t ask for her help, Lynn wouldn’t interfere. After all, Chloe was an adult. She had to think things through for herself when making any decision; she didn’t need Lynn to make choices for her.

Still, she felt frustrated and heartbroken. Lynn had always thought that as the precious young lady of the Clayton family, Chloe would never be pushed out and used as a tool to trade for status and power.

—

Ian Sterling returned to Aerie Garden. His sister and Nina Norton were in the garden; Spencer Sterling was not there.

He parked the car and walked over to them. ”Mom, Sis.”

Selene Sterling turned around. Seeing his bad mood, she scoffed, ”It’s just the Thatcher Family. Is that enough to get you so worked up?”

She had been there and heard everything when Ian was on the phone with Nina earlier that morning.

Ian sat on a stone stool and slumped lazily onto the stone table. It was a bit cool, but just enough to wake him up.

Nina, while snipping off dead branches, said, ”The Thatcher Family alone wouldn’t be enough to upset him. It’s because Madam Thatcher brought up the old verbal engagement agreement in front of Lynn. Lynn must be feeling upset.”

Ian didn’t answer, just took the tea the butler handed him and drank a few sips.

Nina walked over to him and said softly, ”When it comes down to it, this is my fault. Back then, I was just thinking of finding someone to distract you so you could move on sooner. I never expected it to cause this kind of trouble.”

”What does this have to do with you? It’s clearly the Thatcher Family’s fault.” Selene sat down next to Ian. After speaking to Nina, she turned to Ian and chided him, ”You’re usually so headstrong with us, but you can’t even handle one Thatcher Family. So useless.”

Nina sighed. ”I’ll make a trip to the Thatcher residence later. I’ll see what Madam Thatcher’s attitude is. If it’s still the same, then our Sterling Family will just cut ties with them. I’ll go and explain everything to Lynn personally.”

Ian finally spoke his second sentence since arriving at Aerie Garden. He shook his head, rejecting Nina’s idea of going to see Lynn.

”You shouldn’t go. She’ll definitely think the break between our families was caused by her being upset.”

The three of them had only exchanged a few words when the butler returned from a short distance away.

”Madam, Miss, Young Master, Madam Thatcher and Miss Thatcher have arrived. They say they wish to see you, Madam.”

Nina frowned, letting out a short, angry laugh. ’They actually have the nerve to come see me.’

Selene stood up and said to Nina, ”Mom, I’ll go with you to see them. Finn can just stay here.”

Ian knew his sister’s temper best, so he nodded in reassurance and watched the mother and daughter walk away.

The butler showed the two Thatchers to seats in the living room. When Nina entered, the first thing she saw was the gauze on Annabelle Thatcher’s face.

She smiled and greeted Madam Thatcher, then asked with concern, ”What happened to Annabelle’s face? Why is it wrapped in gauze?”

Madam Thatcher had assumed Ian had already told Nina about what happened at Calyx Hall. Hearing her say this, she felt a sliver of hope, but still asked tentatively, ”Finn didn’t tell you?”

Nina shook her head, a puzzled expression on her face. Selene chuckled softly and sat down beside Nina, neither greeting Madam Thatcher nor acknowledging Annabelle Thatcher.

Madam Thatcher couldn’t be bothered with Selene’s haughtiness; she was in a hurry to smear Lynn’s name.

She said with a grave tone, ”You have no idea. You know how my grandnephew smashed Finn’s car, right? Well, Annabelle and I went to apologize to Finn. But who would have thought? Finn’s girlfriend took an instant disliking to Annabelle and actually had her cat scratch her. We just came from the hospital, and we wanted to come tell you right away. We’d hate for Finn to be deceived by his girlfriend. If she gets her hooks into him, she certainly won’t be a respectful daughter-in-law.”

Nina drew out a slow ”Oh.” ”Is that so...”

Madam Thatcher’s heart pounded. She had indeed taken Annabelle to Calyx Hall on purpose. She had also intentionally brought up the past, all to make Finn break up with his girlfriend. ’Then, perhaps Annabelle would still have a chance...’

’The Thatcher Family is at a dead end. I have to do something. What if... what if...’

Selene leaned against the arm of the sofa, her calm, beautiful eyes quietly watching Madam Thatcher and Annabelle. She let out a snort, then burst into laughter.

The two of them looked over at her, both confused and displeased.