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Lynn was still a little wary when she lay down, afraid he’d act up again. She shot him several cautious glances.

Ian Sterling lay obediently by her side, blinking his eyes innocently.

“You’re sure you’re okay now?”

Ian Sterling nodded, hummed in agreement, and raised his arms to hug Lynn.

Lynn was exhausted and couldn’t be bothered to argue with him about it. She shifted into a comfortable position and drifted back to sleep.

Since she’d gone to bed early, Lynn woke up early the next day. She kept her eyes squeezed shut for a long while before turning over. The space beside her was empty; Ian Sterling was long gone.

Lynn was dazed for a moment, then got up and walked to the bathroom. Standing before the mirror, she discovered that her skin’s condition was somehow even better than before.

She leaned closer to the mirror to examine herself. Her already delicate skin was now even fairer and more supple, with a faint rosy blush. The light in her eyes was brighter, too.

‘…Are men this good for you? Was it like this before?’

She couldn’t remember such small details from when she was with Ian Sterling. After they broke up, her mind was just filled with memories of their time together.

Lynn frowned, sighed softly, then showered, got ready, and changed into more formal attire before heading downstairs.

She had stayed home from the company all day yesterday, so she definitely had to go in today. Her uncle was just waiting to find a weakness so he could usurp her position.

But just as she stepped off the staircase, a sound came from the dining room. Thinking it was Kiki and Hengheng running out and causing a ruckus, she frowned and walked toward the dining room, calling out, “Kiki? Hengheng? What are you two up to now?”

Her feet stopped dead in their tracks. She stared at Ian Sterling, who was squatting by the dining table, and her heart actually skipped a beat.

Ian Sterling chuckled and looked up at Lynn, his voice gentle. “You’re awake? I was going to make you breakfast, but I failed at everything, so I called the housekeeper to come.”

Lynn looked at the spread of both Chinese and Western-style breakfast on the table, pursed her lips, and said stubbornly, “Why haven’t you left yet?”

“I’m not leaving. I’ve already checked out of my hotel. I’ll be staying here from now on.”

This wasn’t the first time he’d done something like this, so he said it with shameless and complete confidence.

Lynn didn’t answer him, simply sitting down at the table and eating her breakfast in silence.

Ian Sterling got up and walked over to her side. Seeing her formal attire, he asked, puzzled, “Are you going out?”

“Mhm, to the company,” Lynn replied coolly.

Ian Sterling froze for a second, then remembered that Lynn now had a covetous uncle lurking about, along with that pack of wastrel cousins from his side of the family.

He lowered his gaze in thought, then suggested, “Should I go with you?”

Lynn glanced up at him before looking away and continuing to eat. “No need. If you want to stay, then stay. Have someone clean up that room yourself.”

Ian Sterling knew he couldn’t be too aggressive right now, so he nodded obediently. He watched her leave, standing dazed at the door for a long time before returning to the living room.

His phone was lying on the sofa. He bent down, picked it up, and dialed Edward. His voice was flat and calm. “Have you finished investigating the matter with the second branch of the Winslow family?”

He could have arranged for his own people to investigate, but being in a foreign country, Edward was simply more convenient.

“It’s done. I’ll email it to you right now.” After a pause, Edward hesitated for a moment before continuing, “But I suggest you don’t get involved in the Winslow family’s affairs. Elder Winslow has been in charge for many years, and he hasn’t intervened in the power struggle between his granddaughter and her cousin. The Winslow family seems simple on the surface, but things are very complicated behind the scenes. I advise you not to interfere rashly.”

Ian Sterling hummed coolly, then scoffed, “Just because other people don’t dare, doesn’t mean I don’t either.” With that, he hung up.

Edward emailed the file to Ian Sterling, then got up and went to the top-floor office.

Cruz was currently holding a beautiful, sexy secretary in his lap, his fingers tapping casually on the computer keyboard as he presumably handled some work.

Edward knocked and entered, ignoring Cruz’s behavior, and informed him of what Ian Sterling had asked him to do.

Cruz narrowed his eyes and gestured for the secretary to leave. Once she was out of the office, he stood up, lit a cigar, and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window.

“This Mr. Sterling really is arrogant.”

His tone held a hint of a smile, and Edward couldn’t quite decipher his meaning. After some deliberation, he asked, “He wants to go against the second branch of the Winslow family. Should we get involved?”

Cruz snorted. “No need,” he said flatly. “Just watch. Don’t let the Winslows’ second branch get desperate and hurt him. It’ll be hard to answer to the Sterlings then.” ℯℓ.

“Understood.” Edward nodded. Just as he was about to leave, Cruz called him back.

“Your brother says he wants to go to Veridia to open up the Veridian market for the Cruz family. Do you think I should agree or not?”

He was testing him, but Edward didn’t pick up on it. All he knew was that Zane Lancaster actually wanted to compete with him for power. In a flash of anger, he impulsively exposed his long-hidden ambition in front of Cruz.

“Father, his mother was a mere commoner. No matter how cunning he is, his status should never surpass mine.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Edward realized what he’d said. Terrified, he looked up at his father, who had turned to face him. He swallowed dryly and explained, “Father, I was just being impulsive. I didn’t mean anything else.”

Cruz smiled faintly and shook his head. “Get out.”

Edward’s heart was filled with apprehension, but he still left obediently.

He had no idea that on the very evening he picked up Ian Sterling, Ian had already called Cruz.

Cruz remembered every single word of their conversation.

“The Cruz family wants to expand into the Veridian market. Fine. But if we cooperate, we will only cooperate with Zane Lancaster.”

Cruz frowned. “Why? Zane Lancaster is just my illegitimate son.”

He was certainly blunt. Ian Sterling chuckled and said coolly, “Because he has Veridian blood. Dealing with him will be much more convenient than dealing with your eldest son. Edward seems a bit stupid.”

Cruz was blunt, and Ian Sterling was even blunter, completely unconcerned about whether he was on someone else’s turf or if his words would offend them.

Perhaps it was because Cruz had already investigated Ian Sterling’s temperament, or perhaps it was due to his fear of the Sterling Family, but after hearing Ian’s words, he actually laughed and agreed.

“Alright, then we’ll do as Mr. Sterling says. When the time comes, I hope Mr. Sterling can look after the Cruz family.”

Ian Sterling gave a cool hum of assent and hung up. Afterward, Cruz summoned his younger son.

*

After arriving at the company, Lynn first went to Joel Winslow’s office.

Joel Winslow was still in a meeting, so Lynn entered the office, a place she rarely visited, by herself.

The office seemed very spacious. Besides the sofa area, there was just the desk area. The cool-toned decor was completely different from Lynn’s own office.

Lynn glanced around casually and saw a photograph on Joel Winslow’s desk.

It was a photo of her and Joel Winslow as children. Lynn had forgotten when it was taken. In it, Joel was small and skinny, standing shyly beside her.