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Chapter 129: Chapter 129: A Crybaby Since Childhood

Connor Sterling rose to his feet. With a gentlemanly air, he extended a hand and gave a slight bow.

"Miss Winslow, a pleasure. I’m Ian Sterling’s second brother, Connor Sterling."

Ian Sterling strode forward and slapped Connor’s hand away. "What are you being so formal for?" he grumbled.

’It was giving him goosebumps; this kind of formality felt so distant.’

For a moment, Connor Sterling lost his usual gentlemanly composure and rolled his eyes hard.

The brothers’ dynamic made Lynn Winslow chuckle. Nina Norton shot her youngest son a look before turning to Lynn with an apologetic smile. "They’re not normally like this," she explained.

She was trying to save face for her sons. But while Lynn Winslow might not have known Connor Sterling, didn’t she know Ian Sterling perfectly well?

She just smiled and nodded, playing along as if she believed Nina Norton’s words.

They all sat down together. Ian Sterling plopped down beside Lynn Winslow, immediately leaning against her to play on his phone. The sight made Nina Norton cringe with disapproval. "Can’t you sit up properly for once?" she chided.

"What’s wrong with how I’m sitting?" Ian Sterling looked up at her, genuinely confused.

Nina Norton rolled her eyes again. Lynn, however, just smiled and playfully rubbed his chin, not the least bit bothered by his behavior.

Zoe Sterling arrived before Elias Sterling, with Nigel Abbott in tow.

Zoe Sterling was already familiar with Lynn, so no introductions were needed. She just kicked Ian’s foot, motioning for him to move.

Ian Sterling scowled but reluctantly got up to sit with Connor and the others.

"What are you doing here? This is a Sterling family dinner. What’s it got to do with you?" he directed at Nigel Abbott.

Nigel Abbott just chuckled, completely unfazed by Ian’s confrontational tone.

"I’m going to be part of the Sterling family soon enough. Why shouldn’t I be here?"

’For some reason, younger brothers never seem to get along with their future brothers-in-law, even when they aren’t the overprotective type.’

Ian Sterling snorted. Seeing Lynn chatting happily with Nina Norton and Zoe Sterling, he felt reassured and went back to his phone.

The butler stood smiling off to the side, periodically bringing over fruit and desserts and attentively refilling their tea.

By the time Sophia Shaw and Elias Sterling arrived, the three women were deep in an animated conversation. Upon seeing Elias, Lynn politely rose to her feet.

Elias Sterling approached with a smile. "Miss Winslow, I’ll follow their lead and call you Lynn. I’m Ian Sterling’s eldest brother, Elias. You can just call me Eldest Brother."

Just as he was about to extend his hand, Connor, who was enjoying the show and eager to stir the pot, chimed in, "I wouldn’t do that. Be careful, or our little Finn might just slap your hand away."

Flustered and annoyed, Ian kicked Connor. Lynn, however, proactively reached out and gave Elias’s hand a light shake.

"Hello, Eldest Brother."

"A pleasure, a pleasure." Elias Sterling shot a glance at Ian, a look heavy with meaning, as if mocking his younger brother’s petty possessiveness.

Ian rolled his eyes, then got up and pulled Lynn down to sit with him, eager to end the pleasantries. He leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Don’t pay any attention to them. They’ll definitely try to tease you."

Sophia Shaw overheard this and said with an amused laugh, "Finn, you can’t slander your brothers just because you want Lynn all to yourself."

Ian rested his chin on Lynn’s shoulder and let out a soft huff. He nuzzled against her and whispered, "I just want to be alone with you."

’He didn’t like it when Lynn’s attention was on other people, but he also wanted her to fit in with his family as quickly as possible. The conflicting emotions made him uncomfortable, and he felt he was being rather petty.’

Lynn understood him perfectly. Ignoring the eyes on them, she rubbed her cheek against Ian’s forehead and murmured, "We’ll be alone together tonight when we go home."

Ian hummed in agreement and let out a faint sigh as he sat up straight.

The rest of the Sterling family watched the couple’s interaction and exchanged a meaningful glance.

’Their Finn was always the one being spoiled and doted on by his parents and siblings. Now he had a girlfriend, and she was the one spoiling *him*.’

’Pathetic!’

Nigel Abbott leaned back on the sofa, a pang of jealousy in his heart.

’In the end, he was just jealous of Ian’s luck. He was always the one being coddled. Nigel, on the other hand, had no problem coddling his own girlfriend, but she was also constantly teasing him.’

At dinner, Ian finally started acting the part of a proper boyfriend. He meticulously peeled shrimp, cracked crab legs, and served food for Lynn. He even took on the duty of pouring her juice. Throughout the entire meal, Lynn never had to reach for the serving utensils; Ian kept her plate full.

Nina Norton felt a twinge of jealousy, but also a sense of gratification. ’Her son had finally grown up.’

Lynn was a little shy, but not uncomfortably so. She simply lowered her gaze and ate the food he gave her.

Spencer Sterling observed the two of them for a moment before addressing Lynn directly. "Lynn, are you happy with our Finn?"

Ian frowned and looked at Spencer. ’What’s he getting at?’

Lynn, however, gave him a reassuring smile before turning back to Spencer. "Very happy, sir."

"Then would you be willing to become part of our family?" Spencer Sterling asked bluntly. "Your aunt and I are very fond of you, and as for Finn’s siblings, they already wish you were their own sister. If you’re willing, I think it would make all of them very happy."

The others all nodded in agreement, but then it seemed a bit like they were pressuring her into marriage. Nina Norton quickly spoke up. "Lynn, please don’t feel any pressure. This is a decision for you and Finn to make together. Don’t mind what your uncle says. He’s just so happy for the Sterling family that someone as wonderful as you would choose our Finn."

Lynn understood. She smiled warmly. "Sir, Ma’am, I don’t feel pressured at all." She tilted her head to look at Ian and said softly, "I’ve already made up my mind."

Ian’s heart hammered in his chest. His throat tightened, and his eyes instantly welled up.

"You’re not going to cry, are you?" Lynn teased, leaning in closer. Ian ducked his head to hide his face, pursing his lips. "I am not," he mumbled.

Nina Norton chuckled. "Finn has always been more of a crybaby than his older siblings."

Lynn’s eyes widened. She’d heard plenty of stories about the mischief Ian got into as a kid, but she had no idea he was a crybaby.

Connor knew this all too well. "I was the one who looked after him most when we were kids," he said with a sigh. "Sometimes he’d throw a tantrum, and if I ignored him, he would just cry his eyes out. It was pathetic."

"Tell me about it. I hated looking after him. Nothing could calm him down," Zoe added with a look of disgust. She and Connor were twins, but she lacked the patience to deal with Ian, who was several years younger and had an even shorter fuse and less patience than she did.

Elias was the sibling who had looked after Ian the least. Back then, he was preoccupied with learning the ropes of the family business and had no time for his little brother. Even so, he recalled one particularly embarrassing childhood incident.

"When Sophia and I got engaged," Elias began, "Finn ran up to me and said, ’Eldest Brother, you’re not good enough for Sophia! You’re a toad lusting after a swan! Just let Sophia go!’"

At this, the entire room erupted in laughter. The one laughing the hardest was Sophia Shaw herself.

She was laughing so hard she was nearly in tears. "How come I never heard this story?"

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