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Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Long Time No See

Lynn Winslow leaned back on the sofa, her posture casual.

"It’s been so long. You’ve changed quite a bit," Esther Abbott said, crossing her legs and sizing up Lynn with a broad smile.

Lynn chuckled softly. "Have I?"

"You haven’t?" Esther Abbott glanced up at Ian Sterling, who had been watching them this whole time. "It seems that after you two got back together, your bond is even deeper than before."

Lynn followed her gaze and blinked at Ian Sterling, admitting frankly, "It is."

"Then shouldn’t you be thanking me?"

Lynn frowned, turning to Esther Abbott in confusion. But Esther just jutted her chin, gesturing for her to look toward the entrance.

"Aren’t those your parents?"

Lynn turned to look and froze completely. Ian Sterling, who had been watching Lynn intently, immediately noticed something was wrong. He strode forward and blocked her line of sight.

"Sweetheart, why don’t we head to the main hall first?"

Lynn stood up and said softly, "There’s no need."

She raised her hand, linked her arm with Ian Sterling’s, and faced the entrance with him.

Cecilia Powell stared blankly at her daughter. She opened her mouth to speak but found that her voice had deserted her.

Wyatt Winslow took Cecilia Powell’s hand, and the two of them walked over to Lynn.

"Lynn," Wyatt Winslow said gently. "Your mother and I have come to see you."

Lynn lowered her gaze and smiled faintly. "Long time no see."

It was polite yet distant. Those nearby who heard her couldn’t help but wonder why a parent and child would interact this way.

Wyatt Winslow’s heart ached with a sour feeling. Cecilia Powell blinked, and tears fell like pearls. Choking back a sob, she stepped forward, trying to take Lynn’s hand, but Lynn took a step back, hiding half her body behind Ian Sterling.

"Lynn, Mom..."

But Ian Sterling cut her off. "Hello, ma’am. I’m Ian Sterling, Lynn’s boyfriend. We’ve spoken on the phone before."

Cecilia Powell paused, looked at Ian Sterling, and said gently, "I know who you are. Hello."

"Ma’am, sir, why don’t we all sit down and talk?"

Wyatt Winslow frowned, but seeing Lynn’s obvious resistance, he still nodded and sat down with Cecilia Powell.

As for Esther Abbott, she had already left the moment they approached.

The four of them sat facing each other. Lynn kept her eyes downcast, fiddling with Ian Sterling’s fingers, simply unwilling to look at her parents.

’I thought I could face the parents who left me with Grandpa when I was little, but now that they’re actually here, I’m instinctively shying away.’

’It feels so strange, so awkward.’

Ian Sterling was usually playful around Lynn, but right now, he was shielding the clearly resistant Lynn protectively.

"My mom mentioned that you two also donated a significant amount to this charity auction."

Cecilia Powell looked at her daughter, knowing she was still unwilling to speak to them, so she had no choice but to talk with Ian Sterling.

"We just wanted to do our small part. Mrs. Sterling and Mrs. Jennings are the truly impressive ones. Organizing an auction like this is no simple feat."

Ian Sterling smiled slightly, accepting Cecilia Powell’s praise with humility. "It’s what we should do."

Wyatt Winslow pressed his lips together, glancing at Lynn from time to time. His expression darkened, especially when he saw the subtle, intimate gestures between her and Ian Sterling.

’But I can’t say anything right now. The difference in my daughter’s attitude toward Ian Sterling versus us is like night and day. If I made her choose now, she would definitely choose Ian.’

Nina Norton had been standing not far away. Seeing the awkwardness among the four of them, she and Mrs. Jennings came over to make small talk.

"Mr. Winslow, Mrs. Winslow."

Cecilia Powell and Wyatt Winslow stood up politely. From the corner of her eye, Nina Norton caught the pleading look Ian Sterling shot her and said softly, "Why don’t I show you to your seats in the main hall? The auction is about to begin."

The couple hesitated, looking down at Lynn, who remained seated. Seeing her turn her head away from them, they could only agree with a sense of helplessness.

Mrs. Jennings stayed behind to look after the other guests, while Nina Norton walked out with the couple.

"Mrs. Sterling, thank you so much for taking care of Lynn all this time."

Cecilia Powell had heard a few things. Plus, with Ethan Powell and Ian Sterling being on good terms, she naturally knew that her daughter was now dating Finn from the Sterling Family and that their relationship was very serious.

She was sincerely grateful, but Nina Norton smiled and said, "I’m very fond of Lynn. I’m thrilled that she’s willing to date my Finn."

Nina Norton turned to Cecilia Powell and affectionately linked her arm through hers. "You’ve raised a wonderful daughter."

But Cecilia Powell said guiltily, "But I didn’t raise her well at all. All these years, my husband and I have been in other countries, completely ignoring our own daughter. The last time they ran into trouble in Morelia, if it weren’t for your younger son, I don’t know if I would have ever had the chance to make it up to her in this lifetime. So I am truly grateful."

"It was only natural," Nina Norton said, shaking her head. "As Lynn’s boyfriend, it’s Finn’s duty to take care of his girlfriend."

Cecilia Powell sighed. Wyatt Winslow, walking behind them, remained silent. He wasn’t a man of many words, and now, with his mood soured because of his daughter, he was even less inclined to speak.

But no matter how many words of guilt and apology they spoke now, it was all a little too late.

Nina Norton comforted them softly, "Don’t be anxious. Lynn is a soft-hearted person. As long as you truly love her and work to make it up to her, she’ll naturally come around in time."

Cecilia Powell nodded with a bitter smile.

After they left, Lynn let out a breath of relief and turned to bury her face in Ian Sterling’s shoulder.

Ian Sterling raised a hand to stroke her hair, coaxing, "Don’t be upset. It’s okay, sweetheart."

Jasper Jennings and the others who had walked up got goosebumps from his words. They had intended to sit and chat for a bit, but seeing Lynn’s obviously dejected mood, they tactfully left together, leaving the two to speak in low voices.

Lynn leaned against Ian Sterling, gazing quietly at the coffee on the table. Everyone else in the room had already begun to file into the main hall, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet space.

"Let’s go."

Ian Sterling looked down at her and saw that she had composed herself. "Do you want to go home?" he asked with concern. "If you want to support the auction, I can have someone bid on your behalf."

Lynn shook her head. She stood up first, took Ian Sterling’s hand, and pulled him toward the main hall.

"Come on, let’s hurry," she said as they walked. "We’ll be late if we don’t go now."

Ian Sterling let her lead him, walking slowly behind her. As he watched her back, a flash of heartache crossed his eyes.

’If it were me,’ he thought, ’if my parents had just given birth to me and then left me alone—not seeing me for years at a time, not even calling—my reaction would be much stronger. I’d never be as calm as Lynn.’

Upon entering the main hall, the lights were dim, but Lynn quickly spotted the backs of Wyatt Winslow and Cecilia Powell.

They were seated in the very first row, right next to Nina Norton and Mrs. Jennings.

Lynn’s steps faltered for a moment before she pulled Ian Sterling along to find Jasper Jennings and the others.

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