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Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Not a Saint

"What’s wrong with your arm?"

After all, Ian Sterling was like a little brother to them. As soon as they heard he’d strained it, all three of them looked concerned.

Ian Sterling rubbed his shoulder and said casually, "Probably just slept on it wrong."

’That wasn’t it. Before bed, Lynn Winslow had insisted on holding his arm to fall asleep, but she wouldn’t let him hold her back. That’s why his shoulder felt sore when he woke up.’

With a strange, unspoken understanding, the three of them clicked their tongues in unison. They had already guessed the reason, but their thoughts had taken it too far, wandering off into the gutter.

Ian Sterling frowned and glared at them. "Get your minds out of the gutter."

Zachary Quincy snorted, lounging on the sofa across from him with his legs crossed in a lazy posture.

"Why are you guys here so early?" Ian Sterling’s tone was thick with disdain.

Jasper Jennings laughed in exasperation. "Finn, ever since you got a girlfriend, you’ve completely forgotten about us, your brothers. We grew up with you! Don’t they say, ’Brothers are like limbs, while women are like clothes’?"

Ian Sterling’s lips twitched. He let out a faint "Oh," letting Jasper Jennings’s words go in one ear and out the other, completely unfazed.

Kenneth Keller, who was standing to the side, couldn’t help but mock Jasper Jennings. "You knew what was coming. You were just asking for it."

"Alright, you win." Jasper Jennings gave Ian Sterling a thumbs-up.

—

Lynn Winslow was trampled awake by Kiki. The big cat had jumped directly onto her stomach. Lynn cried out, all traces of sleepiness vanishing in an instant.

"What are you two doing in here?" Lynn Winslow sat up, pulled Kiki over for a few vigorous scratches, and glanced around. Not seeing Ian Sterling, she looked down at the cat and asked, "Where’s your dad?"

Kiki lay on her, purring. Rumble, who had been rolling around on the floor, saw how happy his brother was and jumped up, demanding scratches from Lynn as well.

Lynn dutifully gave Rumble a few scratches as well before moving both cats aside and padding out of the bedroom in her slippers.

Hearing other people’s voices, Lynn returned to her room, changed into some casual clothes, and then led the two cats downstairs.

Seeing Lynn Winslow still yawning, Kenneth Keller asked with a smile, "Do you two pull all-nighters every day?"

He was genuinely curious. Sometimes they would be chatting in their group chat in the afternoon, but Ian Sterling would never reply, nor would he answer his phone. He wouldn’t show up until evening, at which point he’d brazenly announce that he’d just woken up from a nap.

Lynn let out a little "ah" and said, a bit embarrassed, "No, not really. It’s just, you know, it’s summer, so it’s pretty hot. We don’t feel like going out, so we just end up sleeping at home."

Jasper Jennings drew out a long, knowing "Ohhh." Zachary Quincy swung his leg and said, "We invite you guys out, but you never come. You’re real homebodies."

Before Lynn could reply, Ian Sterling stood up, took her hand, and said, "We’re bored of all the places you guys go to."

"Well, we found a new place. You guys want to come?" Jasper Jennings teased. "Don’t just flake on us when the time comes."

"We’ll come! Why wouldn’t we?" Lynn Winslow accepted first. "If you invite us, we’ll be there."

Jasper Jennings looked at her with appreciation. "You’re so much better than Finn. He’s way too high-maintenance."

Lynn wholeheartedly agreed, her eyes crinkling into a smile. "I think so, too."

As the sky gradually darkened and the temperature dropped, the butler appeared with the household staff. The group of five then moved to the back garden.

Nigel Abbott and Ian Sterling’s sister, Zoe Sterling, arrived later. After the butler led them to the back garden, the men naturally gathered together to figure out the barbecue, while Zoe and Lynn settled in close to chat.

Chloe Clayton and Flora Fairfax arrived together, rushing over in a flurry. "Lynn," Chloe panted, "you’ll never guess who I just saw!"

Lynn looked at Chloe, puzzled. "Who?"

"Mia Rhodes," Chloe said. "When we were driving over, we passed the neighboring villa complex and saw Mia sitting in some guy’s car."

She leaned in conspiratorially. Amused, Lynn played along and leaned in too. Zoe Sterling, ever the gossip, also leaned forward as Chloe whispered, "The man was that good-for-nothing eldest young master of the Yates Family."

Lynn’s smile froze on her face, and her brow furrowed deeply.

She had been spending a lot of time with the women of the Sterling family recently, and their conversations consisted of little else besides gossip, so of course she knew about the Yates Family.

They were quite famous in Quartos—though not for any good reason. The Yates Family had only emerged in recent years. Before that, they were just ordinary real estate developers who got lucky and made a fortune, which was how they made a name for themselves in Quartos. As for their eldest young master, he was even more notorious.

Before his family struck it rich, he was just a street punk. Afterward, he started to adorn himself with the trappings of wealth: luxury cars and beautiful women.

"Surprising, isn’t it? That someone as proud and self-righteous as Mia Rhodes would get mixed up with a guy like that."

Lynn didn’t respond. She lowered her gaze, her expression growing solemn.

’Whether according to the original novel’s plot or the way things have changed since, Mia Rhodes would never stoop so low as to get involved with a man like that.’

’Even if she were looking for a patron, she would only ever target the powerful, established families of Quartos.’

Lynn suddenly recalled what Esther Abbott had said the day before. Her fingers tightened around her phone. She stood up abruptly and said to the others, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

The three women watched her go, completely bewildered. Ian Sterling, who had been watching Lynn from a short distance away, saw her leave and strode over.

"What’s wrong with Lynn?"

The three of them shook their heads. Ian Sterling’s brow furrowed, and he went after Lynn.

Lynn went back inside the villa and into the first-floor guest bathroom, her heart pounding with apprehension.

’She could understand everyone’s change in attitude toward Mia Rhodes. It was either because Mia’s ’protagonist halo’ was fading, or because her own presence had disrupted the original storyline.’

’But for Mia to suddenly act so abnormally, in a way that was completely out of character, forced Lynn to consider the reason why.’

Lynn pursed her lips and dialed Esther Abbott’s number. Esther picked up almost immediately. "It seems you’ve heard about Mia Rhodes," she said.

Lynn hummed in acknowledgment. "Was it you?"

"’Was it me,’ what?" Esther Abbott chuckled, playing dumb. "I don’t know anything. It was her own choice."

"Impossible." Lynn might not have known other people, but she knew Mia Rhodes. Her voice turned cold. "Mia isn’t that kind of person. If she were, she wouldn’t have been so obsessed with Ian Sterling, and the ’original plot’ would never have happened."

Esther Abbott snorted with laughter. "Shouldn’t you be thanking me for what I did? I’m making the person who bullied you more and more miserable."

"I do hate her," Lynn admitted. She was no saint; seeing Mia Rhodes suffer did bring her a certain amount of joy. But Mia didn’t deserve this kind of end, especially not one deliberately orchestrated by someone else.

"Lynn, let’s meet tomorrow. There are things I’ll only tell you in person."

Lynn agreed immediately. After hanging up, she tossed her phone aside, turned on the faucet to wash her hands, and stared blankly at the running water for a moment.

KNOCK KNOCK. The sound at the bathroom door snapped Lynn back to reality.

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