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Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Pack Up and Go Dig for Wild Vegetables

"How could she not know The Lumina Gala is far from a respectable event? And she still had the nerve to ask if you were going," Zachary Quincy said through gritted teeth.

Ian Sterling shot him a displeased look. "Can you stop being so hostile toward her? She hasn’t been back to Veridia in three years. How could she know about these things? Besides, she was invited."

Zachary Quincy found it unbelievable. ’How could someone so smart his whole life be so easily fooled? All it took was a few words from her to leave him completely disoriented, ready to count the money she just swindled from him.’

He let go of Ian Sterling’s arm and said gravely, "You’re a lost cause. Just pack it in and go live off the grid."

With a look of disdain, Ian Sterling tugged at his sleeves and shuffled back to his seat, inching even closer to Lynn Winslow than he was before.

Zachary Quincy was so infuriated by his friend’s spineless display that he felt like he was about to faint.

Jasper Jennings smiled and poured him a drink, advising, "Don’t meddle with another’s destiny. Being fooled by Lynn Winslow is simply Finn’s fate."

Kenneth Keller couldn’t help but laugh.

Ian Sterling wasn’t thinking about anything else. He just felt an uncontrollable urge to be near Lynn Winslow, yet he didn’t want to reconcile. This was the source of his constant, heavy-hearted brooding.

Seeing him sit back down, Lynn Winslow couldn’t resist pushing her luck.

"Ian Sterling, can you walk me to the restroom?"

Ian Sterling could hardly believe it, but then he heard Lynn Winslow say plaintively, "Last time at Nys, I was nearly assaulted by Mr. Wyatt when I went to the restroom. It caused so much trouble for Mr. Jennings. I’m afraid I’ll run into someone like that again..."

Ian Sterling pursed his lips. "Shawn Wyatt is still in the hospital. He won’t be getting out anytime soon."

"But, what if there’s someone else? I’m scared." Lynn Winslow bit her lip gently, giving Ian Sterling a vulnerable look. Then, feigning consideration, she added, "It’s okay, I can go by myself. Just... if I don’t come back after a while, remember to come look for me. Or have someone else look for me, that’s fine too."

Ian Sterling couldn’t even bear the scenario she described. The mere thought made his chest ache. Thus, it only took a few seconds for his hesitation to crumble into surrender. He stood up, his gaze lowered to meet hers. "Let’s go."

Lynn Winslow’s eyes crinkled into a radiant smile. She nodded, letting out a cheerful "Okay!"

As the two left the private room, one after the other, Esther Abbott, who had watched the entire exchange, couldn’t help but applaud. "That tactic of feigning retreat to advance, coupled with a face like that... you really can’t blame Finn for going soft."

The others were speechless as well. Kenneth Keller was now deeply impressed by Lynn Winslow, and agreed with Esther. "Lynn’s skills are on another level. Finn can’t outplay her. Looks like it won’t be long before she has him on the hook again."

Jasper Jennings smirked. "It’s a good thing Finn is so stubborn. Otherwise, he would have made up with her the second she landed in Veridia."

Zachary Quincy was too angry to even speak. Kenneth Keller crossed his legs and drawled, "Then I guess we should be thankful for Finn’s rotten temper."

"I’ll stick to what I said: respect the destiny of others," Jasper Jennings said with a smile and a shrug.

Ian Sterling had no idea what his friends were discussing now that he was gone. He was standing awkwardly outside the women’s restroom, his perfectly sculpted face on full display. His clothes and the watch on his wrist were a clear signal of his wealth and status to any curious onlookers.

Lynn Winslow stood before the mirror, methodically straightening her clothes. She reapplied her lipstick, pressed her lips together, and gave her reflection a small, knowing smile.

’She really did know Ian Sterling inside and out. Always talking tough, always a softy at heart.’ A part of her was touched, but she also felt a flicker of admiration for her own tactics.

She winked at her reflection before walking out of the restroom. She saw Ian Sterling not far off, leaning lazily against the wall with a sullen expression. "Sorry," she said, feigning a bit of embarrassment. "Have I kept you waiting long?"

Ian Sterling straightened up, his voice calm. "It’s fine. Let’s go."

Lynn Winslow nodded, but she had taken only a single step before she tripped on something and pitched forward.

Ian Sterling instinctively stepped forward and caught her. Lynn Winslow’s fingers clutched tightly at the front of his shirt. "You scared me to death," she breathed, her voice delicate with lingering fear.

Ian Sterling’s heart was also pounding. He seemed to forget he was holding Lynn Winslow in his arms, his grip tightening around her.

Lynn Winslow looked up at him, rose onto her tiptoes, and slowly brought her face toward his until their lips were a hair’s breadth apart.

Ian Sterling suddenly snapped out of it and turned his head to avoid her. Lynn’s lips landed on his cheek instead, leaving a bright red lipstick mark that stood out starkly against his pale skin.

Ian Sterling instinctively pulled his hands back and took a step away from her. A flush spread from his face down his neck, threatening to creep even lower.

He clenched his fists. His heart hammered in his chest, beating so fast he could barely breathe.

"Sorry," Lynn Winslow said, blushing as well. She lowered her head in embarrassment, bit her lip, and whispered, "I just... got carried away. I’m sorry."

Seeing her reaction, Ian Sterling swallowed the accusation on his lips. Instead, he stiffly tossed out, "Let’s go. Keep up."

As they neared the private room, Ian Sterling suddenly asked, "There’s a restroom in our suite. Why did you need to come out here?"

’What other reason could there be? It was all to get a reaction out of him.’ She could only make up an excuse. "The restroom in there is probably used by all the men. At least this one is women-only."

Ian Sterling grunted in acknowledgment, pushed the door to the suite open, and walked in, remembering to hold it for Lynn Winslow.

By the time he settled back into his seat, Zachary Quincy had a clear view of the red mark on his cheek. His gaze then met Lynn Winslow’s provocative stare, and he felt his vision go black with despair.

"Oh, good heavens..." Zachary Quincy groaned, leaning back into the sofa and tilting his head up in defeat.

Lynn Winslow chuckled to herself. Wiping the provocative look from her eyes, she put on an innocent expression, grabbed a napkin, and leaned close to Ian Sterling to slowly wipe the lipstick from his cheek.

Their faces were so close they could feel each other’s breath. Ian Sterling stared, mesmerized, at the side of Lynn’s face. It was a dazed expression his childhood friends had rarely ever seen on him.

After she finished, Lynn Winslow’s fingers lightly brushed against his cheek. "I’m so sorry," she whispered. "I left a lipstick mark on your face. I forgot I had just put it on."

Ian Sterling turned his head away, unable to look at her. His ears were burning red, but his tone was remarkably composed as he said, "It’s fine."

Lynn Winslow smiled, her lips curving. She picked up a bottle, poured a glass for Ian Sterling, then gently raised her own and clinked it against his.

Ian Sterling took the glass and downed it in one go. Only as the cool liquor went down did he feel the heat that had suffused his entire body begin to subside.

Seeing it was getting late and that Ian Sterling was sufficiently flustered for one night, Lynn Winslow smiled and bid the others farewell. As she left, she gave Ian a lingering, reluctant-to-part look.

Ian Sterling stood up and said to the others, "I’m leaving too. You guys have fun."

With that, he followed Lynn Winslow out of the suite. He stood there for a long time after she bid him a soft farewell and got into her car. Finally, he ran a hand through his hair, messing it up in frustration, before heading back into the Aetherium Club to have the manager arrange a driver to take him home.

Only after getting into the car did Lynn Winslow allow a triumphant smile to spread across her face.

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