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Chapter 51: Chapter 51: But You Can’t Bully Me Like This

The security guard hurried outside. As the host, Liam Clayton naturally had to go welcome the distinguished guest as well. Before leaving, he shot Lynn Winslow a meaningful look.

The moment their eyes met, a sixth sense told Lynn Winslow that the visitor was Ian Sterling.

She wanted to sneak away, but then felt that would be too cowardly. She could only take a quiet, deep breath. Chloe Clayton, standing nearby, noticed her odd behavior and gave her a questioning look.

Ian Sterling stood outside the Clayton Estate with his gaze lowered, still dressed in the same shirt and trousers he’d worn when he left Amberly Bay that morning.

Liam Clayton didn’t know Ian Sterling well, but he was acquainted with his two older brothers. Coupled with the Sterling Family’s standing, Liam had no choice but to take the initiative and greet him.

"Finn, long time no see."

Ian Sterling slowly lifted his gaze and said flatly, "Long time no see. Why wasn’t I invited to Miss Clayton’s birthday party? I hope Mr. Clayton doesn’t mind me showing up uninvited?"

Liam Clayton said, "I know Finn isn’t fond of these kinds of parties, so I didn’t want to disturb you."

Ian Sterling nodded and said to Evan Carson beside him, "Give the gift to Mr. Clayton. I was starting to think Mr. Clayton didn’t approve of me."

He clearly hadn’t come with good intentions; his tone dripped with sarcasm. A cold glint flashed in Liam Clayton’s eyes for a moment before he composed himself and said, "How could that be? Finn, please, come in."

Ian Sterling’s lips twisted into a smile as he followed Liam Clayton into the Clayton Estate.

His arrival set off a flurry of discussion among the guests, who then began to cast discreet glances at Lynn Winslow.

Finn of the Sterling Family disliked crowded places, let alone attending parties. The fact that he was here... everyone present could vaguely guess the reason.

Lynn Winslow kept her head down, pretending nothing was happening, until Ian Sterling slowly approached her. His dark, cold eyes held an invisible pressure, and even Chloe Clayton, standing to the side, could feel the icy aura radiating from him.

"Lynn," he said, his tone cloyingly intimate. No matter how naive Chloe Clayton was, she could tell something was wrong. She stepped in front of Lynn Winslow, blocking him. "What are you doing?"

Ian Sterling narrowed his eyes, a hint of hostility flashing across his face. Seeing his sister foolishly getting involved, Liam Clayton frowned and pulled her back.

"Liam, why are you pulling me? Can’t you see he’s trying to bully Lynn?"

Liam Clayton admonished in a low voice, "Stay out of other people’s business."

Chloe Clayton opened her mouth to protest, but seeing her brother’s face darken, she reluctantly fell silent.

Lynn Winslow pressed her lips together and looked at Ian Sterling. He took a step forward and gently took her hand. The gesture was soft, yet it filled Lynn with a sense of dread.

"Lynn, why was your phone off? Did the battery die?" he asked softly. "I thought something had happened to you. You gave me a scare. But it’s okay. I’ve come to find you now."

Lynn Winslow instinctively took a step back. As their eyes met, she clearly saw the sick, frantic look in his. She tried to pull her hand away, but Ian Sterling’s grip tightened, hurting her.

"That hurts," Lynn Winslow said, biting her lip as she struggled. But the more she fought, the tighter Ian Sterling’s grip became.

"Lynn, let’s go home. There are too many people here." Ian Sterling began to pull Lynn away. Yanked forward, she stumbled. Liam Clayton reacted instantly, stepping forward to steady her and keep her from falling.

Ian Sterling seemed to snap back to his senses. He looked at Liam Clayton like a cat whose tail had been stepped on and roared, "Don’t touch her!"

He shoved Liam Clayton aside and pulled Lynn into his arms. Looking down into her eyes, he asked anxiously, "Are you hurt? I’m sorry, I was just so worried."

But Lynn shoved him away, her eyes red with anger. "Ian Sterling, are you insane?"

Seeing she was on the verge of tears, Ian Sterling froze for a moment before moving to hug her again, explaining frantically, "I... I didn’t mean it. Please, don’t be angry."

"Get away from me." Lynn slapped his hand away and strode past him toward the exit. Ian Sterling hurried after her, grabbing her in a hug from behind. His voice was tinged with a wounded tone. "Please don’t be angry with me. I was just so worried when I couldn’t reach you. I was afraid you’d left. I’m sorry, it’s my fault."

"Let’s not talk about this here. Let go." Lynn pried his hands off her, then turned to the Clayton siblings. "I’m so sorry, but we have to leave."

Chloe Clayton frowned. "Do you want me to..."

Lynn managed a smile. "It’s okay. I can handle this."

She turned to Ian Sterling and said coldly, "Are you going to keep making a scene here?"

Ian Sterling shook his head. Lynn Winslow let out a heavy sigh, turned, and walked outside, with Ian Sterling hurrying to keep up.

As they walked away, Ian Sterling suddenly glanced back. His gaze passed over everyone else to lock with Liam Clayton’s. The look in his eyes now was completely different from when he faced Lynn—it was sinister and chilling.

Liam Clayton calmly met his gaze, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly as he silently mouthed a single word: "Childish."

Ian Sterling’s lips pressed into a thin line. He only refrained from reacting because Lynn was right there.

He followed Lynn out of the Clayton Estate. Once they were away and it was quiet, Lynn stopped and turned to face him. "What is it you’re really trying to do?" she asked flatly.

"I’m not trying to do anything." Ian Sterling shook his head and hugged Lynn, his voice laced with self-pity. "I thought you were leaving me again. I was so scared, that’s why I came to find you."

"That’s a lie!" Lynn cut him off, calling his bluff. "With your resources, it would’ve been easy to find out if I’d left. Why did you have to come and make a scene at someone else’s birthday party? You did it on purpose."

It was true. He had done it on purpose. He’d caused a scene tonight to announce to everyone in Quartos that he and Lynn Winslow were back together. It was also a warning for Liam Clayton to stay away from *his* Lynn.

But he couldn’t admit it. "That’s not true," he said, feigning innocence. "I have no reason to do something like that."

Lynn took a deep breath and said calmly, "You’re too volatile. I don’t like you anymore. I don’t want to continue this... relationship with you."

Ian Sterling’s arms suddenly tightened, squeezing a pained grunt out of Lynn. She struggled, cursing and hitting him, but he was already blinded by a boiling rage and couldn’t control his strength. "Don’t even think about it," he snarled.

"I was willing to let you go, but you’re the one who came back and provoked me." His arms were trembling violently, his voice taking on an unhinged edge. Startled by this shift, Lynn’s blows against him gradually weakened.

Ian Sterling turned his head to kiss her earlobe, then bit down hard. In the next instant, it was as if he’d become a different person again. "I can go along with you and keep things the way they are," he said, his voice full of self-pity. "But you can’t treat me like this. I can’t take it."

’I regret this. This time, I truly regret it. I regret ever getting involved with Ian Sterling again.’

’I just never expected him to turn into this person. He wasn’t like this three years ago. He wasn’t even like this when I first came back.’

’The shell is the same, but the person inside is completely different.’

’There’s nothing I can do about him now. Regret is useless.’ Having no other choice, she softened her tone.

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