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Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Childish Squabble

Zane Lancaster’s hotel was nearby, so Ian Sterling drove him there, simmering with anger the whole way.

Lynn Winslow kept a close eye on his mood. ’His self-control is surprisingly good today,’ she thought. ’I can’t believe he’s lasted this long.’

Thankfully, Zane Lancaster didn’t try to stir up any more trouble. With a casual "see you," he dragged his suitcase upstairs by himself.

Lynn leaned toward Ian, blinking. "You’re the best," she said softly.

Ian Sterling pressed his lips together, a hint of triumph in his eyes. He may have been infuriated by Zane Lancaster, but he’d also made it clear in front of Zane that Lynn was his.

The two men had an unspoken agreement to hide their little power struggle from Lynn.

On the way home, Lynn received a call from her brother, Joel.

Joel’s voice was tinged with amusement. "Sis, did you pick up Zane?" he asked quietly.

As the light turned red, Ian reached out and took Lynn’s hand, his dark eyes glinting. Lynn smiled back at him before saying to Joel, "We picked him up."

"Good. Sis, Zane’s had it rough, so make sure you show him a good time." Before Zane had even arrived in Quartos, he and Joel had agreed on their top priority: breaking up Lynn and Ian.

Lynn fell silent for a moment. Ian’s expression had already frosted over the second he heard Joel’s voice. As if sensing his words had made things awkward, Joel quickly made an excuse and hung up.

Ian said coolly, "Your brother sure is nice to Zane."

"Well, they’ve known each other for a few years," Lynn said with an awkward laugh, reaching out to gently tug at Ian’s cheek.

Ian stepped on the gas, drove through the intersection, and then pulled over. "You can show Zane around," he said seriously, "but I have to be there with you."

A smile playing on her lips, Lynn leaned in and planted a kiss on the corner of his mouth. "Okay," she agreed.

Ian slid his hand to the back of her head, deepening the kiss.

’Is Zane a little kid or something?’ Ian thought. ’Does he really need someone to take him out?’

That’s what Ian thought, but he wasn’t foolish enough to say it aloud. Zane was Lynn’s childhood friend, after all. Saying too much would make him look petty.

Not that Lynn considered him particularly magnanimous to begin with.

The two returned to Amberly Bay. After dinner, Lynn fulfilled her promise and made it up to Ian in a big way.

Early the next morning, while they were still deep in sleep, Zane Lancaster called.

Lynn groggily fumbled for her phone and answered. "Come out for breakfast with me," Zane said. "I’m at the gate to your villa."

Lynn was stunned for a second before snapping, "Are you insane? Why are you up so early?"

Ian had woken up the moment the phone rang. Hearing Zane’s voice, he pulled Lynn tight, buried his face in her embrace, and bit down hard on her chest.

Lynn hissed in pain but didn’t push him away. Ian eased the pressure slightly, but he didn’t let go.

"Hurry down. I’m hungry," Zane said, his tone unpleasant.

Lynn said, "Go next door and find Mrs. Sterling. She can have the chef make you something."

"No. I want to eat out. I want to try a Quartos specialty. Get a move on, or I’m calling Mr. Winslow to tattle on you." Zane frowned, adding a threat. "You have ten minutes."

Lynn sighed in resignation and finally pushed away Ian, who was still stubbornly latched onto her. She sat up. "Wait," she said into the phone.

She hung up, but Ian’s arms immediately wrapped around her again, his hands starting to wander.

"Do you really have to go?" he murmured, not wanting to release her.

Lynn stroked his arm, trying to soothe him. "I have to. If I don’t, he’ll run and tell my grandfather."

Ian snorted. "Tattletale," he muttered as he got out of bed.

Lynn pressed her lips together to hide a smile and got out of bed to wash up. Ian followed, standing beside her to brush his teeth and wash his face, his eyelids drooping sleepily.

Brushing her teeth, Lynn mumbled, "Why don’t you go back to sleep? I’ll be back right after breakfast."

"No," Ian frowned, patting his cheeks to wake himself up.

The two of them left together and found Zane leaning against a brand-new car. A pair of sunglasses was pushed up onto his head, showing off his handsome forehead.

Ian took one look at the scene and snorted.

Zane was of mixed heritage, with naturally striking features. It was his beautiful eyes, in particular, that Ian couldn’t stand.

When men get jealous, they only become pettier.

Ian held fast to Lynn’s hand. She glanced at him but made no move to pull away.

She always found herself subconsciously indulging him.

Lynn sized up Zane’s car. It didn’t have plates yet, so it was obviously new. Amused, she asked, "When did you buy this?"

Zane lifted his chin. "Yesterday afternoon," he said coolly.

He was jet-lagged and bored at the hotel, so he’d wandered into a dealership and picked up a coupe to get around in.

Zane looked at Ian, a provocative smirk on his face. "Brother-in-law, why don’t you drive?"

Ian narrowed his eyes, his tone just as dripping with sarcasm as Zane’s. "No thanks, *big brother*. It’s your new car, you should drive it. Lynn and I will be fine in the back."

The corner of Zane’s mouth twitched. "Lynn gets carsick. She should sit up front with me."

"Lynn doesn’t get carsick," Ian ground out through his teeth.

Zane looked at Lynn, his tone carrying a hint of a threat. "Do you get carsick?"

"If you two keep this up, I’m not going," she said, exasperated. "Go ahead and tattle all you want."

Zane snorted and tossed the keys to Ian. "You drive. I barely slept last night, so I shouldn’t be driving tired. Besides, you’re the Quartos native. You’ll know where to find the most authentic breakfast."

Ian caught the keys and, still holding Lynn’s hand, led her to the passenger side. But Zane pulled the same trick as before, hopping into the seat himself just as Lynn was about to get in.

"Now what are you doing?" Ian’s brows furrowed deeply.

Zane replied with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. "I get carsick. I just mentioned it yesterday. Have you forgotten already, brother-in-law?"

He was deliberately trying to piss Ian off. He wanted to see just how long the guy could keep up his composed facade.

Ian took a deep breath to compose himself, then turned to look at the utterly speechless Lynn, shooting her a look that was a mixture of hurt and anger.

Lynn gave him a reassuring smile, a strange sense of deja vu washing over her. She lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment before remembering that almost the exact same thing had happened just yesterday.

"Be good. Let’s get breakfast first," Lynn said, leaning forward to stroke his hair.

Ian grunted in acknowledgement, started the car, and eventually parked in a spot near a small alley.

Tucked away at the end of the alley, past a few small shops, was a breakfast place that had been around for decades. The current owner was the son of the original. It was a popular spot for Quartos locals. Ian himself had been a bit skeptical at first, but after trying the food, he’d started coming back whenever he was up early enough.

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