Chapter 164: I’m Thick-Skinned

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: I’m Thick-Skinned

"You walked right into it yourself. I couldn’t help it, babe."

Ian Sterling looked completely innocent in the face of Lynn Winslow’s accusation.

Lynn Winslow struggled and protested, "I didn’t! I was just showing you a video. What did I do wrong?"

"You didn’t?" Ian Sterling’s expression shifted in a second. The smile on his face slowly changed, filled with...

The sight made Lynn Winslow whimper. "I already apologized," she said, looking aggrieved.

"And I never said I forgave you."

"But you just said you wouldn’t hold it against me."

"Does not holding it against you mean I’ve forgiven you?"

Lynn Winslow grew exasperated, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. "That’s just twisted logic."

"Fine, say what you will." Ian Sterling lowered his head to bite her. Lynn Winslow couldn’t dodge in time, and he bit down with some force. This time, teardrops finally slid from the corners of her eyes and into her hair.

Indeed, he hadn’t touched her wrists.

Lynn Winslow stood at the sink, staring at her reflection. A patch of her skin was red, and she wasn’t sure if it was broken. It stung a little when it got wet.

Ian Sterling walked over, standing behind her and watching her with a smile. Lynn Winslow glared at him in the mirror’s reflection.

"Was I too rough?"

Lynn Winslow found his confidence shameless. She spun around and kissed him. She hadn’t even rinsed her mouth, and Ian Sterling easily tasted something unusual, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, he cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss.

By the time he released her, Lynn Winslow’s eyes were glistening and a blush had spread across her cheeks.

"Doesn’t it gross you out?"

"Why would I refuse a kiss that came right to my door?"

Lynn Winslow glared at him. "You know that’s not what I meant."

"Why would I be grossed out by myself?" Ian Sterling pinched her cheek, his words turning syrupy.

Lynn Winslow just wiped her mouth, shot him a look, and turned back to brushing her teeth.

Ian Sterling stood beside her, getting ready to brush his teeth as well. Lynn Winslow eyed him suspiciously. "I thought you said you weren’t grossed out?"

"I’m not. I’m just brushing my teeth."

"..." Lynn Winslow had to admire his nerve. After she finished brushing her teeth, she abandoned him and hurried out of the bathroom, only to be hit by the smell in the bedroom. She narrowed her eyes, stomped over to the balcony to open the window, and switched on the air circulation system.

Ian Sterling followed her out. Seeing her reaction, he covered his eyes with his hand, his laughter irrepressible.

’She’s so cute. This is my girl.’

Lynn Winslow spun around to scold him. "How can you laugh right now? You’re the worst!"

"Because I have a thick skin, that’s why."

Fine. Lynn Winslow was speechless. She glared at him until her eyes ached before deciding to ignore him and get into bed.

Fortunately, Ian Sterling had been decent enough that the sheets were still clean. Otherwise, Lynn Winslow would have been genuinely furious.

Ian Sterling chuckled and sighed, then got into bed to hug her. When his fingers accidentally brushed against the spot on her chest, Lynn Winslow yelped in pain.

"Don’t touch me! It hurts!"

Ian Sterling’s hand trembled. He’d been so preoccupied with teasing her that he hadn’t paid attention to the injury.

"Let me see."

Lynn refused. She kept her back to him, refusing to turn around. Her voice was choked and full of hurt. "You only ever think about yourself. You never think about me."

A pang of guilt shot through Ian Sterling’s heart, and he felt awful. He got out of bed, walked around to the side she was facing, switched on the bedside lamp, and crouched down, coaxing her softly, "Babe, let me see. I... I really didn’t do it on purpose."

Lynn Winslow slowly opened her eyes. Ian Sterling’s face was very close to hers, his expression clearly guilty, his eyes filled with even more pain and worry.

She moved the arm that was shielding her chest, letting him see.

Seeing the bright red patch of skin, Ian Sterling shot to his feet and rushed downstairs. A maid was on duty for the night. When she saw him hurrying down with a panicked look, she rushed over.

"Do you have any anti-inflammatory ointment?"

The maid quickly fetched the first-aid kit. "We have a few different kinds," she said, rummaging through it. "Which one would you like, sir?"

Ian Sterling simply took the entire kit from her and carried it upstairs.

Lynn Winslow sat up in bed, her lips pressed together as she watched him. Ian Sterling hesitated for a second before approaching the bed. He found the ointment he was looking for and began to apply it carefully.

Lynn Winslow looked down, watching his hands, then glanced up at his expression.

"You’re the one who did this, aren’t you? Why are you so worried?"

A fresh pang of guilt hit Ian Sterling. "I’m sorry," he said, his voice full of remorse. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Lynn knew her words had probably hurt him. She bit her lip. Still simmering with anger, she turned her head away.

After he finished applying the ointment, Ian Sterling knelt on one knee beside the bed, looked up at her face, and apologized again.

"Babe, I’m sorry. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have been so selfish."

Lynn Winslow turned to look at him again.

After a long silence, Lynn Winslow reached out and gave his cheek a hard pinch, finally letting out some of her frustration.

"Get up. You’re guilt-tripping me, you know?"

Seeing that she was no longer angry and was even joking, Ian Sterling breathed a sigh of relief. He wrapped his arms around her waist, carefully avoiding her injury, and pressed his cheek against her stomach.

His hair tickled her, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she raised a hand and began to run her fingers through his hair.

"Don’t do this again," she murmured as she stroked his hair.

’But she knew that if he did this again, she would probably still give in to him.’

Ian Sterling hummed in response, a faint shimmer of moisture glistening beneath his closed eyelids.

They had gone to bed late, so it was nearly noon by the time they got up. When they went downstairs, they found Wyatt Winslow and Cecilia Powell sitting with the two family elders.

They already knew about Ian Sterling coming downstairs for ointment the previous night. The moment Cecilia Powell saw Lynn, she asked anxiously, "Lynn, are you hurt?"

Lynn Winslow’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly shook her head. "No, of course not."

"Then why did he need ointment?" As Cecilia Powell spoke, she reached out to check on Lynn. Lynn quickly took a step back, hiding half her body behind Ian Sterling before explaining, "I was just teasing Ian Sterling. He fell for it."

Cecilia Powell looked skeptical. She turned a questioning gaze on Ian Sterling. Lynn poked him, and he had no choice but to nod.

"Yes, she’s not hurt."

Cecilia Powell sighed in relief. "You gave me a fright."

Lynn Winslow was touched. For the first time, she spoke to Cecilia Powell in a much softer voice.

"I’m really okay. Please don’t worry."

Wyatt Winslow, who had already looked away, snapped his head up to stare at Lynn at her words.

But Lynn felt a little awkward. She skirted around Cecilia Powell and headed for the dining room, asking the butler on her way, "Is there any breakfast? We’re hungry."

The butler glanced at Cecilia Powell, who was still frozen on the spot, then smiled with relief. "Of course, Miss. I’ll have it brought out right now. Is there anything else you and Finn would like?"

Lynn said, "Not for me, but add some bacon for him."

The butler nodded and left. Lynn pulled Ian Sterling into the dining room by the hand. After they sat down, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I’m so nervous."

Ian Sterling suppressed a smile. "Don’t be. You can’t keep Miss Powell at a distance forever, can you?"

Lynn considered this, realized it was unlikely, and sighed. "I just don’t get how you all interact with Norton. The whole thing feels weird to me."