Chapter 251: The Grand Finale (Part 2)

‘They only didn’t wear them on their wedding night, but they’ve worn them every other time… just once??? But we haven’t even been trying for a baby, we stay up late every day, and we’ve been drinking during this time, could it be—’

This wasn’t the time to be thinking about that. Nina Norton and Samuel Shaw went out first. Ian Sterling was still standing there like a wooden post, so Lynn Winslow bit her lip and shyly pushed him out.

The three of them stood at the door. Ian Sterling still couldn’t snap out of it, unable to process what was happening, until Lynn Winslow came out.

Her cheeks were flushed—no matter how you looked at it, it was just as Nina Norton had hoped.

Sure enough, Lynn Winslow held out her hand. In her palm lay several pregnancy tests, all showing positive lines, though one was fainter than the others.

Nina Norton let out a happy cry, but before her excitement could fully bubble over, she remembered the young couple’s usual habits.

“Have you two been staying up late? Have you been drinking? And you were running around for days.” The more Nina Norton spoke, the more worried she became. “Go on,” she said urgently, “have the driver wait. We’re going to the hospital for a check-up.”

Lynn Winslow nodded, but Ian Sterling just stared blankly at her. It took a poke from Lynn’s elbow for him to snap back to reality.

Nina Norton had already run off to announce the good news to Spencer Sterling and the others. Samuel Shaw was also grinning from ear to ear, feeling a great weight lift from his heart.

The examination confirmed that everything was fine for now, but a follow-up would still be needed. The Sterling family felt a little relieved. Perhaps because she had been well-cared for since childhood, her constitution was quite good. Although she had been somewhat frail in her early years, she had long since recovered.

Nina Norton pulled Ian Sterling’s ear and lectured him at length. Ian Sterling obediently agreed to everything, countless times more compliant than he had ever been before.

Later, when Nina Norton was talking with Spencer Sterling, she remarked, “Ever since Finn found out he’s going to be a dad, he’s matured so much.”

Spencer Sterling said flatly, “He’s about to be a father. It would be outrageous if he didn’t mature.”

For now, because the results of future check-ups were still uncertain, they didn’t make a big announcement. But everyone at Aerie Garden was on high alert, treating Lynn Winslow like a precious treasure.

「Three months later.」 The test results came back, confirming that all was well. Only then did they inform the Winslow family and the Powell family.

*

During the later stages of her pregnancy, Lynn Winslow felt cooped up at home and insisted that Ian Sterling take her to the spot where he had proposed. Fortunately, it was already spring, and the weather was pleasant.

The entire Sterling family was on edge, especially Nina Norton, who decided to just come along with them.

When they arrived at the beach, Ian Sterling carefully supported her, much to Lynn Winslow’s annoyance. “Honey, don’t make such big movements. Be careful you don’t hurt yourself.”

Lynn Winslow shot him a glare. “Leave me alone. I’m going to die of boredom.”

Ian Sterling had no choice but to keep his arms outstretched at her sides, ready to catch her if she fell.

As they walked along the shore, Lynn Winslow blinked, her gaze falling on the platform from his proposal, and it was as if she was transported back to that moment.

It was just that back then, she could do whatever she wanted. But now? She was constrained by this little rascal in her belly, unable to do a thing.

“When am I finally going to pop?” Lynn Winslow sighed.

Ian Sterling said softly, “Soon, soon. Don’t be anxious, honey.”

Lynn Winslow sighed again, rubbing her protruding belly and gazing out at the endless coastline.

Standing beside her, Ian Sterling bent down to rub her belly too. Then, he knelt on one knee beside her, looked up, and said earnestly, “Thank you.”

Lynn Winslow was baffled. She looked down at him and asked, “What are you thanking me for?”

He was thanking her for changing all her old hobbies and habits to have his child, for waking up and going to bed early every day.

He was thanking her for being willing to carry a child for him, one that made her so uncomfortable.

He was thanking her for everything, but most importantly, for being willing to love him.

As Ian Sterling spoke, Lynn Winslow blinked and let out a soft laugh.

“Don’t mention it. Just let me beat you up a few more times in the future and we’ll be even.”

“Okay. You can beat me up for a lifetime.”

*

Later, their daughter was born. She was a little hellion incarnate, a perfect storm combining all of Ian Sterling’s and Lynn Winslow’s worst personality traits. On top of that, she was spoiled rotten by Nina Norton and Spencer Sterling—and even more so by Elder Winslow and Mr. Powell—which only made her more and more outrageous.

In kindergarten, Anne Sterling was the undefeated champion of every playground fight. She calmed down a little in elementary school, but not by much. Later, when her younger brother was born with a temperament that was the complete opposite of hers, it only made her own wild nature stand out more.

However, as unruly as she was, there was one thing she remembered from a very young age: never make Mom angry or worried.

When she grew up, she toured the world giving concerts, just like her aunt. At every performance, she would play the song she wrote for her mother and say, in the flawless local language:

“I want to thank my mother for giving me life. My father taught me that Mom is the greatest person in the world. For my sake, she changed habits she’d kept for years, and when she gave birth to me, she risked her own life to bring me into this world. I also know that my love for my mother can never compare to my father’s. Every lesson my father taught my brother and me growing up revolved around Mom. I’ve seen them kiss at dusk and whisper their love for each other at dawn. This next song is for my beloved mother. And no, I’m not playing favorites. Because I know that the more I love my mother, the happier my father will be.”

As the music began, Ian Sterling and Lynn Winslow sat in the front row. Gazing at their daughter’s face, so similar to Ian’s, Lynn hugged her husband tightly.

Ian Sterling was deeply gratified, pleased that his daughter would always remember to love her mother most of all.

Lynn Winslow looked as beautiful and elegant as ever, though with age, she had become much shyer than in her youth. She whispered in Ian Sterling’s ear, “This is all your fault. Now everyone knows.”

Ian Sterling lowered his head and, just as he always had, kissed her cheek and the shell of her ear. He murmured, “I’ve always wanted the whole world to know I love you. Our daughter did it for me.”

Lynn Winslow bit her lip, leaned close to Ian Sterling’s ear, and whispered:

“Me too. Always, always.”