Thea Lynch had never seen Ian Preston like this before.
They were childhood friends, and in her mories, the Preston Family’s grandfather was fad for his achievents, and Ian’s father had started a business early and monopolized the market at one point. Not to ntion Ian’s own accomplishnts, which far exceeded those of his peers. To call him the pride of the heavens would not be an exaggeration.
Since childhood, only others would ask Ian for favors, never had there been a ti when he had to ask.
And now his tone was almost pleading, leaving Thea Lynch shocked and with a bitter feeling swelling in her heart.
There was indeed a significant rift between her and Ian; spiteful as she may feel, she didn’t want to see Ian like this. Proud as he was, even when punished by his grandfather to kneel, hit by a cane on his back, he never lowered his head.
"Ian—" Thea’s lips moved slightly, her throat seed constricted, bringing her back to seven years ago when she couldn’t string together a complete sentence in front of him, managing only a broken, hesitant, "You, you should get up and talk."
But the man remained unmoved. She pressed against his chest but couldn’t budge him. Through the thin fabric of his shirt, she could even feel his strong heartbeat.
He silently gazed at her, moving from looking down to eting her eyes on the sa level.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Thea’s heart, suggesting Ian really cared about whether she stayed or left.
Thinking of this, she anxiously looked away, clutching at his fingertips that were curling up, "I’m heading back to my uncle’s because of sothing urgent."
"So how many years this ti?"
He didn’t believe her.
"..." Thea slightly pulled at the corners of her mouth, her tone now tinged with helplessness, "My uncle recently had a small surgery, and I’m going to see him. Also, I’ll retrieve so previous things."
"Really, that’s all."
Thea disdained lying about such matters; there was absolutely no need.
She ca and went freely; no one could trap her. If she truly didn’t intend to return, she wouldn’t hide it.
"What about Silas? On a business trip?" She spoke teasingly, trying to break the oppressive atmosphere, "Is he here just to ’catch’ ?"
Ian avoided answering her question, his dark eyes squinting as if verifying sothing. He stared into her eyes for a long ti before releasing her shoulders, straightening up slightly, "When will you co back?"
Normally, at tis like this, Thea wouldn’t have much patience, wouldn’t respond obediently. But the scene from earlier lingered in her mind.
"We’ll see."
She hadn’t bought her return ticket precisely because she wasn’t sure of the exact ti she’d be back.
"If it’s soon, maybe three or four days?"
"If it’s not long, why take so much luggage?"
On the way here, Ian had seen the surveillance video sent by Silas. In the footage, Thea was carrying a twenty-six-inch suitcase, the kind she had used when returning ho, not like soone coming back in three or four days.
Did she need to report this? When she looked at him, wanting to speak but stopped, it showed she genuinely wanted to curse him.
"Indeed, I don’t need to bring any personal items. It’s my uncle who asked to take so things that are hard to buy over there, and I’m bringing them along."
"Anything else, Silas?" Speak freely.
Noticing her impatience, Ian tily changed the topic, "Do you really want to resign?"
This ti, Thea didn’t argue, nodding gracefully, "Per the contract, I will pay the penalty on ti. So Silas shouldn’t worry about this."
If discussing this matter, she must clarify it with him.
"Even though saying this might not be well-received, I still hope Silas can understand. Had I known from the start that Stratus was related to you, I would never have gotten involved with Stratus."
As soon as she finished speaking, the man’s expression shifted slightly, a storm brewing in his eyes.
The emotions in his eyes were detected by Thea, she sighed, set aside the pillow on her lap, and stood up.
Tall as she was, standing at 1.72 ters, wearing five-centiter heels, she faced him unafraid, more confident than when seated.
"I don’t want to live under your wing."
"I won’t be persuaded to stay. When I return, I will officially resign. I have my own plans for the future. Silas doesn’t need to interfere."
——
Ian was a smart man, even if she spoke obliquely, he could discern the hidden aning in her words.
Thea was the first passenger to board, seated in a window seat in first class. After adjusting the seat, she put on an eye mask and earplugs to rest.
Having not rested well for two days, sleep soon overtook her. Half-awake, she sensed soone sitting beside her.
Instinctively, Thea turned her head to face the window, soon falling completely asleep.
The flight from Coronet to New York was over ten hours long. Midway, Thea woke up feeling hungry.
Removing her earplugs and eye mask, she sat up and was about to call the flight attendant when her peripheral vision inadvertently caught sight of the phone on the small table next door.
The phone wasn’t particularly distinctive; it was the small pendant hanging from one side that stood out.
Incredibly familiar...
Thea rembered vividly that it was during the Valentine’s Day, there was light rain in Westre, and she hadn’t brought an umbrella.
Other classmates were sharing umbrellas in pairs or threes, walking leisurely outside. While she was being isolated by classmates due to illness. Luckily, the rain wasn’t heavy; she just needed to run to the school gate.
Because she knew Ian would definitely be waiting for her there.
Just then, a force suddenly pulled her back from the rain curtain. Shocked, she turned around and found Ian had sohow appeared behind her, holding a black umbrella with a silver handle.
"I knew you didn’t bring an umbrella, so I ca in to pick you up. I looked around upstairs but didn’t see you; did you co down from the other side?"
When he finished speaking, he naturally took over her backpack and coat, holding the umbrella with one hand, "Get closer."
She obediently stepped under the umbrella, very close to him.
On the way, he said, "Next ti in such a situation, don’t go anywhere. Stand in place honestly, I will co to find you."
That day, as usual, he took her to her grandma’s house. Under the eaves, she held her keys but didn’t open the door, her hand in her pocket repeatedly tightened, her palm painfully pressed by the pendant.
Turning around, she saw him still standing by the car, holding the umbrella. She took a deep breath.
"Ian."
A light call, using all her strength, yet effortlessly buried under the rain.
As she hesitated to go over, the man swayed, and holding the umbrella, he walked toward her.
"This, do you, do you need it?"
Palm up, when she released her fingers, the marks on the fingertips hadn’t faded.
She had specially chosen this crystal from a counter a few days ago and spent two days making it.
The intensity of his gaze made her flustered, so she quickly found an excuse, "Made it in craft class, if you don’t need it, I..."
Before she could finish, he grasped her fingers, gently rubbing them, trying to smooth the marks while saying, "If this is a Valentine’s gift, then I want it."
"!"
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