Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Third Brother Is an Exception
Hearing Ian Preston’s voice, Thea Lynch’s expression was momentarily stunned.
"Hey, Ian." She turned sideways and took a bottle of yogurt from the fridge. "Is Sean not around? I heard he’s looking for me."
"He just went out two minutes ago."
"Alright, when he comes back, ask him to call me."
Thea fiddled with the bottle cap in her hand, waiting for him to hang up.
The busy signal didn’t come; instead, the man asked, "Recently, has someone named Sarah Sullivan contacted you?"
"Yeah." Thea replied, "I saw her yesterday."
"No need to pay her any attention. I’ll have someone pick you up tonight."
"Got it."
Ian was not good at explaining, seldom taking the initiative to clarify anything. Thea thought that was the end of the conversation, and indeed she felt a slight sense of disappointment.
She said, "I have another meeting. If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to work?"
"Okay."
At the sound of his voice, Thea frowned slightly. It was in her nature not to say anything in the end.
On the other end, Ian seemed to suddenly realize something and opened his mouth: "Wait."
"..." Thea paused her hand movements, knowingly asking, "Ian, anything else?"
"Do you know Sarah’s relationship with Silas Cheney?"
"I’ve heard about it." Thea answered.
"The Sullivan family’s intention was for her to meet me."
"I’ve heard about that too."
For some reason, hearing her say that made Ian feel relieved. He sensed something was off, and it turned out it was really because of this.
He originally thought Thea was unaware, but upon reflection, with Sean Bell around, nothing could remain hidden.
Given Sean’s penchant for stirring things up, it’d be weird if he hadn’t told Thea.
"We won’t be meeting. Grandpa has already given a reply to the Sullivan family."
The old man didn’t even consult him and straightaway rejected the Sullivan family’s suggestion. He knew who Ian favored all too well.
"You’re smart enough to understand what I mean."
Thea looked down and repeatedly rubbed the patterns on the yogurt bottle cap, saying, "Ian, you love saying such things. Unfortunately, I don’t understand."
She was clearly being petty, deliberately saying this.
Ian didn’t expect her to say that, was stunned for a moment, then laughed lightly.
His intermittent laughter flowed through the phone, continuously knocking against Thea’s eardrum.
He was clearly trying to lure her in.
Thea blushed slightly at his laughter, lifting her eyes, her gaze wandering awkwardly.
"There will never be anyone else, ever. If there could be, then countless moments in these seven years you’d have heard about me marrying someone."
"I’m a competent businessman; you were right before, I am indeed a greedy capitalist. So, Thea, I never make losing deals.
I’ve invested far more money, time, and emotion in you than you could imagine. It’s even beyond my initial expectation."
"I’m already confident about you. Why would I give up halfway?"
Thea could hear his fluctuating breath, silently clenching her phone.
"I thought such things had no effect on you."
Promises like "forever," knowing Thea, she wouldn’t not only like it, she’d probably scoff at it.
Such promises are mere illusions.
Thea quietly replied, "Then you don’t know me well enough."
Ian: "Really?"
"In the past maybe I didn’t believe, or didn’t want to hear, but... now it’s different."
"Alright, noted." Ian replied with a smile in his voice: "I haven’t seen you act on emotions before, lacking experience. It’s understandable. But didn’t expect, in romance, you too lack principles."
"..." Thea awkwardly touched her nose, feeling a bit annoyed being teased like that, straightforwardly replied: "It depends on who it is actually. If it’s someone else, that might be another story."
She hinted, Ian understood but still went along asking: "What about me?"
Thea: "You, Ian, you’re an exception."
——
Silas Cheney returned from outside, immediately saw Ian holding his phone doing something, approaching closer, he was even smiling.
Yikes... Silas stepped back scared, looking like he’d seen a ghost.
Upon hearing the noise, Ian looked up, and the smile on his face disappeared instantly when he looked at him. But from his eyes, it was clear he was in a good mood.
"Ian, what’s this?" Silas was puzzled.
Ian tossed the phone into his arms, "Thea asked you to call her back."
"..." Silas suddenly understood, "No wonder."
He was wondering why Ian was acting strangely, smiling alone.
Turns out he was just on the phone with Thea.
Tsk tsk tsk.
Silas felt a pang of jealousy.
"You two aren’t even dating yet, and Ian’s already like this. If you end up dating..." Silas imagined the scene, instantly got goosebumps.
"I’m curious though, what did you chat about?"
Silas folded his arms, leaning against the wall with a gossipy look, eyes shining bright.
"What do you think?" Ian countered.
"Oh." Silas chuckled awkwardly, turns out it was about his mess.
"Didn’t the girl misunderstand?"
"Nope."
From the earlier conversation, Ian was sure Thea didn’t misunderstand, nor was she upset.
She just wanted to hear him explain on his own.
That’s all.
"That’s good, that’s good." Silas felt relieved.
There was a time difference, and upon seeing the messages from the security side, his heart almost jumped out of his throat.
After confirming multiple times with the security department, it wasn’t until they stopped the person that he eased up slightly.
"I’ll call the Sullivan family later." Just in case, better have the Sullivan family quickly take her away.
Otherwise, he’d really have to call the police.
Sarah Sullivan, that woman, is just absurd.
"But, Ian, why were you smiling?" Silas was still curious.
"Aside from that matter, you must’ve chatted about something else, right?"
He smiled with ill intent, "Come on, tell me."
He genuinely wondered, what two people with sky-high pride and a cold personality talked about privately to end up smiling like that.
"You ask too many questions, go call her." Ian wouldn’t tell him.
He couldn’t possibly tell Silas that even when prepared, he was still flirted with by Thea, a young girl, could he?
Silas took the phone outside, unable to pry open Ian’s mouth, but surely he could with Thea, right?
He dialed the phone.
Thea was somewhat surprised, "Weren’t you out? How come you called back so quickly?"
"This is quick? Are you annoyed I’m disturbing your sweet moment with Ian?" Silas teased.
"..." Thea: "We hung up a while ago."
"Ah, seems it was indeed a good chat." Silas chuckled.
Thea choked, quickly changed the subject, "Hurry and talk about business, I have something else soon."
"Alright." Silas didn’t plan to really probe, after all, it was their privacy.
Just joking around.
