Chapter 78: Chapter 71: I’ve Got You

Shane Sterling came to tease her for a moment and then left, but it left Isla Prescott feeling unsettled for the rest of the afternoon.

’Strawberry-flavored?’

’Things like that can come in fruit flavors?’

’Another weird fact added to my collection,’ Isla Prescott thought.

After work, Isla Prescott stayed late for a while, just as she usually did.

Her phone buzzed beside her—BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ. She glanced at it and saw it was all messages from Shane Sterling.

“Off work.”

“Going downstairs.”

“In the car.”

“Heading home.”

“…”

He was reporting his every move to her, which inexplicably made Isla Prescott nervous as well.

She no longer had the heart to work. She closed her laptop and prepared to go home, only to see Silas Lockwood when she got downstairs.

Silas Lockwood was waiting for Isla Prescott in the plaza. Seeing her come down, he walked straight toward her.

“Isla, can we talk?”

Isla Prescott glanced at him. Silas Lockwood had dark circles under his eyes, the cut on the corner of his lip was obvious, and he looked completely worn out.

She felt a sense of discomfort. She didn’t understand what on earth Silas Lockwood was so fixated on.

“What do you want to talk about?”

“Do you really like Sean?”

“I do.” Isla Prescott answered without a shred of hesitation.

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Silas Lockwood still found it hard to believe. “Why Sean? Why him?”

“Why can’t it be him?”

“Because the problems that existed between us will exist between you and him, too.” Silas Lockwood let out a long sigh. “Isla, I know you harbor resentment toward me, and the root cause is that I didn’t stand up to my mother for you. You might think my mother despises the poor and fawns over the rich, that she’s opportunistic and power-hungry. Well, let me tell you, most people in this circle are like that. Sean’s father is even more so than my mother. Besides, my mother is just an ignorant woman, but Sean’s father is a ruthless and calculating businessman. One day, when his father steps in to sever the ties between you and Sean, will you be able to handle it? Do you think Sean will stand by your side without a second thought?”

Isla Prescott had to admit that every word Silas Lockwood said hit a nerve. But fortunately, having been through her last relationship, she had already made up her mind when she first started seeing Shane Sterling: she would only enjoy the present.

Love is inherently fickle. It arrives like a wildfire and vanishes like dissipating mist. Who could ever truly hold onto it?

As long as she and Shane Sterling were happy right now, that was enough.

“Isla…”

“Silas Lockwood, are you ever going to give up?” Shane Sterling suddenly appeared from the direction of the open-air parking lot, stepping right between Silas and Isla Prescott. “Don’t make me get physical with you for real!”

Silas Lockwood touched the cut on his lip and scoffed. “What? You mean you were faking it last night?”

“Last night was just a warning. If I had been serious, do you think you’d still be standing here today?”

“So arrogant. I was just drunk last night, that’s the only reason you got the upper hand. Otherwise, how could you have possibly won?”

“Want to try again?”

“Try me!”

The two men bumped shoulders, and just as they were about to start fighting again, Isla Prescott quickly separated them.

“Are you two in elementary school? Can you stop being so childish? Who solves problems by fighting these days?” Isla Prescott said, glaring at Shane Sterling. “Did you forget what you promised me yesterday?”

“I want to handle this civilly, too, but this guy still has designs on you!” Shane Sterling said.

Silas Lockwood was fuming. “Between the two of us, who’s the real thief?”

“Whoever covets my girlfriend is the thief!”

“And you dare say you never coveted my girlfriend?”

“I did!” Shane Sterling admitted without shame. “But at least I don’t pop up out of nowhere to bother her like some annoying ad!”

“You…”

“Alright, that’s enough!” Isla Prescott cut them off. “If you two aren’t embarrassed, you can keep arguing here. I’m leaving.”

She turned and walked away.

When Isla Prescott’s back was turned, Shane Sterling grabbed Silas Lockwood by the collar and warned, “You’d better stay away from her. Otherwise, don’t blame me for forgetting we were ever friends.”

With that, he let go of Silas and hurried after Isla Prescott.

「」

Isla Prescott was truly embarrassed.

She didn’t want to be part of some cliché soap opera scene with two men fighting over a woman in public. Besides, her worth wasn’t something to be proven by who was fighting for her.

Shane Sterling quickly caught up to her.

“Why are you walking so fast?” He grabbed her wrist, shedding the aggressive demeanor he had in front of Silas Lockwood and leaning in with a cheeky grin. “In a hurry to get home and try that strawberry-flavored thing with me, are you?”

Isla Prescott jabbed him with her elbow. “We’re on a public street. Behave yourself.”

“I’m already behaving. I haven’t started kissing you right here.”

“I guess I should praise you for that.”

“Thank you.”

The two of them walked back to their apartment complex.

Once they were in the elevator, Shane Sterling suddenly asked, “What did Silas Lockwood say to you?”

“Nothing important.”

“Really?”

Isla Prescott nodded.

“So you weren’t swayed by him?”

“Swayed about what?”

“Your determination to be with me.”

“No.”

“Really?”

Isla Prescott shot Shane Sterling a sidelong glance. “Why do you have to confirm everything? Are you that insecure?”

“Yes.” He wrapped his arms around Isla Prescott from behind and said in a mock-pitiful tone, “My sense of security is like a Wi-Fi signal. If you move a little farther away, it disconnects.”

“Is that so? What should we do about it, then?”

“You’ll just have to get closer to me. A little closer.” Shane Sterling murmured in her ear, “Preferably… negative distance.”

The tips of Isla Prescott’s ears instantly burned red.

The elevator doors happened to open just then, and she quickly strode out.

Shane Sterling was even faster. He wrapped an arm around her waist and hoisted her onto his shoulder.

“Miss Prescott, it’s no use running. You’re all mine tonight.”

He keyed in the door’s passcode while still carrying her.

Isla Prescott’s world turned upside down. Her vision was filled with nothing but Shane Sterling’s back and the floor. She didn’t even know which apartment he was entering.

“Put me down! My shoe is about to fall off.”

“If the shoe falls, it falls. As long as you don’t.”

“You’re a pervert.”

“If you say that, it’ll just get me more excited.”

“Put me down!”

“In a second.”

Shane Sterling’s hand held firm under the crook of Isla Prescott’s knees as he carried her straight into the bedroom.

The moment Isla Prescott landed on the bed, she realized it was Shane Sterling’s room.

Shane Sterling took off his suit jacket, pulled off his tie, and, while unbuttoning his shirt, knelt on the bed to kiss her.

Isla Prescott had no time to shift gears before his kiss left her weak all over.

This time was truly different.

She could feel it in his plundering kiss.

“A shower.” Isla Prescott whimpered in his arms. “I want to take a shower first.”

“Alright.”

Shane Sterling picked her up and headed for the bathroom.

“I’ll wash myself.”

“We’ll shower together. It saves time.”

He removed her dress and set her on the sink counter. The sudden touch of the cold marble made Isla Prescott shiver and grip Shane Sterling’s arm tightly.

Shane Sterling pecked her on the lips. “You’ll be warm in a minute.”

“…”

“Do you prefer the tub or the shower?”

A bath would take longer. Isla Prescott couldn’t bear the thought of being completely naked with him for too long under such bright lights, so she said, “The shower.”

He gave a meaningful smile. “I prefer the shower, too.”

At that moment, Isla Prescott didn’t yet know what he meant. Not until he carried her into the shower stall, where a stream of perfectly warm water rained down, fogging up the glass. Through the haze, she saw Shane Sterling take hold of her waist and kneel down on one knee before her…

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