Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 75: Winning a Beauty’s Smile

Their gaze inadvertently landed on the jewelry box on the table. Sean Bell raised an eyebrow and reached out to open it.

Inside lay a diamond necklace, dazzling even more under the reflection of the chandelier.

No one would give something like this to Ian Preston, unless he bought it himself.

Sean Bell’s eyes gleamed with interest. He closed the box, but instead of putting it back, he asked Ian Preston with curiosity, "Third Brother, which girl are you trying to win over with this?"

Sean Bell was well aware of the answer.

Yet, he deliberately refrained from mentioning Thea Lynch’s name, "Could it be intended for Nina Sinclair?"

It turns out, every time Sean Bell got beaten up, there was always a reason.

He just had to bring up the most awkward topics, saying the most irritating things. Every punch from Ian Preston was well deserved. If it weren’t for Grandpa Bell’s protection, Ian Preston would probably have broken his legs.

"Just kidding." Receiving a cold glare from Ian Preston, Sean Bell laughed awkwardly and put the item back.

Think that’s the end of it? No way.

As soon as the box touched the table, he lightly added, "But Third Brother, you really don’t understand Thea. She doesn’t like things like this. If you give it to her, she’ll just return it."

Under normal circumstances, this wouldn’t hurt Ian Preston at all.

But now, Thea Lynch had indeed returned the item. Coupled with his remark, it really did rub Ian Preston the wrong way.

Sean Bell anticipated that Ian Preston would be angry, but figured he’d just get a few words of reproach.

The last thing he expected was for Ian Preston to suddenly take a swing at him.

A fist grazed past his cheekbone fiercely, and with a thud, his glasses fell heavily to the ground.

A curse almost slipped out of Sean Bell’s mouth. Thankfully, he held himself back just in time. Otherwise, this evening wouldn’t be settled with just a punch.

The living room fell silent, the quiet so intense you could hear a pin drop. All the servants kept their heads down, eyes fixed on the floor, barely daring to breathe.

Sean Bell touched his cheekbone, flinching slightly from the pain.

"Let’s make a deal, Third Brother, next time you hit me, avoid my face. Great, now how am I supposed to explain this to Thea when I see her over the weekend?"

Ian Preston stood facing him, looking down from above, "You can act wild on your own. But if you dare to take her along this weekend, don’t blame me for not sparing your dignity."

At that, Sean Bell was slightly taken aback.

He glanced up at Ian Preston, who had one hand in his pocket, walking straight toward the elevator without sparing him a glance.

Oh, definitely a true brother indeed.

He hadn’t said or done anything yet, but his brother had already figured out his plan.

What to do now?

Quit? No way.

He promised to take Thea Lynch to see a good show. How could he give up halfway?

Besides, over the years, when had he ever taken his brother’s warnings to heart?

The worst outcome would just be coming back for another beating.

Exchange it for a good show, win a beautiful woman’s smile.

Worth it.

After Ian Preston went upstairs, the servants dared to move, quickly getting an ice pack for Sean Bell.

"Please apply it quickly."

Scenes like this were common. They weren’t witnessing Sean Bell getting hit for the first time.

Usually, Sean Bell didn’t mind, but thinking about the weekend plans, he didn’t want to show up with a bruised face.

He pressed the ice pack hard against his face, remaining expressionless as if he couldn’t feel the pain.

"Is it swollen?" he asked the servant.

The servant cautiously nodded.

"Tsk." He suspected his brother did it on purpose. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Why the face, of all places?

Spotting a bank card on the table from the corner of his eye, Sean Bell’s mind raced, asking, "Did anyone come before me today?"

The servant hesitated but said nothing.

Sean Bell: "Was it Thea Lynch?"

The servant’s reaction said it all. Sean Bell was a bit surprised, "No wonder he suddenly called me over to get beaten up. Turns out he suffered a setback with Thea Lynch."

"You better keep it down." The servant was startled, gesturing for him to drop the subject.

Sean Bell leaned lazily on the sofa, looking relaxed and cheeky, "Seems I guessed right. This thing was returned."

"No wonder he hit me suddenly, got right to his sore spot."

Servant: "..."

Over the years, they’d seen plenty of Sean Bell getting beaten, but he never seemed to learn his lesson.

His mouth was truly frightening. Every time he spoke, they feared, because nine and a half of his ten sentences would touch Ian Preston’s forbidden zones.

"Did I really come all this way just to let him vent?" Sean Bell finally realized the reason.

The servant’s mouth twitched hard. It wasn’t about venting for the gentleman; shouldn’t Sean Bell know why he got hit?

If he just spoke properly, would he really get beaten up out of nowhere?

They’d been by Ian Preston’s side for so long, and it was only when faced with Young Master Bell that the gentleman would really get physical.

It was a privilege only Young Master Bell had to personally provoke Ian Preston.

Ian Preston’s people kept their mouths sealed tight, so there was no use in asking them. Sean Bell didn’t waste any more time there.

After applying ice and hurriedly applying some medicine, he took the car keys and left Oakhaven Bay.

On the road, he called Thea Lynch.

"Did you get beaten up?" Hearing his words, Thea Lynch was taken aback. "What did Third Brother hit you for out of the blue? What trouble did you cause this time?"

There was no helping it, Sean Bell had too much of a black history.

It was hard not to suspect that he brought it on himself.

"This time, I was really wronged."

Sean Bell lowered the window a bit, propped one hand on the steering wheel, and rubbed the sore spot with the other hand. He made a deliberate noise, sucking in a breath.

Sure enough, when Thea Lynch heard this, she paused in drying her hair. "What’s going on? Wasn’t Third Brother fine when I left?"

"You saw him tonight?"

"Yeah, we had dinner together. He seemed to be in a good mood then."

"Are you sure? When I got there, he sure didn’t look too happy. Are you sure you didn’t provoke him?"

"..." After a few seconds of hesitation, Thea Lynch said, "He did ask about our plans for the weekend, and I didn’t tell the truth."

Sean Bell raised an eyebrow.

"Tsk tsk tsk, so I got caught up in your mess."

"Blame me?" Thea Lynch felt he was turning the tables. "Wasn’t it you who dragged me to attend some party? If it’s too much, let’s not go. I’m still sick, and you have a face injury."

She tried to use it as an excuse to back out, but Sean Bell wasn’t about to let her slip away.

"If we don’t go, then wouldn’t getting punched be for nothing? What, are you going to let me hit back?"

Thea Lynch: "..."

Only Sean Bell could come up with such outrageous things to say.

"Alright, I’m just teasing you. I’ll pick you up over the weekend, and...see you then."