Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 82: Who Is Ian Preston Backing?

"If it weren’t for Miss Lynch’s mother appearing, the Lynch and Bell families would have long been in-laws. It’s said that Mr. Preston’s mother has always been in love with Miss Lynch’s father, so she holds a grudge against the Lynch Family and has always looked down on Miss Lynch."

"So even if they’re together, it’ll be hard for Miss Lynch to get into the Preston Family."

"How come there’s such a thing..."

"This isn’t really a secret in the compound, it’s just that no one dares mention it now."

"Childhood sweethearts torn apart, what a pity. But I heard Miss Lynch’s mother was a great beauty, just looking at Miss Lynch now, you can imagine how beautiful her mother must have been."

"Is Miss Lynch’s mother also from Coronet?"

"No, she’s from Westmere. And her family background is quite exceptional. Her ancestors were imperial physicians in the palace, and her parents were famous traditional Chinese doctors in Westmere, hard to get an appointment with, and her father was also the former dean of some medical university."

"Although they don’t have the red background like the Bell Family, they’re still a proper scholarly family."

"So later on, the Bell and Preston families got married?"

"Yes, Mr. Preston’s parents are that type of loveless marriage."

"Ugh, do you think there’s a possibility that Mr. Preston doesn’t really like that Lynch from the Lynch Family? If he truly liked her, why find a stand-in to be by his side, I think..."

With a soft "click", the partition door was gently opened by someone.

The two people in front of the mirror paused in their conversation and turned to glance at the sound coming from behind them.

What started as a casual look turned into a shock.

Emerging was a striking figure in a red dress that grabbed attention, paired with a face of cold elegance, exuding an imposing aura.

"..." The two were so frightened they moved aside, watching Miss Lynch make her way to the sink between them, bending to turn on the faucet to wash her hands.

The two dared not move, like two stone lions frozen on either side of Miss Lynch.

Shaking off the water from her hands, Miss Lynch straightened up, her gaze shifting to the right. The towels were placed over there.

With just one look, the woman standing on the right immediately picked up a nearby towel and handed it over, acting naturally as if she were a waiter here.

"Thank you." Miss Lynch took it, wiped her hands, tossed it aside, and turned to leave.

As soon as she walked away, the two exhaled a sigh of relief. Just as they were about to stand up straight, they saw the figure ahead pause slightly, "Let me correct something."

"Ah?" The two froze in place, fearfully watching her slender back.

Miss Lynch: "My father’s first love has always been my mother, don’t let me hear you spreading rumors."

——

The Lynch, Preston, Chen, Bell, and Zhou families have always maintained good relations among the elders.

The youngest son of the Lynch Family was the secret crush of many girls back in school, but he never dated while studying.

The eldest daughter of the Bell Family did have feelings for the Lynch family’s youngest son, and as children, they had a childhood engagement, which wasn’t a secret.

But the Lynch family’s youngest son explicitly rejected the engagement, never taking it seriously. Although the eldest daughter of the Bell Family was heartbroken, she didn’t give up, thinking of him as just a bookworm not ready for love.

As long as he wanted to date, she believed she would be his first choice. She was willing to wait.

Later on, when the youngest son of the Lynch Family was starting his business, he met a girl from Westmere, and they fell in love at first sight. Soon, he brought his girlfriend to the compound to meet the elders.

It caused quite a scene back then because the eldest daughter of the Bell Family charged to the Lynch household to make a fuss.

After that incident, there was some awkwardness when the elders of the two families met.

No matter how others tried to persuade, in the eyes of the eldest daughter of the Bell Family, the Lynch family’s youngest son had disappointed her, and that woman from Westmere was the third party who intervened.

Later, when the youngest son of the Lynch Family got married, he didn’t invite the eldest daughter of the Bell Family to the wedding.

Not long after, the eldest daughter of the Bell Family had a flash marriage with the only son of the Preston Family.

Only then did the relationship between the two families start to ease a little. But since then, the eldest daughter of the Bell Family and the youngest son of the Lynch family have had no contact, not even attending his funeral...

As for who was right or wrong, Miss Lynch didn’t believe her parents did anything wrong.

It didn’t matter to her what others said, but her parents loved freely, always affectionate and innocent, not to be unjustly speculated upon.

Speaking of Mr. Preston’s mother, Aunt Rong.

Ever since she could remember, Aunt Rong’s attitude towards her was always cold. If there were others around, Aunt Rong would put on a friendly face, appearing like an amiable elder. But in private, she always looked at her with a despising gaze.

It’s not the same now; it was more obvious when she was younger.

So she never liked interacting with the Preston family, be it Mr. Preston’s parents or himself.

Mr. Preston’s father had no issues with her, and her father and Mr. Preston Senior were sworn brothers, treating her well too. It’s just that Mr. Preston Senior was typically stern, rarely smiling, cold.

Saying it’s grudges of the previous generation, in truth, it’s just Aunt Rong’s one-woman show, her one-sided wishful thinking.

But one thing that those people said earlier is true.

There’s absolutely no story between her and Mr. Preston.

The true love and stand-in, the real and fake. Maybe a few years ago, she’d be curious and dig deeper, but now, the truth doesn’t matter to her.

Exiting the bathroom, Miss Lynch carefully lifted her gown, stepping down the stairs.

Once she stood firm, she looked up and saw a man leaning against the wall, not far away, having a cigarette.

Hearing the sound of high heels, he looked over and naturally put out his cigarette.

Miss Lynch was already preoccupied, having just eavesdropped on gossip about Mr. Preston, and now bumping into him in person felt oddly strange.

Though she hadn’t been involved, she inexplicably felt caught.

Perhaps it’s karma; she made those two awkward earlier, now it’s her turn.

"Not leaving?" Seeing her standing still, Mr. Preston graciously walked towards her.

"..." Miss Lynch started to walk back first, not speaking until they turned a corner, "Did you come looking for me, Third Brother?"

Behind her, the man followed each step, when she stopped, he advanced a step to halt by her side.

"Saw Nina?"

"Yes." Miss Lynch wasn’t sure of his intention, "Third Brother, are you here to stand up for her? Sorry then, I’m not the one who embarrassed her. You should look for Sean Bell."

Mr. Preston still carried a lingering smoke smell, and when he approached, she furrowed her brow slightly, prompting him to step back to his original position, keeping his distance.

"I didn’t want to involve you in unrelated matters."

"But today there seems to be no lack of rumors about you and that person."

Miss Lynch raised an eyebrow, "Such as?"

"True love."

He only uttered these three words.

Miss Lynch’s brow twitched slightly, pretending to be calm, "I did hear some of that. But rest assured, Third Brother, I know these little gossips are fake, I won’t take them seriously."

"Not completely. They are partly true." His voice paused slightly, his dark eyes pulling her in closer.

Miss Lynch felt something was off, instinctively trying to find a reason to slip away.

But Mr. Preston didn’t give her that chance—"The part about outsiders is false."

"The truth has always been about you."