Delayed Passion: Miss Lynch's Unrequited Love-Chapter 72: Do You Like It?

The apartment in Oakhaven Bay is completely in the opposite direction from Thea Lynch’s.

It’s the affluent area of Coronet, where the Lynch Family has a villa, although Thea hasn’t been back there in a long time.

Looking at the familiar surroundings, Thea couldn’t help but ask, "Has Ian been living there recently?"

"Yes. During the years you’ve been abroad, sir has been living there alone."

"Oh." When Thea was still in Coronet, Ian would stay at the compound about half the time each week. After she moved to Westmere, Ian seemed to be staying at a place near the company.

Occasionally when she returned to Coronet for the weekend with him, she would rest at his place.

As for his place in Oakhaven Bay, this was the first time she’d heard about it and the first time she’d been here.

As the car drove underground, Thea got out and saw a servant waiting at the side, who smiled and led the way, "Miss Lynch, this way, please."

Coming out of the elevator, Thea surveyed the layout of the first floor.

Minimalistic and cold, it was unmistakably Ian’s style.

Snacks were already laid out on the coffee table in the sitting room, Thea sat down, and the servant poured her a glass of water.

"What is this?" After taking a sip, she realized this wasn’t tea; it had an odd taste.

"It’s calming tea, the kitchen has been boiling it for a while." The servant bent down to place a piece of dessert on a delicate ceramic plate and handed it to her, "Sir instructed that you like to drink tea, but he was worried you’d suffer insomnia if you drank tea at this time."

"There’s a bit of traffic now. Sir is estimated to be back in about half an hour, and the kitchen is already preparing dinner. Please try these snacks, the kitchen just made them this afternoon. Sir said you like them."

Thea pursed her lips and accepted it.

During the waiting period for Ian, there were no fewer than five people attending to Thea, each afraid of neglecting her. A single drop of spilled water would cause them to apologize cautiously, and they looked at her with an expression of fear.

Who knows what Ian said to them, making her seem like some kind of villain.

Thea’s disposition was already quiet, but the servants, seeing her sitting motionless on the sofa daydreaming, thought she was bored.

"Miss Lynch, would you like me to show you around? There’s a greenhouse in the backyard and a gallery room upstairs."

The servant was promoting with more enthusiasm than most sales associates Thea had encountered. She checked the time, "Alright, let’s go take a look at the gallery room."

——

Ian’s gallery room is located on the basement level, directly opposite an enormous swimming pool.

Upon arriving at the entrance, she hesitated at the sight of the passcode lock and asked, "Are you sure... I’m allowed in here?"

"Sir instructed that you could roam as you please here; every room upstairs and downstairs is open for you."

Pausing for a moment, the servant smiled apologetically at her, "However, none of us know the password here. But sir mentioned that you would know it."

"..."

Thea wasn’t particularly interested in the gallery room but was going along with it because they were too enthusiastic. Glancing at the passcode lock, she decided not to approach any further, "Never mind, let’s go look somewhere else."

If it wasn’t locked, she might have gone in for a look.

But with a lock, it felt strange to let herself in.

Like she was the owner of the place.

That wasn’t right.

"Then the greenhouse?"

"Sure."

Passing through the first floor and stepping out of the floor-to-ceiling windows, Thea discovered a hidden gem in the backyard.

The glass greenhouse was situated at one corner, with plants extending from the entrance all the way to the creek. Curiously, Thea walked over to take a look and saw a few fish inside whose names she couldn’t quite recall, but their beautiful tails were apparent, although they seemed more like something a young girl would favor.

"Did Ian do all this?" she pointed to the fish pool, the greenhouse opposite, and... the swing on the other side.

The servant replied, "Yes, it’s all Mr. Preston’s decision."

Thea scanned the area, still in disbelief.

The only thing in the backyard that matched Ian’s style was the pavilion and the rock garden opposite. She could even imagine him sitting there sipping tea while watching the rain.

As for everything else, she really couldn’t picture it.

The flowers and fish didn’t seem to match Ian either.

Evidently, noticing her inexplicable expression, the servant asked, "Miss Lynch, don’t you like it?"

Thea didn’t answer directly, "It’s quite beautiful."

Whether she liked it or not was irrelevant; it’s not like Ian would move these to her place.

On that note, perhaps she should consider buying her own place.

Her parents’ old home was too spacious for one person, and always staying at Silas Cheney’s was not a long-term solution. To this day, she didn’t have a place of her own in Coronet.

Recently, when she’s not busy, she should start looking at properties.

After feeding the fish for a short while, the servant mentioned Ian had returned. On the way back, a man in a somber suit walked towards them.

Thea paused slightly, her gaze lingering on him for a few seconds, "Where did you go on your business trip, Ian?"

He had still been in Coronet just yesterday afternoon.

Judging by his formal attire, it seemed he’d been on business rather than a personal outing.

Ian approached, removing the watch from his wrist as he walked and handed it to a servant nearby.

"I flew over to Kingsford."

"Oh." Thea pointed towards the sitting room, "The bracelet is on the table, I’ll go grab it for you."

"No rush." Ian kept her by his side, his gaze drifting past her shoulders to the window view, "Were you in the backyard?"

"Yeah, took a little tour. The backyard design is quite nice, Ian."

She hugged her arms, turning slightly to gaze out with him, "I’m more fond of your crabapple tree. It’s a pity the season isn’t right to see it in bloom now."

"Soon. You’ll see next spring."

The crabapple trees in his backyard bloom only once in March or April; they were already in the latter half of the year.

Thea nodded, "Once the flowers bloom, the backyard should be even prettier."

Here with him, Thea didn’t hold back, "However, just the backyard view alone doesn’t really feel like your style."

"Really?" Ian’s gaze stayed on her face.

Thea didn’t notice his eyes, looking at the yard while speaking to herself, "It seems more like something a little girl would adore. The flowers in your greenhouse are particularly delicate too."

"Just picking one could win a girl’s heart. Silas should also like them, hasn’t he ever asked you for some?"

She asked with a smile, turning her head to unexpectedly meet his gaze.

Ian’s eyes were deep, like spilled ink slowly spreading, with a hint of blatant possessiveness in them.

Thea’s smile faltered but, unfortunately, before she could discern anything, he suddenly looked away, "He did mention it once, but I couldn’t bear to give him some."

He answered her previous question.

After a few seconds of pause, Thea responded belatedly, "Is that so... just a few flowers, and you treasure them so, Ian."

The horse ranch could be given away easily, yet a few flowers deserved such care.

Ian remained silent, suddenly asking, "Do you like them?"

"They’re alright," she replied.

Ian raised his chin slightly, motioning towards the greenhouse, "Pick a couple."

"..."