Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

The investigation into Ivy Sherwood’s case was concluded quickly, and the sentencing came just as fast.

Gabriel Walker and the others were sentenced to three to ten years in prison for the crime of raping women through violent coercion or other means. Each individual’s sentence varied depending on the severity of their involvement.

Although Gabriel Walker was the mastermind, he didn’t physically participate, so he only received a five-year sentence.

As for Timothy Sherwood, he hadn’t inflicted any actual physical violence on Ivy Sherwood, and his attempt to forge her signature had failed. Therefore, his actions were not considered egregious enough to constitute a criminal offense, and he was only detained for a few days.

The court and public security bureau naturally had to publicize a case like Gabriel Walker’s. When people saw his name, some did a little digging and discovered that he was, in fact, Director Young’s son-in-law.

The Young Family had previously denied it was him, which was now a massive slap in the face. The old story about Gabriel Walker’s hotel group romp with other men was dredged up again, and netizens eagerly grabbed their popcorn to watch the drama unfold.

Someone also dug up other things Gabriel Walker had done—how his wife helped him ”deal with” the other women, even paying for abortions for the children he fathered. Suddenly, his wife was dragged into the mess as well.

His wife had a political career, and soon she and her father were the talk of the internet, trending on social media again and again.

What was once a surefire promotion for his father-in-law was now torpedoed by the public outcry. Not only did he fail to get promoted, but his superiors also reassigned him. It wasn’t just a demotion; he was transferred to a marginal post, his career prospects effectively finished.

Gabriel Walker’s father-in-law was furious. He went straight to the prison and nearly beat Gabriel to death.

Gabriel Walker’s wife also divorced him. Citing his repeated infidelity and the fact he had fathered children out of wedlock, she left him with nothing. It was safe to say that when Gabriel got out of prison, he would be completely destitute.

When Ivy Sherwood saw Gabriel Walker’s downfall, she didn’t feel the slightest bit of pity. On the contrary, she felt he got what he deserved.

He had married a good wife who could have been a great help to his career. That was his good fortune.

But he had taken advantage of having such a wife to act recklessly and do whatever he pleased, leading to his current predicament.

Ivy saw all the news online.

She just felt that everything had gone surprisingly smoothly. Gabriel Walker was sentenced so quickly he didn’t even have a chance to fight back.

Moreover, all the information about him that surfaced online seemed as if it had been prepared in advance and then released all at once.

Ivy felt something was off, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

’Could someone be helping me?’

’Was this Quentin’s doing?’

Ivy didn’t know. She had tapped on his contact info countless times, the number practically burned into her memory, but she never made the call.

She was afraid Quentin might be busy, or that he might think she had ulterior motives. After all, when Quentin Blackwood gave her the number, he had told her not to call unless it was important.

In the end, Ivy didn’t dial. She and Quentin Blackwood weren’t supposed to have their lives intersect. They weren’t from the same world; they normally wouldn’t even cross paths.

Her only worry now was whether Timothy Sherwood would come looking for trouble.

A man like Timothy Sherwood—short-tempered and petty—wouldn’t let her off the hook. This time, she had completely burned her bridges with him, and given his personality, he was sure to retaliate.

She was a little worried he would make a move against her, but it seemed Timothy Sherwood was having trouble saving his own skin.

Because of all this, the Sherwood Company’s stock price had been plummeting. Although they had signed a contract with the Walker Group, Gabriel Walker’s arrest had thrown his own company into chaos. They were in no position to be paying the Sherwood Company.

And with the Young Family having gone through a divorce, they certainly wouldn’t be giving the Sherwood Company a single penny.

Now the factories and various endorsement partners were all waiting for him to pay up.

Timothy Sherwood was at his wit’s end. He was on the verge of not being able to pay his employees’ salaries and had no idea where to get the money.

The finance department called again and again, as did his secretary, but Timothy Sherwood simply turned off his phone and hid at home.

In just a few short weeks, Timothy Sherwood had aged considerably. He had once been a charming, handsome older man, but now, with his unshaven face, he looked completely haggard.

It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought about calling the Blackwood Family. They were supposed to be future in-laws, after all. Surely the Blackwoods wouldn’t just stand by and watch him go under.

But Caleb Blackwood rebuffed him at every turn, and eventually stopped answering his calls altogether, claiming he was away on business.

Timothy Sherwood was truly out of options, with no idea where to raise the funds.

Ruby Sterling couldn’t stand it anymore. ”Timothy Sherwood, just look at yourself! You look like death warmed over!”

She was sick of looking at him. When she first married Timothy Sherwood, she was drawn to his good looks, but now? He was just useless.

”My godfather said he’s coming to see me in a few days. Look at this pathetic state you’re in! If my godfather sees you like this, he’ll curse you to death!”

Godfather?

Timothy Sherwood suddenly sat bolt upright. His eyes lit up as he looked at Ruby Sterling, and he went over and threw his arms around her.

He whispered in her ear.

”Jade, you’ve been through a lot lately, too.”

After so many years together, he knew Ruby Sterling inside and out. He knew all her weaknesses and sensitivities.

”You’ve worked hard being with me all these years. I promised I’d give you a good life, and we were so close to achieving it. We’re just one step away.”

”You know the company has been struggling lately, and that little brat Ivy tricked me, throwing the company into an even deeper crisis. And the Blackwood Family refuses to help.”

”As long as we can get through this, the company will have smooth sailing ahead. Then, everything I promised you, I’ll give it all to you. Besides, you have shares in the company. You don’t want to see it go under, do you?”

”Timothy Sherwood, what are you getting at?” Ruby Sterling asked.

Timothy Sherwood finally revealed his objective. ”Jade, could you borrow some more money from our godfather? I promise I’ll pay it back quickly.”

”Timothy Sherwood, don’t you hate my godfather? Didn’t you forbid me from contacting him?”

Every time she contacted her godfather, she had to do it behind Timothy Sherwood’s back.

”When have I ever hated him? I can’t respect him enough.”

”Timothy Sherwood! Do you really think it’s that easy to borrow money from my godfather?” Over the years, Ruby Sterling had already asked her godfather for a lot of money.

Her godfather was very wealthy in Aethelgard, and she was just one of his many ”goddaughters.” Although he was generous, that generosity always came at a price.

”I know, Jade, don’t be angry. I’m just at the end of my rope. You’re his favorite. If you’re the one asking, I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Timothy Sherwood coaxed.

”Jade, my darling, just help me this one last time. Since your godfather is coming to see you anyway, I’ll book a nice hotel. You and he can... catch up for a few days. How about it?”

Booking a hotel, for just Ruby Sterling and her godfather... what would happen was self-evident.