Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

After returning the bride price, Ivy Sherwood felt considerably more at ease.

Although Caleb Blackwood still had the ashes, Ivy knew that the more she appeared to care, the more he would use them to threaten her with other demands. So, she could only feign indifference.

True to her word, Ivy Sherwood told Thea Sherwood everything she had discovered about Timothy Sherwood. As for how Thea and Timothy would tear each other apart, that had nothing to do with her.

Timothy Sherwood did try calling her, but Ivy Sherwood ignored all his calls.

With Thea helping, she didn’t even have to lift a finger herself. It turned out that enemies had their uses sometimes.

A few more days passed, and around noon, Ivy Sherwood received a call from Quentin Blackwood.

’Why is Quentin Blackwood calling at this hour? Is something up?’

”Do you have any plans this afternoon or evening?” Quentin Blackwood asked from the other end of the line.

Ivy Sherwood had no plans, other than working at her studio.

”No.”

”Do me a favor,” Quentin Blackwood said.

Without even asking what the favor was, Ivy Sherwood immediately agreed, ”Okay.”

”You’re not even going to ask what it is?”

”Anything.” As long as Quentin Blackwood was the one asking, she was more than willing to help.

After all, she owed him so much. Opportunities to help him were few and far between. Now that he had finally asked, how could she possibly refuse?

”Good. Then keep your evening free.” Quentin Blackwood said little else before hanging up.

’My evening? What is he planning?’

That afternoon, Quentin Blackwood appeared at Ivy Sherwood’s studio.

The studio was small-scale, utterly incomparable to Quentin’s company. Most of the employees were young women, and when they saw him walk in, their eyes were glued to him, unblinking.

’He’s so handsome! Oh my god, how can a man that handsome even exist!’

Edie was the first to snap out of it. ”Hello, can I help you find someone?”

”Ivy Sherwood.”

”Ms. Sherwood is busy at the moment. I can take you to her,” Edie said, quickly leading Quentin Blackwood toward Ivy’s office.

Ivy’s office door was open, and she was currently looking down at a document.

Just as Edie raised her hand to knock, Quentin Blackwood stopped her. ”I’ll go in. You can head back.”

He had such an aura of command. Even though he wasn’t her boss, Edie found herself obeying him instinctively.

Ivy was so focused that she didn’t even notice when Quentin Blackwood walked up behind her.

She seemed to have run into a difficult problem, her brows knitted in concentration.

”Take a closer look at clause five.”

The sudden voice made Ivy jump.

She snapped her head up and met Quentin Blackwood’s gaze right behind her.

”Quentin? You...”

”Are you wondering how I got here, or when I arrived?” Quentin Blackwood preempted her question. ”If you’re asking how I’m here, it’s because I called you at noon and said I needed a favor. As for when, I just got here. I saw how focused you were, so I told your assistant not to disturb you.”

”I was actually just finishing up. It’s just... I have a nagging feeling there’s something wrong with this clause, but I can’t seem to find it.”

”Legally speaking, if you don’t change this clause, you’ll run into major trouble down the line.” With that, Quentin Blackwood briefly explained the issue.

As Ivy listened to his explanation, it was like a lightbulb went on. Everything suddenly became clear.

She hadn’t realized. Not only was Quentin Blackwood brilliant in finance, but he also seemed to have a high level of legal expertise.

The gap between her and Quentin was truly immense.

’Is there anything he can’t do? It takes so much work to master so many skills. Even a genius with a photographic memory would have to spend time absorbing all that knowledge.’

Ivy called Edie in and had her renegotiate the clause with the other party. There was no way she would let them exploit a loophole.

”Thank you, Quentin. So, what was the favor you needed?”

”There’s a banquet tonight. I need a date, and I’d like you to accompany me.”

A banquet that Quentin Blackwood would bother to attend was definitely no small affair.

Ivy said, ”Me...? I don’t think I’m a suitable choice, am I?”

”There’s nothing unsuitable about it. I don’t know any other women in Lustre. Besides, didn’t you already promise to help me?”

”So, who will be at this banquet tonight?”

Quentin reeled off a few names, leaving Ivy astonished. The list included not only the most prominent figures in Lustre but also several titans from Veridia.

’What on earth was this banquet, to attract so many influential people?’

”The banquet is on a cruise ship. The host lives abroad most of the year. He’s a mysterious and low-key man with immeasurable wealth. Most people never get a chance to meet him. A lot of important people will be there tonight. If you want to grow your company, it’s a great opportunity to make connections.”

In fact, many people were desperate to attend this banquet but couldn’t get an invitation no matter how hard they tried.

Ivy had never attended an event of this magnitude.

Ivy wasn’t sure if she would embarrass Quentin by going, but she definitely wanted to be there!

”Okay,” Ivy agreed. ’In that case, I’d better get ready.’

For once, Ivy left work early and got into Quentin Blackwood’s car.

”The Blackwoods will be there too,” Quentin reminded her as soon as she got in the car.

Caleb Blackwood would never pass up such a great opportunity. As a prominent figure in Lustre, it wouldn’t be too difficult for him to secure an invitation.

”Oh. That has nothing to do with me.”

”So, which face do you plan on wearing?” Quentin asked, turning his head to look at her. He sat with his long legs crossed, exuding an air of elegant nobility.

”If I show up like this,” Ivy said, pointing to her face, ”will your uncle think I’m an embarrassment to you?”

Aside from her eyes, her current appearance was so plain that no one would give her a second glance.

”No.” Quentin had no objection to her appearance, whatever it might be.

’How she chose to appear was her own business. What right did he have to judge?’

Besides, he didn’t find her current appearance the least bit embarrassing.

This world was full of all kinds of people—beautiful and ugly, handsome and plain, ordinary and mediocre. They all had their own reason for being, their own value. No one should be ashamed of how they look.

”Okay, then I’ll really go looking like this,” Ivy said, observing him closely.

Quentin nodded. ”Mm.”

Ivy saw no trace of displeasure on his face. It seemed he was telling the truth.

When Ivy first learned that Quentin knew her secret, she had wondered if their repeated entanglements were all because of her true face. But getting to know him, she realized he truly wasn’t that superficial.

Quentin took Ivy to a couture dress shop. ”I called ahead,” he said to the staff. ”Please have her try on the custom gown.”

”Of course, Mr. Blackwood.”

The shop manager saw Ivy and faltered. ”This is...?”

’So ugly?’

”Is there a problem?” Quentin asked, looking at the manager.

’Headquarters had called ahead, telling him that President Blackwood himself was coming and that he must be treated with the utmost care.’

’The manager had initially assumed that the woman President Blackwood brought personally would be a stunning beauty, but he never expected... this.’

Thinking he was being helpful, he offered a reminder. ”Mr. Blackwood, it’s just that... this particular gown is very difficult for an ordinary person to pull off. If it isn’t worn with the right presence, it can look quite comical. Perhaps you’d consider a different one?”