Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

”Oh, really? Then what are you doing in Lustre?” Nina retorted.

”I...” Miles started, then paused to think. ”What’s it to you?”

”You’re right, it’s none of my business. Ivy, let’s go.” Nina pulled Ivy along.

”Ah, okay.”

Just as they were about to leave, a steady voice called out, ”Miss Sherwood.”

”Xavier!” When Ivy Sherwood saw him, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Nina looked at the man. He was tall, powerfully built, and handsome, with deep-set, mature features. His gaze was so intense that a single look from him could make your heart pound.

Xavier’s hair was slicked back, revealing a high forehead. A pair of gold-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, giving him a scholarly air.

Nina blushed slightly. ’He’s so handsome!’

’Wait, Ivy knows them?’

”Are you sick?” Xavier’s voice was a little hoarse.

Ivy shook her head. ”No, Quentin Blackwood is the one in the hospital.”

Xavier nodded. ”I see.”

”What brings you to the hospital? Are you visiting someone, or...”

”My brother’s sick,” Miles said, walking over. ”He wasn’t feeling well, so I brought him to the hospital.”

Miles glanced at a blushing Nina and said, ”Don’t even think about it. My brother has a fiancée.”

Nina glared at Miles. ”Why do you have to be so obnoxious!”

”Miles!” Xavier’s voice was low and stern as he looked at him. Only then did Miles shut up.

”You’re sick?” Ivy asked Xavier. ”What did the doctor say?”

Xavier said, ”It’s nothing, just a cold. Miles is overreacting.”

”So you won’t need to be admitted, I hope?” Ivy asked.

”No need. I’ll be fine after an IV drip and some medication,” Xavier said. ”You two go on ahead.”

Ivy nodded. ”The weather here is unpredictable. Even though it’s summer, you still have to be careful. The sea breeze is strong, and it’s easy to get heatstroke when it’s hot.”

”Mm, I know.”

Nina added, ”Okay, well, we should all get dinner sometime if you have the chance!”

’It’s never a bad thing to get to know another handsome guy!’

But Miles said coldly, ”See? Your intentions are completely obvious. Already planning ’next time’.”

Nina said, ”I was inviting your brother, not you. He didn’t say anything, but you sure have a lot to say.”

”You!”

’Does this woman not understand English? I already told her my brother has a fiancée, and she’s still asking him out.’

Xavier agreed, ”Alright.”

”Okay, we’re leaving now. Bye!” Nina waved.

Ivy waved as well. ”Goodbye.”

Xavier watched them leave, his gaze lingering on Ivy. He still thought her eyes looked just like his aunt’s.

He had been in Lustre for several days now and had even fallen ill. It felt as if fate itself was trying to keep him here.

’Could my aunt be in Lustre?’

Once Ivy and Nina were a good distance away, Nina finally asked, ”Ivy, you know those two?”

”I suppose so. We met briefly at a banquet I attended with Quentin Blackwood. The older one is Xavier Mercer, and the younger one is Miles Mercer. I think they just got back from overseas not too long ago.”

”Xavier... even his name sounds nice. And he looks like he’s destined for big things. As for that Miles guy, why is he so detestable!”

’He’s so full of himself, thinking every woman wants to get close to him.’

”It’s probably because of his background,” Ivy said. ”With their status, I’m sure plenty of women are trying to climb the social ladder by getting with them, so it makes sense he’d think that way.”

Nina nodded. ”That’s true. Even my brother has tons of women throwing themselves at him, let alone guys who look even richer. Still, that guy is seriously annoying. He’s like a psycho.”

”Well, try not to think about him. By the way, what are you planning to have for lunch?” Ivy asked.

”I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it.”

Ivy said, ”Do you want to cook something together?”

”You just want to cook for your dear Mr. Blackwood, don’t you?” Nina called her out instantly.

”It’s not *just* for him.”

”Alright, then! Let’s go. We can buy groceries and do some shopping while we’re at it.”

Ivy and Nina went to the supermarket together and bought a lot of food. Nina had to ask, ”There are only a few of us. Can we really eat all of this?”

Ivy said, ”I was thinking about Miles and Xavier at the hospital. Their IV drips will take a while, so I thought we could make some extra for them to try. They probably don’t have any family here in Lustre, and it’s no trouble to buy a little extra food.”

Nina nodded. ”I’ll help, then.”

Together, Ivy and Nina cooked a variety of dishes. They were making enough for everyone, so since Nina was there, it was only natural to make a portion for Seth too.

Once everything was ready, Ivy and Nina brought the food to the hospital.

In the infusion room, Xavier’s IV drip was nearly done. Ivy walked over carrying the containers of food. ”Xavier.”

”Is Miles not here?” Ivy didn’t see the chatty younger brother.

”He went to the restroom,” Xavier said.

”Nina and I made some extra food. Since you’re visiting Lustre, we thought you should try some of our local dishes.”

Xavier hadn’t expected Ivy to cook herself, let alone bring a portion for them.

”Thank you for going to the trouble.”

”It’s nothing, I just hope you like it.” Ivy placed the insulated containers in front of him.

”Well, we’ll get going. Bye!” After setting the food down, Ivy pulled Nina away.

’Bringing the food was a kind gesture on my part,’ Ivy thought, ’but it might put them in an awkward position. What if they don’t want to eat it? If we stay here, it’ll be difficult for them to refuse.’

’If we leave quickly, then even if they throw it away, we won’t know. We can just pretend they ate it.’

”Thank you,” Xavier’s voice called out from behind them.

Nina said, ”That Xavier guy is actually really polite, and handsome too. Not like Miles. Just looking at that guy is irritating.”

”Who are you calling irritating?” a voice suddenly called out from nearby.

Nina glanced back. It was Miles!

She grabbed Ivy. ”Hurry, let’s go! Seeing him is bad luck!”

Miles snorted. ’Those two are here to bother my brother again!’

Miles walked into the infusion room. ”Bro, were those two pestering you again?”

”They brought us food. Come have some.” Xavier had already opened the containers. There was a wide variety of dishes; it was clear they had put a lot of thought into it.

”It actually smells pretty good.” Miles said. ”But people don’t just offer you things for no reason. They’re either up to no good or after something. I get a bad feeling from them, especially the chatty one!”

Xavier handed him a pair of chopsticks. ”When are you going to get over your prejudice against women? Your childhood trauma really did a number on you. Should I take you to see a therapist?”

”There’s nothing wrong with me psychologically.”

Miles took a bite. ’Wow, this tastes amazing!’

”Bro, this is actually really good.” He had to admit, her cooking was impressive. They had tasted countless gourmet meals, but this was different from anything they’d had before.

Xavier nodded. ”It is.”

...

When Nina and Ivy went upstairs, they saw both Seth Scott and Quentin Blackwood outside the patient rooms. Each man was sitting in a chair by a different door. The atmosphere was suffocating. Neither of them was acknowledging the other, yet neither had gone inside their respective rooms.

Seth was sitting bolt upright, his back ramrod straight, as if a harbinger of plague were sitting next to him. His face was a mask of pure disdain.

Quentin Blackwood, in contrast, looked much more at ease. His legs were crossed and his gaze was fixed forward. He exuded an aura of power, as if he weren’t sitting in a hospital hallway but in an office overlooking the city.