Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

”Whatever I want, I get!” It had been that way since she was a child. If Joy Sheridan wanted something, there was nothing she couldn’t obtain.

Ivy Sherwood found it laughable. ”Are you a schoolgirl, Miss Sheridan? By that logic, I like him too. Does that mean he should be mine?”

”You...”

”You’ve got the nerve to want someone, but not the ability to make them want you back. If he liked you, you wouldn’t have to try so hard. But he doesn’t. Even if I weren’t in the picture, he still wouldn’t like you.”

Joy Sheridan couldn’t stand to hear it. ”Ivy Sherwood! What right do you have to lecture me? You’re just the other woman—a homewrecker who steals other people’s men!”

”Miss Sheridan, if you’re uneducated, you can always look it up online. Or maybe you should take a look at who’s really trying to be the other woman here.”

’Is Ivy Sherwood calling *me* the other woman?’

It was obviously Ivy Sherwood who had interfered in her relationship with Quentin Blackwood, causing him to abandon her.

If it weren’t for Ivy Sherwood, she and Quentin Blackwood would never have ended up like this. Quentin wouldn’t be so disgusted by her; he wouldn’t be pushing her away.

Joy Sheridan heard footsteps from inside. It sounded like Quentin Blackwood was about to come out.

Suddenly, Joy Sheridan grabbed Ivy Sherwood’s wrist, lifted her own free hand, and slapped herself hard across the face.

”AH!” Joy Sheridan shrieked, instantly looking pitiable.

”Ivy Sherwood, how could you hit me!”

Just then, Quentin Blackwood’s figure appeared in the doorway.

Ivy Sherwood was stunned by Joy Sheridan’s maneuver. ’I thought only Anna Nash could pull a stunt like that. I never expected a woman like Joy Sheridan to resort to such a damsel-in-distress routine.’

Joy Sheridan was still holding Ivy’s hand, positioning it close to her own cheek.

It made it look as though Ivy had just hit her and been caught in the act.

Seeing Quentin Blackwood, Joy Sheridan immediately ran to him. ”Quentin, she hit me!”

”I only said a few words to her, and she suddenly flew into a rage and slapped me! She even called me the other woman trying to get between you two. This woman is so two-faced.”

’Has Joy Sheridan never tried to play the victim before? She’s terrible at it.’

’This is just pathetic. Even Anna Nash wouldn’t stoop to such a cheap trick.’

Ivy Sherwood walked over as well. ”It’s true, I hit you.”

Joy Sheridan froze, shocked that Ivy Sherwood would actually admit it. She had assumed that in front of Quentin Blackwood, Ivy would surely play the innocent victim, deny everything, and put on an act for him.

While Joy Sheridan was still stunned, Ivy Sherwood raised her hand and slapped her squarely across the face.

”Ivy Sherwood, how dare you hit me!” Joy Sheridan never thought Ivy would actually strike her.

Ivy Sherwood said, ”I don’t like explaining myself, and I don’t like being misunderstood. Since you said I hit you, it would be a shame to make a liar out of you. I don’t plan on apologizing, either. You just falsely accused me, so let’s call it even.”

”Besides, even if the security camera above your head is low-res, it should have a clear shot of who hit whom just now. Or shall we go pull the footage and take a look?”

Both of Joy Sheridan’s cheeks were rapidly turning red. She had thought Ivy Sherwood was a meek little pushover, but here she was, daring to hit her right in front of Quentin Blackwood.

”Quentin, you saw that, didn’t you? This woman hit me on purpose! It hurts so much.” Tears welled up in Joy Sheridan’s eyes.

But after she spoke, she realized there was no sympathy in Quentin Blackwood’s eyes, only cold indifference.

”Joy, if you put this much effort into your work, your grandfather wouldn’t have to worry about you so much.”

Joy Sheridan faltered. ”But I really don’t understand that stuff... Besides, I have you, don’t I? Even when Grandpa can’t help me anymore, you’ll still be there. I know that as long as you’re around, I can live a carefree life. I believe in you!”

”I can’t help you for the rest of your life,” Quentin Blackwood said.

”I don’t care! You have to take care of me for the rest of my life!” Joy Sheridan said, completely ignoring Ivy Sherwood.

”You’re nothing to me, so I won’t be responsible for you,” Quentin Blackwood said bluntly. ”Your grandfather’s condition has stabilized, and the doctors will be providing round-the-clock care. I have other business to attend to, so I’m leaving.”

Quentin Blackwood pulled his arm from Joy Sheridan’s grasp and walked over to Ivy Sherwood.

Then, as if remembering something, he paused and looked back at Joy Sheridan. ”One more thing. I know exactly what kind of person she is. You don’t have to put on an act for me.”

After speaking, he held out his hand to Ivy Sherwood. ”Let’s go.”

He was clearly offering his hand for her to take. Ivy Sherwood placed her hand in Quentin Blackwood’s and waved at Joy Sheridan with her free hand. ”Bye-bye, Miss Sheridan.”

Joy Sheridan was about to explode with anger. She had gained nothing and was left with a swollen face, having been slapped for no good reason.

She gritted her teeth. She couldn’t let this go.

’That Ivy Sherwood is just a nobody riding Quentin’s coattails now that he’s shown some interest in her!’

She had to find a way. If she couldn’t make Quentin Blackwood fall for her, then she would just have to make him despise Ivy Sherwood.

A plan was already forming in Joy Sheridan’s mind. After all, this sort of thing was second nature to her.

She had driven away so many other women from Quentin Blackwood’s side; she could definitely get rid of Ivy Sherwood!

She remembered that Quentin Blackwood was very busy these days. He was handling a lot of business for the Sheridan Group and had meetings with their people, so he definitely wouldn’t have time to look after Ivy Sherwood.

This was the perfect opportunity for her.

...

Ivy Sherwood and Quentin Blackwood went downstairs together and got into the elevator, their hands still linked.

Ivy Sherwood tried to pull her hand away, but Quentin Blackwood held it tight.

”Joy Sheridan’s gone now. You can let go,” Ivy Sherwood said.

Quentin Blackwood glanced down at their joined hands. ”You think I’m holding your hand just to put on a show for Joy?”

’Wasn’t he?’

Ivy Sherwood had thought Quentin Blackwood was just backing her up.

”I just slapped Joy Sheridan. What do you think about that? Do you think I shouldn’t have done it?”

Quentin Blackwood said, ”It’s no big deal. She tried to frame you first. That’s just how Joy is; she’s been spoiled by Old Master Sheridan since she was a child.”

”She probably won’t let this go. You should be careful.”

”Okay, I know.”

The two of them exited the elevator. Quentin Blackwood said, ”There’s a party in a few days. Come with me. I’ll take the opportunity to introduce you to some people.”

Quentin Blackwood’s power base was in Aethelgard. Over the years, even if he didn’t go out of his way to make friends, he still had a couple of close ones, as well as some heirs from The Veridian Circle that he could introduce Ivy Sherwood to.

”Okay,” Ivy Sherwood agreed. ”What do I need to prepare?”

”You don’t need to. Just be yourself.”

They got into the car at the hospital entrance. ”Where to? I’ll give you a ride.”

Ivy Sherwood didn’t hesitate, giving him the address. Edie was coming today, and she planned to take her to the factory first.

After dropping Ivy Sherwood off, Quentin Blackwood picked up his phone and messaged Zane Linton, telling him to arrange for some men to shadow Ivy and ensure her safety.

Knowing Joy Sheridan’s personality, it was only a matter of time before she made a move against Ivy.