Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

Quentin Blackwood left the club with Ivy Sherwood and returned to the car. He gave her a thorough check, first looking at her wrists for any sign of bindings, then checking her waist for bruises. Only then did he let out a sigh of relief.

However, Ivy looked at him, amused, and said, ”Uncle, are you sure you’re just checking if I’m okay and not using this as an excuse to get handsy?”

”I’m sorry. I didn’t know so many people would be there,” Quentin said, his brows tightly furrowed.

He had only invited Ethan Forrest and a few others, but so many more had shown up.

”What’s there to apologize for? It wasn’t your fault to begin with. And I think it’s a good thing. At least now other people know I’m not to be trifled with. Next time they think about agreeing to one of Joy Sheridan’s little schemes, they’ll have to think twice.”

”But, Mr. Blackwood, this is all part of the romantic mess you’ve made!” Ivy deliberately reached out a finger to hook Quentin’s chin, mimicking someone being flirtatious.

Quentin let Ivy hook his chin. ”Doesn’t Miss Sherwood have a swarm of unwanted admirers herself? That makes us even.”

”How does that make us even? I don’t have any admirers. And even if I did, dealing with them would be more than easy for you, wouldn’t it? Those guys are like mice seeing a cat when they see you. But Joy Sheridan is different. She has backing. She’s in a completely different league than I am.”

But Quentin just chuckled. ”You have backing, too.”

”What backing do I have?”

”Me. I’ve told you before, if you’re ever bullied or wronged anywhere, just drop my name. Or, I can give you anything you want.”

Anything Quentin had, he would give to Ivy. He also wanted to buy her many, many things, but he was afraid she wouldn’t accept them.

”Then I want the man, not the money!”

Quentin leaned in to kiss her. ”I’ve always been yours.”

...

For the next little while, Ivy was incredibly busy, often getting home very late.

Quentin was also swamped with work, so both of them were busy with their own careers.

Old Master Sheridan’s health had improved significantly, and he was able to be discharged from the hospital.

On the day of his discharge, Quentin Blackwood went to see him.

Last time, Joy had tattled to him, embellishing the story, and Old Master Sheridan was actually quite displeased.

”Quentin, has our family caused you trouble?”

”Not at all, President Sheridan.”

”I hear from Joy that you have someone by your side now,” the old master continued.

Joy Sheridan was there as well, supporting her grandfather, an unhappy look on her face.

Quentin said, ”Yes, my girlfriend.”

When they heard Quentin acknowledge his girlfriend, Joy’s expression turned awful, and the old master’s face darkened as well, though he quickly recovered.

”Joy also said that last time at the hospital, one of your people slapped her, and that there was some conflict at the recent gathering?” The old master was clearly calling him to account.

Joy was his most precious granddaughter. If someone bullied her, he definitely wouldn’t just let it slide.

’So what if it was one of Quentin’s people? In front of him, even Quentin had to be respectful, didn’t he?’

Quentin said, ”That is indeed what happened.”

Hearing Quentin admit it, the old master grew more displeased. ”Quentin, she is my only precious granddaughter. I’ve cherished her her entire life. Growing up, I’ve never so much as laid a finger on her!”

Quentin’s eyes narrowed. ”Elder Sheridan, I can understand your feelings for your granddaughter, but my girlfriend isn’t someone who can be bullied by just anyone either. As for what truly happened on those two occasions, I believe any account from either myself or Joy would be biased. How about this: I’ll have someone send the security footage to you shortly. You can see for yourself and understand what happened.”

Old Master Sheridan naturally knew his granddaughter’s temper. She had almost certainly started the trouble herself. If there was truly security footage as evidence, it would be difficult for him to side with her.

Downstairs and in the car, Old Master Sheridan and Quentin rode in the same vehicle. Joy was not with them.

Old Master Sheridan looked at Quentin. ”Quentin, we owe you a great deal for this period. If it weren’t for you, the company would likely have been thrown into another bloodbath.”

Quentin nodded. ”It was my duty.”

”Do you remember what I told you last time? Joy has a bad temper, so please bear with her. I spoiled her. But she’s the only close family I have. You should know how much she likes you. With you suddenly having a girlfriend, she’s bound to be emotionally volatile. If she does anything, please don’t take it to heart.”

Hearing this, Quentin disagreed.

”I can choose not to take it to heart, but my girlfriend can’t. I can choose not to pursue the matter, but my girlfriend has no relationship with Joy. I understand that you dote on your granddaughter, but my girlfriend is someone else’s granddaughter, too. She’s a treasure to her own family. There is no reason for her to be bullied because of me or anyone else.”

”Elder Sheridan, since you care for Joy so much, I hope you will teach her better in the future. I’m willing to chalk up her past actions to immaturity. But if she tries anything against my girlfriend again, I can’t make any guarantees about what will happen.”

Quentin exuded a powerful aura. Even Old Master Sheridan, a man who had seen and weathered many storms, could tell that Quentin was angry.

’Just what kind of woman could make Quentin so protective?’

’Quentin has never been one for romantic dalliances. For him to acknowledge someone as his girlfriend... could it be that he’s truly fallen in love?’

”Our two families go way back. When can you bring her over for a meal at my home?” the old master’s tone softened considerably.

Quentin replied, ”She’s busy starting her own business, so she might be a bit tied up. In the future, when our wedding day is near, I will be sure to invite Elder Sheridan to celebrate with us.”

A flash of surprise crossed Old Master Sheridan’s eyes. ’Is Quentin serious?’

He had asked Quentin before, given that he was no longer young, if he had considered settling down.

Quentin had said he had no such plans, that he might never get married in his lifetime.

’But now, there was a woman who could actually make Quentin want to marry her. Who on earth was this woman?’

Now that things had been said so plainly, there was nothing more Old Master Sheridan could say. For Joy to win Quentin’s affection now was likely harder than climbing to the heavens.

’Even with my history with Quentin, I can’t even get him to agree to look after Joy a little more, let alone marry her.’

...

「Lustre.」

Anna Nash’s belly grew bigger by the day. She stayed at home every day, doing nothing, being waited on by a crowd of servants.

She was five months pregnant, but she still had no status in the Blackwood family. Caleb Blackwood avoided her, Silas Blackwood despised her and slept in a separate room, and Mrs. Blackwood targeted her at every turn.

And then there was Sylvia Blackwood...

Thinking of Sylvia, Anna realized she hadn’t seen her for quite some time. ’Where did Sylvia go?’

Anna asked a maid about it and found that the maids hadn’t seen Sylvia in a long time either. Just as she was thinking about this, she actually saw Sylvia that very evening.

Sylvia looked the same as before, but strangely, she was wearing sunglasses late at night.

Previously, whenever Sylvia saw Anna, she would always stop to curse at her a few times. This time, however, she went straight upstairs.

This was very strange. It was completely out of character for Sylvia.

”Sylvia,” Anna called out from behind her. But Sylvia kept walking straight ahead, as if she hadn’t heard.

Anna followed her up to her room. ”Sylvia, what’s wrong? If something happened, you can tell your sister-in-law.”

She really wanted to get on good terms with Sylvia. After all, this was her husband’s sister.

”Get out. I have nothing to say to you,” Sylvia’s tone was as harsh as ever.

Anna found it too strange that she was wearing sunglasses so late at night. Catching her off guard, Anna snatched the sunglasses from her face.

When she saw Sylvia’s eyes, Anna was stunned. ”Sylvia, you...”