Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

”I’m looking for Ivy Sherwood.” The man got out of his car. ”I saw her get into yours.”

Ivy saw Seth Scott up ahead and got out of the car as well.

”Seth?” Ivy walked over. ”Have you been following me?”

”I... I just wanted to talk to you for a moment. Nina told me you were in the area. I came to find you, and I happened to see you getting into a car, so I followed.”

It had been a while since she’d seen him, and Seth looked more mature. He was wearing a trench coat, his hair styled with meticulous care.

When Nina had called her earlier today, she’d been talking with the Mercers, so after hanging up, she sent Nina a text telling her which hotel she was at.

”What is it you want to talk about?” Ivy asked, looking at him.

Even though she and Quentin were over, she didn’t have feelings for Seth and had no intention of leading him on.

”I heard about what happened with you and Quentin from Nina. Ivy, my feelings for you have never changed. I’ve always been waiting for you. I’m starting to take over the family business now. Trust me, I’ll have something to show for it very soon.”

”I’m not asking you to say yes to me right now. I just want you to know that you’re not alone. I’m still here for you.”

”If you ever need someone to lean on, you can come to me anytime. I don’t know if you’re free tomorrow... can I take you out to dinner?”

Seth’s gaze was incredibly gentle, his eyes burning with fervent emotion.

He had never once considered giving up on Ivy. He knew things between her and Quentin were impossible, so he’d been watching from the sidelines, waiting.

Ivy’s expression remained neutral. ”I’m sorry, Seth. Quentin and I may have separated, but I have no plans to start a new relationship right now. If I’ve done anything to mislead you, I sincerely apologize.”

”That’s not what I meant. I’m not trying to make you promise me anything. I just want to be there for you, even if it’s just as a friend.”

Seth knew that now, more than ever, Ivy needed someone by her side.

On the other side of the alley, a tall figure stood shrouded in shadows, watching the scene unfold with a cold gaze.

If looks could kill, Seth Scott would have died hundreds of times over.

But Seth, in his emotional state, had eyes only for Ivy and was completely oblivious to his surroundings.

Quentin watched coldly. ’That toad wants a taste of swan,’ he thought. ’He should take a long, hard look in the mirror and see if he’s even worthy.’

He also knew Ivy would never say yes to Seth.

Quentin had been following Ivy the whole time. But his skills at tailing someone were so good that if he didn’t want to be seen, no one would ever spot him.

Quentin’s eyes were fixed on Ivy, unwilling to miss even a second of this rare chance to see her.

”Seth, I...”

Seth didn’t give her a chance to finish. ”Ivy, you don’t have to say anything. I get it. It’s getting late, you should go home.”

Seth left quickly, leaving Ivy with no choice but to get back in her car.

’I don’t have feelings for Seth now, and I never will.’

’Surely Nina isn’t still trying to set us up, is she?’ Ivy thought. ’I’ll have to find a chance to talk to her and make things clear.’

The driver continued on, but for some reason, Ivy couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was still following her. She wondered if it was just her imagination.

She felt as if someone was watching her, but she couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary about the surrounding cars.

’Besides, my driver is excellent. If someone were really tailing us, he would’ve noticed by now,’ Ivy reasoned. ’I must be overthinking it.’

When they reached the parking garage, Ivy got out of the car and hurried home.

She had already repaired her security cameras. Only after checking the feed and seeing nothing amiss did she finally relax.

Meanwhile, Quentin lingered downstairs from Ivy’s apartment building for a long time. It wasn’t until late into the night that he finally boarded his private jet and returned to Aethelgard.

Zane Linton even asked, ”President Blackwood, should we still arrange for people to keep an eye on Miss Sherwood?”

Quentin knew Ivy wouldn’t do anything foolish. He thought for a moment. ”Not for now. Tell them to stand down.”

”However, it seems Seth has had a bit too much free time lately. Same goes for Elijah Hawthorne. Find them something to do.” Quentin’s tone was sharp with displeasure.

”Yes, sir.”

...

Not long after Ivy got home, Nina sent her a text saying she was downstairs.

Nina came upstairs and saw Ivy, her face etched with worry. ”Ivy, did my brother come looking for you?”

”Yeah, we spoke for a minute.”

”My brother’s really worried about you. He was asking me about it... I didn’t say much about you and Quentin, just that you two might have broken up. But you know him, he jumps to conclusions and insisted on coming to find you. You’re not mad, are you?”

Ivy shook her head. ”No, come on in. I actually have something to tell you, too.”

Ivy and Nina both washed up quickly and then settled onto the bed.

When she heard what Ivy had to say, Nina sat bolt upright in bed. ”You’re saying your mother was from the Mercer Family, the very same Winter Mercer the Mercers have been looking for? And that insufferably narcissistic and full-of-himself guy, Miles Mercer, is actually your brother!”

Nina clapped a hand over her mouth, as if she’d just heard the most earth-shattering news of her life.

Ivy nodded. ”It would appear so.”

”Ivy, you’re the long-lost princess of a super-rich family! Oh my god, I’m friends with a tycoon!” Nina lunged forward and hugged her tightly.

’I knew it!’ Nina thought. ’Ivy is so beautiful and carries herself with such an extraordinary grace. She has this unique, noble, and elegant air about her. How could a creature like Timothy Sherwood ever father someone like her?’

’Dragons beget dragons, and phoenixes beget phoenixes. A man like Timothy Sherwood is only capable of producing an idiot like Thea!’

”What exactly happened? You have to tell me everything!” Nina couldn’t believe a plot straight out of a TV drama was unfolding in her own life.

Ivy gave her a brief summary, including the situation with the Blackwood Family.

When she finished, Nina’s face was flushed with anger. ”That Caleb Blackwood is a real old fox. He’s so calculating!”

”So the engagement to Silas was all part of his plan to get your money from the very beginning. He’s been plotting against you since you were a kid! That’s terrifying. And I used to think he was a great philanthropist, a decent guy.”

Caleb was a master at keeping up appearances. He was always doing charity work; he’s a famous philanthropist with an excellent reputation in Lustre.

Who would have ever guessed what he was really like underneath it all!

A thought struck Nina, and she asked, ”Then have you told the Mercers about your pregnancy?”

Ivy shook her head. ”Only you know about this. Nina, can you help me keep it a secret? I want to go get an abortion tomorrow. Can you come with me?”

”Ivy, are you really sure?” Nina asked, looking at her with concern.

Ivy gently stroked her flat stomach. Even now, the child felt strangely unreal, almost like it wasn’t there at all.

’I can’t give this baby a good life,’ she thought. ’I’m not as selfless as my mother was. This child will surely be able to find a more suitable family, find better parents.’