Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

Claire Sherwood put on a frantic act. ”Quentin Blackwood, I’m begging you, please let me see Ivy Sherwood. I want to save my mother.”

”Our family is in pieces now. My dad has run off and abandoned us, my sister has gone crazy, and if my mother gets the death penalty, what will I do?”

Claire Sherwood cradled the Jade Pendant in both hands. ”I don’t know if there are gods in this world, or if they can hear my words. I’ve always believed that everyone in the world is kind. I did so many good deeds when I was a child, helped so many people. Is it possible that, in the end, it all amounts to nothing?”

”I feel like this Jade Pendant was a gift from the gods, able to grant my wish at the most critical moment. I just hope my mother will be okay.” Claire Sherwood’s eyes were red, and she truly looked like someone with nowhere left to turn, begging for divine protection.

Quentin Blackwood’s mind went blank for a moment. It took him a while to recover, and even then, he hadn’t fully shaken off the shock.

However, Claire Sherwood said, ”If it can’t help me, then it’s useless to me. I might as well just throw it away!”

As she spoke, Claire Sherwood forcefully threw it toward the ground, intending to shatter it.

Quentin Blackwood reached out and securely caught the Jade Pendant that had been thrown.

”Claire Sherwood, you knew all along that I was the one behind that courtyard wall back then, didn’t you?” Quentin Blackwood’s fingers tightened as he clutched the pendant that had belonged to his mother.

’He wasn’t an idiot. Claire Sherwood’s act was so obvious, how could he not see through it?’

’She intercepted him, deliberately let him see the Jade Pendant, and then prayed to it. It was all just to make him intervene.’

Claire Sherwood was shocked. ”I...”

’How did Quentin Blackwood figure it out? Was I really that obvious?’

’No wonder this man had become so powerful. He really was something else.’

’But a man this intelligent truly had his own unique charm.’

Before, Claire Sherwood had been disdainful, but after meeting Quentin Blackwood, her opinion had started to change.

”Actually, I only found out later after hearing Silas Blackwood mention it. To me, it was such a trivial thing. I was giving food to a lot of people back then, helping many homeless people and beggars. I really didn’t know it was you at the time.”

”Quentin Blackwood, I’m out of options. For the sake of what happened back then, can you please get my mother out?”

”My mom really didn’t do it on purpose. Besides, Ivy Sherwood wasn’t really hurt, was she?”

”The fact that Ivy Sherwood wasn’t hurt was her good fortune. What Ruby Sterling did is unforgivable in itself!” The two things couldn’t be compared.

Claire Sherwood said, ”I know, it’s all our family’s fault. Quentin Blackwood, this is my only wish. Just help me this once.”

”I know you don’t want others to find out about your past. I’m really not trying to blackmail you with this Jade Pendant. If I were, with you being so high and mighty all these years, why wouldn’t I have come to you sooner?”

”Likewise, I don’t want anyone to know about what happened when we were kids either. You get my mother out, clear her name, and we’ll call it even. It’ll be like this never happened.”

Quentin Blackwood’s expression was grim. ”Fine. I’ll get Ruby Sterling out. The debt from my childhood will be paid.”

”But you have to promise me you won’t tell anyone about this.”

”Why?”

”I don’t want Ivy Sherwood to know about this deal. I’m sure you don’t want her to misunderstand, either.”

Quentin Blackwood frowned.

Claire Sherwood knew that with a man like Quentin Blackwood, the more she tried to explain, the more suspicious he would become. It was better to be direct; he was more likely to agree that way.

”Give me the Jade Pendant,” Quentin Blackwood said, holding out his hand.

Claire Sherwood pulled it back. ”You gave this to me back then, so it’s mine now. There’s no reason for you to take it back.”

Claire Sherwood put the Jade Pendant away safely. ”Quentin Blackwood, thank you.”

’It’s true I already gave it away. It wouldn’t be right to take it back now.’

Quentin Blackwood got back in the car and told the driver to go. He was heading out to check on the construction site.

He had already signed the papers for the plot of land. Quentin Blackwood had started looking for someone to handle the design and was also preparing to break ground.

The abandoned, half-finished buildings on the site needed to be demolished first. Everything was proceeding in parallel to save as much time as possible.

Once the car was moving, Quentin Blackwood called Zane Linton. ”Get Ruby Sterling out.”

”President Blackwood, but the trial is about to start. I’m afraid...”

’It probably won’t be that easy. Besides, why would President Blackwood suddenly change his mind?’

”Just do as I say.”

”Yes, sir.” Although Zane Linton didn’t understand, he complied.

Quentin Blackwood then called Ivy Sherwood. She picked up quickly. ”Quentin Blackwood, why did you suddenly ask me about that Jade Pendant? Did you see Claire Sherwood?”

”I did,” Quentin Blackwood’s voice was hoarse.

”She was there to ask you to release Ruby Sterling, wasn’t she? Did you...”

Before Ivy Sherwood could finish, Quentin Blackwood cut in, ”Ivy, I owe Claire Sherwood a favor. Is it okay if we let Ruby Sterling go this time?”

Ivy Sherwood froze. She never would have thought that Quentin Blackwood could owe Claire Sherwood a favor.

Ivy Sherwood said, ”Ruby Sterling killed Charlie Rhodes in order to frame me. I can forgive her for your sake, but the fact is, she committed murder. Is it really that simple to have a murderer acquitted and released?”

”I’ll have my people arrange it.”

Although Ivy Sherwood didn’t know what had happened between Quentin Blackwood and Claire Sherwood, she trusted him.

”Alright then. Do whatever you think is best. I’ll support any decision you make!”

”Thank you, Ivy.” Quentin Blackwood knew Ivy Sherwood was magnanimous. Her not questioning him was a testament to her love and trust.

’This really is unfair to Ivy.’

’So I have to be even better to Ivy. I need to speed up the wedding preparations and make her my wife!’

Not far away, Claire Sherwood watched Quentin Blackwood’s car drive off. She dangled the Jade Pendant from her hand, her mood soaring.

’I knew it. No man can escape the palm of my hand.’

’So what if he’s Quentin Blackwood? In the end, he still has to do what I say.’

’I don’t care that Quentin Blackwood is with Ivy Sherwood right now. If I can snatch him away from Ivy, now *that* would prove my skills.’

’Besides, I’m just waiting for the day Ivy Sherwood gets abandoned. Does Ivy think she’s hot stuff right now? The only reason she’s been able to stir up so much trouble in Lustre is because I hadn’t come back yet.’

’Now that I’m back, Ivy Sherwood will be crushed into dust, just like when we were children!’

...

「At the abandoned construction site.」

After Quentin Blackwood arrived, he discussed the demolition with the construction team. The designer was also there, having conducted a site survey. He had prepared some renderings and was waiting for Quentin to review them for any potential adjustments.

However, just as several people were gathered around Quentin Blackwood, someone suddenly rushed over and threw a hard punch right at his face.

Everyone else present was stunned, baffled as to what was happening. Who would dare to lay a hand on President Blackwood? They must have a death wish.