Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

This was a construction site, with obstacles everywhere.

Quentin Blackwood was caught completely off guard and knocked to the ground.

The man seemed furious. He grabbed Quentin Blackwood by the collar. ”What the hell are you doing? The trial’s about to start! Ruby Sterling’s death sentence was a done deal, and you chose now to let her go?”

The man was fuming, clearly seething with rage.

That punch had split Quentin Blackwood’s lip, and blood was trickling from the corner of his mouth.

”Quentin Blackwood, is this how you handle business? I thought you’d take care of it, that you wouldn’t go easy on Ruby Sterling. Do you think you’re worthy of Ivy Sherwood after this? If you’re not up to it, then get the hell away from her, and do it now!”

”Elijah Hawthorne, let go.” Quentin Blackwood’s face was marred, but he didn’t retaliate.

He knew Elijah Hawthorne was this furious for Ivy Sherwood’s sake.

The onlookers had been enjoying the drama, but their ears perked up when they heard Quentin Blackwood say the man’s name.

Elijah Hawthorne? Oh, that explained it.

No wonder. An ordinary person would never dare to touch Quentin Blackwood. Only someone like Mr. Hawthorne had the audacity.

”’Let go? I ought to fucking kill you!’ With that, Elijah Hawthorne’s fist flew toward Quentin Blackwood again.”

Just because Quentin Blackwood hadn’t retaliated before didn’t mean he wouldn’t now. He raised his hand and blocked Elijah Hawthorne’s punch.

Elijah Hawthorne was in a blind rage, and the two titans started brawling right there, oblivious to everyone around them.

The onlookers didn’t know whether to call the police. It wouldn’t be good if either of them got seriously hurt. Besides, if something terrible happened and they just stood by and did nothing, wouldn’t they get dragged into it later?

After a moment of deliberation, the bystanders decided to call the police.

And so, two men who had been to the police station countless times—usually treated with the utmost respect—walked in for the first time as suspects about to be detained.

”Names? Why were you fighting?” the officer asked, going through the motions.

Elijah Hawthorne was in a foul mood. He was already furious about Ruby Sterling, and to top it off, he hadn’t even really won his fight against Quentin Blackwood.

Aside from his first cheap shot when Quentin Blackwood didn’t fight back, he hadn’t gained any ground. Elijah Hawthorne was absolutely livid.

”Get your chief in here to talk to me,” Elijah Hawthorne said, his voice laced with impatience.

”And who are you to be demanding our chief?” This officer didn’t recognize Elijah Hawthorne.

Elijah Hawthorne stated his name directly. ”Make the call. Tell him Elijah Hawthorne is here.”

The officer was taken aback by Elijah Hawthorne’s sheer force of will. ’What an explosive temper,’ he thought. ’Nothing like the other one.’

He glanced over at Quentin Blackwood, who was perfectly composed, his arms crossed over his chest as he sat there like an emperor on his throne.

Even with his battered face, his mere presence radiated an aloof, commanding aura that was impossible to ignore.

The officer quickly made a call up the chain. The moment the chief heard the names ”Elijah Hawthorne” and ”Quentin Blackwood,” he came rushing over.

”Gentlemen, what brings you to my humble station? Is there anything I can do for you? Please, just say the word!”

He was just a minor precinct chief in Lustre. How could he possibly afford to offend these two titans?

”I want to file a report,” Elijah Hawthorne said.

The chief wiped the cold sweat from his brow. ”Mr. Hawthorne, what seems to be the problem? What would you like to report?”

Elijah Hawthorne shot a contemptuous look at Quentin Blackwood. ”Him. He aided a murderer’s escape. The evidence is concrete.”

The Chief: ”...”

’Maybe they should just lock me up instead,’ he thought. ’I don’t want to be the chief anymore.’

The chief turned to Quentin Blackwood. ”There must be some misunderstanding, right?”

But Quentin Blackwood replied, ”There’s no misunderstanding. He’s telling the truth. I’m willing to cooperate with the investigation.”

The Chief: ”...”

’This is insane,’ he thought. ’The world has turned completely upside down.’

...

When Ivy Sherwood got the call from the police, she thought she must have misheard.

”’What? Who did you say was brought in?’”

When the officer repeated the names Quentin Blackwood and Elijah Hawthorne, Ivy Sherwood said, ”All right. I’m on my way.”

She had no idea how Quentin Blackwood and Elijah Hawthorne had landed themselves in a police station, much less why they needed someone to bail them out.

When Ivy Sherwood arrived at the station, she found the two mortal enemies still arguing.

It was mostly Elijah Hawthorne ranting while Quentin Blackwood, a man of few words, remained cool and distant.

”I just don’t get it. What did Ruby Sterling offer you? How could you let her go at such a crucial moment?”

”Are you out of your mind? Or should I slap some sense into you? Do you have any idea how much work it took to get her to confess to the murder? You, on the other hand... everything was about to be wrapped up, and you just let her walk?”

”How can you face Ivy Sherwood? Do you even dare tell her what you did? Aren’t you afraid of breaking her heart?”

Elijah Hawthorne was furious. If it had been him, he would have dealt with Ruby Sterling swiftly, not dragged things out this long.

Quentin Blackwood knew he was in the wrong, so he didn’t argue back.

”I know about it. I gave him my approval,” Ivy Sherwood said as she walked in.

’I can’t believe they managed to get into this much trouble in such a short time.’

Ivy Sherwood saw Quentin Blackwood’s face. ”You two were fighting?”

”It’s nothing. It doesn’t hurt,” Quentin Blackwood said quietly.

A flicker of joy appeared in his eyes at the sight of her.

Ivy Sherwood reached out and lightly poked Quentin Blackwood’s wound, a clear warning. ”I’m not asking if it hurts. Getting into a fight, and even landing yourselves in the police station... you’ve really outdone yourself, President Blackwood!”

Elijah Hawthorne, listening from the side, was clearly displeased. ”Hey, how come you’re only worried about him and not me? I’m standing right here, you know. And I’m just as banged up as he is.”

Elijah Hawthorne had also been hit by Quentin Blackwood. They were evenly matched; they’d both landed their share of blows.

Ivy Sherwood finally turned to Elijah Hawthorne and chided them both. ”And you, Mr. Hawthorne. You’re not a child anymore. Why are you acting like one, getting into fights and ending up here?”

If word of this got out, they’d both be utterly humiliated.

Elijah Hawthorne said, ”How was I supposed to know some bystander would call the cops? It was none of their business to be so meddlesome.”

”You two were wrong to be fighting in the first place. Calling the police was the right thing to do. Do I need to spell it out for you two? Blackwood? Hawthorne?”

Elijah Hawthorne: ”...”

Quentin Blackwood: ”...”

”Have you learned your lesson?” Ivy Sherwood asked, turning to Quentin Blackwood and poking him on the cheek.

She didn’t dare touch his actual wound, though, only the unbruised parts of his face. Seeing the dark bruise at the corner of his mouth, still laced with traces of blood, made her heart ache with a small, sharp pain.

’His handsome face was all beaten up... but he’s still so hot!’

”I have. I was wrong.”

”And what were you wrong about?” Ivy Sherwood pressed.

Quentin Blackwood looked at Elijah Hawthorne. ”I was wrong for not busting his mouth open, too.”

Of course, Quentin Blackwood knew what he’d done wrong. He planned to explain everything about Ruby Sterling to Ivy Sherwood later, in private.

Elijah Hawthorne: ”?”

Ivy Sherwood: ”...”