Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

"The shooting was probably aimed at me. Old Master Sheridan was driving me back that day when it happened. He took the bullet for me. Otherwise, I might have been the one to die."

"Joy Sheridan is his only living relative. He wanted me to take good care of her. In his final moments, as he was closing his eyes, he made me promise to marry Joy. He said he wouldn’t be able to rest in peace otherwise. I... I agreed."

"When you called me back then, I didn’t pick up. Partly because I was handling Old Master Sheridan’s funeral arrangements, and partly because I didn’t know how to face you. Everything I said that day... it was all a lie. I love you—I love you so much. Every second we’ve been apart has been torture for me."

He reached out and pulled Ivy Sherwood back into his arms. "I think I love you even more than I realized."

"So there was a shooting, Old Master Sheridan saved you, and he used his dying wish to force you to marry Joy Sheridan. And then you deliberately said all those things to me?" Ivy Sherwood repeated Quentin Blackwood’s words in summary.

"That’s right. I’ve never stopped loving you. I know I handled it badly. I..."

Ivy Sherwood cut him off. "Since you already made a promise, you should honor it, shouldn’t you? I have no interest in who you marry, and I’m not in the habit of attending my ex-boyfriend’s wedding. When you two get married, don’t bother sending me an invitation."

’Quentin Blackwood’s story was a bombshell, but who knew if he was lying to her?’

’She used to think she’d never fall into a web of Quentin Blackwood’s making, but in the end, she had.’

’Quentin Blackwood was too enigmatic. No one could ever tell which of his words were true and which were false.’

’If this was the truth, why hadn’t he just told her clearly from the start?’

"I’m not going to marry her. I’ve recently found a new lead. Old Master Sheridan’s death might be connected to Joy Sheridan."

"Ivy, once I’ve figured everything out, can you give me another chance?"

Ivy Sherwood pushed open the car door. "We’ll see after you’ve figured everything out."

Quentin Blackwood watched her walk away, a wave of joy rising in his heart. ’She said we’ll see after I figure everything out. That means there’s still hope. It’s not a complete rejection.’

’I have to go back to the country and get to the bottom of this.’

’Joy Sheridan is still in the Mercers’ hands. I have to go see her.’

Quentin Blackwood had someone look up Miles Mercer’s contact information, but he called Xavier Mercer directly.

Xavier Mercer had just dropped off his fiancée and finished washing up. When he saw the number, he wasn’t surprised.

"You drag my sister out in the middle of the night, and now you have the nerve to call me?" Xavier Mercer’s cold voice came through the phone.

"I brought her back safe and sound, and I didn’t lay a hand on her. We’re in love. I’m sure that as her big brother, you wouldn’t want to stand in the way of your sister’s happiness, would you?"

"Happiness? She doesn’t even like you!"

Quentin Blackwood said, "You should know in your heart whether she likes me or not. I can guarantee that I will never hurt Ivy Sherwood."

’I can’t love her enough as it is, how could I possibly hurt her?’

"Then why are you calling me?"

"Joy Sheridan is still in your custody. I need to see her about something."

"You want me to let her go?" Xavier Mercer’s eyes narrowed.

’Is Quentin Blackwood asking for a death wish? Saying he loves my sister with one breath and then showing concern for another woman with the next.’

"I just need to clarify a few things. Once I confirm the facts, I might be even less willing to let Joy Sheridan go than you are. Don’t worry, I will never give Joy another chance to hurt Ivy."

"Who gave you the right to call her Ivy?"

Quentin Blackwood: "..."

"I don’t care what’s going on between you and Joy Sheridan. But as for my sister, you’d better stay far away from her. I will not approve of you two being together!"

"That’s absolutely not happening." He was never going to let Ivy Sherwood go.

"Aren’t you afraid I’ll beat you up every time I see you?"

"Even if you beat me up every time you see me, I won’t leave her. After I’ve investigated this matter, I’ll come to the Mercer Family estate personally and let you punch me again."

Xavier Mercer: "..."

’I haven’t interacted with Quentin Blackwood much, but why does he seem so damn irritating? He’s just asking for a beating!’

...

Today was the first day of the new year. Moira Kensington was full of enthusiasm and wanted to take Ivy Sherwood on a tour of the entire city.

Xavier Mercer, of course, tagged along. Ivy Sherwood got to witness the dynamic between her brother and her future sister-in-law. Moira Kensington loved to eat and would buy all sorts of things, but being so petite, she could never finish them all. In the end, she would just shove them into Xavier Mercer’s hands.

Xavier Mercer would complain that he wasn’t a garbage can, but in reality, he would eat everything Moira Kensington handed him.

It was clearly a sign of doting affection, something that only the people involved seemed unable to see.

’This must be what childhood sweethearts look like at their best!’

"Ivy, you have some too! This is delicious." Moira Kensington also shared lots of tasty food with Ivy Sherwood and took her to get many pictures taken, with Xavier Mercer acting as the photographer.

When she got the photos, Moira Kensington said, "This is so unfair! You made your sister look so beautiful, but you made me look like this."

Xavier Mercer said, "My sister is naturally beautiful. You just look like that."

Moira Kensington protested indignantly, "I knew it! You think I’m ugly. But this is how I look, there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s not like I can go get plastic surgery."

Despite her complaints, Moira Kensington still saved all the photos. Holding her phone, she tugged on Xavier Mercer. "Crouch down a little. You’re so tall I can’t even get you in the frame."

Xavier Mercer obediently complied, crouching down to take a picture with Moira Kensington.

"Smile," Moira Kensington said, pinching his cheek. Xavier Mercer offered a fake smile.

Watching them, Ivy Sherwood thought, ’How can my brother still say he doesn’t like Moira Kensington? He’s just not good at expressing himself.’

Just then, someone suddenly appeared beside her. A man’s hand touched the corner of Ivy Sherwood’s mouth. "Smile."

A startled Ivy Sherwood turned her head, not expecting the man’s face to be right there. Her lips brushed against his cheek.

Quentin Blackwood already had his camera open, and the moment was captured perfectly.

"What are you doing here? Give me your phone, delete that picture!" Ivy Sherwood hadn’t expected Quentin Blackwood to show up.

She subconsciously tried to block Quentin Blackwood from view. ’If my brother sees him, his face, which hasn’t even fully healed, will probably get beaten to a pulp again.’

"I’m heading back to the country in a bit to take care of some things. Before I left, I wanted to see you one last time," Quentin Blackwood explained.

He was supposed to have gone back last night, but he just had to see her.

Ever since Ivy Sherwood had gone home, every day had felt like a year to him.

"After I’ve handled everything, I’ll come find you. In the meantime, you need to eat well, dress warmly, and take care of yourself. And don’t meet up with that foreigner."

After speaking, Quentin Blackwood’s hand brushed against Ivy Sherwood’s cheek. Then, when she wasn’t expecting it, he suddenly kissed her.

"You..."

’Quentin Blackwood actually ambushed her with a kiss.’

Before Ivy Sherwood even had a chance to get angry, Quentin Blackwood pulled her into another hug, his voice full of reluctance. "I’m leaving now."

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