Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Inside the private hospital room.

Nina Halloway stood guard by Jaden’s bedside. Her face was expressionless as she stared at the sleeping Jaden. Thinking of his cheating inevitably made her think of Quentin Blackwood’s affair and his illegitimate daughter. Only one conclusion formed in her mind.

’No man is any good.’

In her eyes, Quentin Blackwood had always been the image of a good father and a good husband. If even he could cheat, have an illegitimate daughter, and drop such a bombshell, were there any good men left in the world?

She suddenly felt a little afraid of marriage, especially when she recalled the image of Mandy Halloway tied to the bed with ropes. Her mother had been held captive simply for bringing up divorce...

She found it terrifying. Fortunately, she was financially independent and didn’t need to rely on any man to provide herself with a good life. Thinking about it that way, she felt she didn’t need the shackles of marriage. A marriage certificate was just a piece of paper.

"Are you okay?"

Ethan Austin watched her with concern.

Ever since they returned to the hospital, she had been completely out of it, not mentioning what had happened at all. However, in the car, he had overheard her on the phone mentioning "divorce" and talking to her mother.

Her parents’ messy divorce must have been a shock to her, which was why the matter of taking him to meet her family had been postponed for now.

At least, that’s what he told himself.

"I’m fine, but..." Nina Halloway looked up at him, her gaze a little evasive. "About getting our marriage license... I want to reconsider."

"It’s all up to you. I’m fine with whatever you decide."

Seeing Ethan Austin so emotionally stable and completely accommodating, her mind filled with images from over the years—how Quentin Blackwood had doted on her, how much he cared for his family, how much he loved his wife...

’Men are probably all-natural actors, far more professional than her, an actual actress.’

She suspected Ethan was also acting. After all, they hadn’t known each other for long. When she’d said she wanted him to be her boyfriend, he hadn’t objected. When she’d said she wanted to take him to meet her family and get married, he still hadn’t objected. He went along with everything she wanted.

’What’s he after?’

Just as he’d said, he had just graduated, had no money, and no career. He had nothing. Maybe he was after her status, after her money. Otherwise, why wouldn’t a six-year age gap bother him at all?

’Don’t all men like young, beautiful girls?’

If someone came along who was her equal but younger, would Ethan still choose her without hesitation?

’He wouldn’t!’

’He would be like most men with their inherent flaws and choose someone younger, prettier, and with better prospects.’

"Ethan, do you like me?"

Caught off guard by the question, Ethan Austin scratched his head a little shyly. "I do."

"What do you like about me?"

"You’re cute."

"?"

"You’re cute and very straightforward. Completely different from what I originally thought you’d be like."

She liked to cling to him, to burrow into his arms, which made him feel needed.

Nina Halloway fell silent. After a moment of internal struggle, she said flatly, "I remember you had a crush on someone, but she’s already married."

"That’s all in the past."

"Why did you choose me in such a short amount of time?"

"Didn’t you also choose me after a breakup?"

"..."

Ethan’s words left her speechless for a moment.

She suddenly realized that she and Ethan were more like two people who, having been hurt by love, were huddling together for warmth.

’Is this love?’

’Probably not...’

"Meeting my parents and getting our license... let’s just forget about it."

After saying this, she hardened her heart as if she’d made some kind of decision. Without giving Ethan a chance to speak, she pushed him out of the room and told him to wait outside.

He left without a word of complaint, silently watching her from a distance through the glass on the door. He could sense how low her spirits were and tried to understand that the things she said weren’t directed at him, but were because she was affected by her parents’ divorce.

...

「The VIP Ward.」

Sophie Shaw was asleep. Alaric Blackwood and Mrs. Ford kept a quiet vigil by her bedside.

The arrival of Mandy Halloway and Quentin Blackwood shattered the quiet atmosphere in the room. The old lady immediately perked up and asked them, "Did you get your blood drawn?"

"We did."

The old lady clasped her hands together and prayed in a low voice, "The match has to be successful. It has to be..."

’Whoever it is, please save my granddaughter.’

She had already endured the pain of a white-haired person burying a black-haired one once before; she couldn’t bear for the same thing to happen again.

Quentin Blackwood gestured for Alaric Blackwood to step outside to talk.

Alaric Blackwood hesitated for a moment, then got up and followed him out of the room.

The two took the stairs down, walked out of the inpatient building, and found a very secluded corner.

"Your mother brought up divorce."

Alaric Blackwood wasn’t surprised by this at all. "So?"

"She’s being very firm about it."

Quentin Blackwood wanted to ask his son to help him, to persuade Mandy Halloway. They were an old couple who had been together for half their lives, why get a divorce! But the words died on his lips; he couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Because he was the one at fault to begin with.

"Your sister made it clear she’s siding with your mother. What about you?"

Alaric Blackwood lit a cigarette. "Same."

"Wouldn’t it be fairer if we each took one of you?"

"Do you deserve that?"

Quentin Blackwood clenched his jaw. "It’s not like I meant to cheat. I just drank too much..."

"Don’t use being drunk as an excuse. If you were so drunk, how come you slept with your secretary and not your own mother?"

Alaric Blackwood’s words were outrageous, but while they were crude, they weren’t wrong.

Still, his venomous tongue earned him a slap from Quentin Blackwood.

SLAP. A red palm print immediately appeared on his handsome face.

"You bastard! Do you hear the garbage coming out of your mouth?" Quentin Blackwood was seething with rage.

Having been suddenly slapped, Alaric Blackwood let out an angry laugh, pushing his tongue against the inside of his cheek. "You’re the one who screwed up, and you hit me? What did I do to deserve this? I get a half-sister out of nowhere, and the crucial part is, she’s a pervert who wants to sleep with me. Wow!"

He took a harsh drag from his cigarette, his whole worldview being reshaped. "Your illegitimate daughter is just great! And you’re great, too! Taking it out on me! If you weren’t my father, do you think I wouldn’t hit you back?"

"You little brat, who the hell do you take after!"

"Except for the cheating and screwing around, I’m nothing like you. But when it comes to being an ass, who else could I possibly take after?"

Quentin Blackwood’s face turned pale with anger. Not wanting to argue with him further, he returned to the main point. "Since your sister is going with your mother, you’re coming with me."

"I refuse."

"Then get the hell out of the company!"

"Fine by me!"

Alaric Blackwood threw the cigarette in his hand to the ground, crushed it out with the sole of his shoe, shoved his hands in his pants pockets, and strode away.

The father was furious. "You little brat, I’ll give you one more chance. Choose me or your mother."

Alaric Blackwood completely ignored him, walking back into the inpatient building without a backward glance.

He chased after him, his anger giving way to desperation. "You dare defy me? I’ll revoke your inheritance rights."

"Do whatever you want."

"You don’t even want your inheritance?"

"It’s not worth having!"

"Are you sure? The status of the Blackwood Family heir brings you so much respect and convenience. Are you really going to give it up? You really don’t want it?"

"Sorry, but I couldn’t care less."

"Alaric, no matter how angry you are with your father, you shouldn’t gamble away your own career and future."

"I’m not some useless bum without you and that so-called heir status. I’m perfectly capable of starting my own business. Within three years, I guarantee I’ll take over your Blackwood Group!"

Alaric Blackwood delivered his threat and quickened his pace into the elevator.

Quentin Blackwood didn’t follow him in. He stood a few steps away, their eyes meeting.

"Three years? You’ve got some nerve, kid! You’re going to take over your old man’s company, huh? Let’s see you try."

"Just you watch."

"..."

Although he was about to go crazy with anger, Quentin Blackwood now had a glimmer of hope.

His son wanted to start his own business and had even vowed to take over his company.

’Very good!’

’He’s got ambition!’

’I’ll give him the chance!’

He was even willing to see the Blackwood Group end up in Alaric Blackwood’s hands. At least it wouldn’t fall into the hands of an outsider, which was a comfort to him.

He stood outside the elevator, watching the doors close.

Taking the elevator upstairs, Alaric Blackwood didn’t go straight back to Sophie Shaw’s room. Instead, he went to the nurses’ station, asked for an ice pack, and hid in the lounge area outside, sitting on a chair and pressing the ice to his face.