Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

"I’m not going anywhere. Nina Scott, you’re so fierce. How’s that going to work when you get married?"

"But as it happens, Young Master Walker has taken a fancy to you. He thinks you’re perfectly capable of being a good stepmother to his son. And right now, Mom is already looking at wedding dates for you."

"What?" Nina hadn’t expected Mrs. Scott to be in such a hurry.

’Didn’t I make myself clear enough last time?’

"I’m just being kind by telling you this. Should I go ahead and congratulate you on your wedding?"

Nina thought Yara looked utterly punchable. Seeing that smug smile, she desperately wanted to walk over and slap her across the face.

’The Scotts have gone too far. I’m the one getting married, and I don’t even know?’

’If I’m really getting married, am I going to be the last one to find out?’

"Yara Scott, is there something wrong with you people? You and that woman truly are mother and daughter—both of you are sick in the head."

Yara held up her phone and said, "Nina Scott, how can you say that about Mom? It wasn’t easy for her to raise you. We should respect and honor her. It’s one thing for you to be disobedient, but Mom only wants you to get married for your own good. Isn’t helping you find a good family her way of ensuring you have a better life?"

"Cut the fake act. I can’t stand the sight of you. And don’t you dare mention her in front of me. The biggest mistake of my life was being born with the Scotts’ blood in my veins. Is she fit to be a mother? Does she even deserve for me to call her Mom?"

Nina knew she and Mrs. Scott were never destined to get along. Perhaps it was because they were blood-related that their personalities were just too similar—both had explosive tempers and would start fighting over the slightest disagreement.

She couldn’t put on an act like Yara, who played the role of the sweet, obedient daughter. That was why she and Mrs. Scott always ended up butting heads.

"Nina, how can you say that? She’s our mother. Why must you be so immature and always make her angry?"

Nina sneered. "Right, you’re the mature one. You’re the filial one. Why don’t you go put her on a pedestal and worship her, then?"

Nina couldn’t stand to look at her for another second. She grabbed a broom and used it to shoo Yara out. "Get the hell out!"

Yara left. After parting ways with her friend, she clutched her phone.

Only then did she tap her phone to open the recording, listening to the words Nina had just spat at her.

When Yara returned to the Scott family home, her eyes were red and puffy.

Seeing this, Mrs. Scott rushed over. "Yara, what’s wrong? Who bullied you?"

Yara shook her head. "No one, Mom."

"Don’t I know you? You’ve been wronged, haven’t you? Tell me what happened. You’re just too kind, always keeping everything bottled up inside."

Yara said, "I went shopping with a friend today, and we were planning to buy some clothes. I remembered that Nina runs a clothing store, so I thought I’d bring my friend over to support her business. It hasn’t been easy for her, fending for herself all these years. She never accepts the money you and Dad try to give her, so I figured I could buy a few extra things and treat it as giving her some spending money."

"But I never expected Nina to actually kick me out. She even insulted me! I could handle her insulting me, but then she started insulting you."

"I only recorded it because I was afraid we’d get into a fight and I wouldn’t be able to explain what happened. But for her to say things like that about you, Mom... I just couldn’t stand it."

With that, Yara played the recording, and Nina’s harsh words spilled out from the phone’s speaker.

Mrs. Scott’s expression turned utterly foul as she listened.

"That ungrateful girl!"

Yara quickly said, "Mom, don’t be angry. Nina is just being immature. She doesn’t understand your good intentions."

"I’ve been by your side longer, so I know you’re always thinking about her. You’re worried she’ll be mistreated out there, worried she won’t have a good life. That’s why you want her to get married, and why you picked such a good family for her. You just want her to be happy in the future."

"I’m just so angry that Nina would say such things about you. I feel it’s so unfair to you!"

This only made Mrs. Scott even angrier. She felt all her painstaking efforts had been for nothing. ’Nina just doesn’t understand!’

"You’re still the best, my dear Yara. If only that ungrateful girl were half as sensible as you."

Mrs. Scott took her arm and patted it gently. Yara smiled. "It’s alright, Mom. My brother and I will take good care of you. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen him in ages. I wonder if he’s been eating properly, being so busy. Housekeeper Archer made lunch; I should take some over to him."

"Yes, yes, your brother has been working very hard." Mrs. Scott completely failed to notice the brilliant smile that spread across Yara’s face at the mention of Seth Scott.

...

Nina was about to lose her mind. Marriage, marriage... ’Marriage, my ass!’

’Why, when I’m living a perfectly good life, should I have to go and wait on some man, and even take care of his kid?’

’Do I have a death wish or something?’

She was so free and independent right now. She felt her life was better than anyone’s.

But she knew Mrs. Scott wouldn’t give up so easily. That woman was impulsive, and for someone her age, she sure loved to meddle.

To stop Mrs. Scott from doing something drastic, Nina decided she had to quickly pick someone herself for a contract marriage.

When Ivy Sherwood heard this news, she was in the middle of a meal with Miles Mercer.

She was stunned. "You’re getting married?"

"To who?"

"When?"

Miles Mercer, who was with her, looked up at Ivy.

Ivy fired off the three questions, and Nina replied over the phone, "It’s not what you think."

"What I mean is, I’m going to set a deadline first. For example, I’ll register the marriage in ten days. Then, over the next ten days, I’ll go on a blind dating spree. I have to get married within ten days!"

"That’s incredibly rushed! What on earth happened?"

"If I don’t hurry, my mom is going to force me into an arranged marriage. Last time, she faked an illness to trick me into a blind date at the hospital. The guy was a divorcé with a kid! Today, I ran into Yara, and she told me Mom is already looking at wedding dates."

"How can she do that?" Even Ivy found it absurd.

Nina said, "Anyway, recommend any decent guys you know. The only requirement is that it’s just for marriage, no feelings involved. Gotta go, I’ve already found a matchmaker. She’s arranged ten blind dates for me tomorrow. I’ll be swamped."

Ivy: "..."

For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

’A family was supposed to be a source of happiness. They were adults now, not children. They had their own judgment. Parents should offer support, not create more problems for them.’

’She was glad she had made it through all that, but now Nina was starting to face her own troubles.’

After she hung up, Miles Mercer asked, "Your friend is getting married?"

Ivy shook her head, then suddenly looked up at Miles Mercer. "Miles, do you want to get married?"

’If Third Brother was willing,’ she thought, ’maybe he and Nina could be a match.’

’There are so many cases of ’marry first, love later’ these days!’

Miles Mercer immediately shook his head. "No!"

’The very thought of sharing his life with a woman,’ Miles thought, ’was terrifying.’

’Besides, whenever marriage came up, the first image that popped into his head was a life with that loud, boisterous woman. Nina Scott was so aggressive; living with her would be impossible!’