Chapter 492: Broke Boyfriend
"Grandpa, it’s getting so late. Shouldn’t you be heading to bed?"
Her grandfather said, "This show is really good. I want to watch a little longer."
Ivy pulled out her tablet. "Actually, it’d be more comfortable to watch on the tablet while lying in bed. The weather isn’t too hot right now, and it’s a bit chilly sitting on the sofa at night."
"Or there’s a projector in your room. We could watch on that?"
Grandpa said with a wide smile, "No need to go to all that trouble. This episode is almost over."
Ivy went back to watching TV with her grandfather and sent Quentin Blackwood a text: "Grandpa might be going to rest soon... but no guarantees!"
When the episode ended, her grandfather finally stirred, and Ivy stood up as well.
Seeing her grandfather go into his room, Ivy prepared to head outside. However, just as she reached the front door, he came back out.
"Ivy, where are you going?"
"Huh? Grandpa, I thought you were going to bed?"
"Says who? I was just putting something away. Are you going out?"
"I... I do have a friend waiting for me."
"A friend? A guy or a girl? Coming to see you this late at night? Why don’t you have them come in?"
"No, no, it’s too late for that. Grandpa, you should get some sleep. I’m going to bed too."
With that, Ivy went into her room.
Ivy had sounded out her grandfather before. He didn’t like Quentin Blackwood.
In fact, every time she even mentioned Quentin Blackwood’s name, her grandfather would get angry and tell her not to bring him up at all.
"Alright. Get some rest."
"Goodnight, Grandpa." With that, Ivy slipped back into her room.
’Even though we couldn’t meet, we can still talk on the phone for a bit.’
’I never realized Quentin and I were this lovey-dovey.’
It was already late, so Quentin didn’t keep Ivy on the phone for long. He urged her to go to sleep, then listened until he could hear her steady breathing.
Quentin Blackwood tilted his head back, his eyes on the now-darkened window, and lit a cigarette.
...
The next day, her grandfather started pestering Ivy to invite Nina Scott over.
Nina, of course, refused. "Is that really a good idea?"
Before Ivy could say anything, her grandfather cut in, "What’s not good about it? There are no strangers here."
"There’s nothing bad about it. I’ll have Miles come pick you up."
Old Master Mercer had told Miles to pick Nina up that evening and bring her over for dinner.
Miles really wanted to explain that Nina wasn’t his girlfriend, but his grandfather simply wouldn’t listen. The old man even said, "If you don’t bring Nina with you, don’t even think about coming home!"
His grandfather wasn’t nearly as worried about Xavier or Connor. It was Miles. The old man knew he didn’t like women—that he subconsciously kept his distance from them, almost like a defense mechanism. That’s what worried him the most.
That was why he was always nagging Miles to find a girlfriend. Miles had never been close to any woman growing up, and now that a Nina had finally appeared, of course he had to try and set them up.
When Miles arrived at the entrance to Nina Scott’s studio, he saw another luxury car parked there.
Cameron Walker was there. When an employee told Nina that someone was looking for her, she thought it was Miles, and her heart skipped a beat. But it turned out to be Cameron Walker.
Cameron Walker was holding a bouquet of roses—an enormous one, at that. The other people in the studio looked on with envious expressions.
He offered the flowers to Nina, but she didn’t take them.
"Mr. Walker, what are you doing here?" Nina really disliked unannounced visitors. She barely knew Cameron Walker, yet here he was at her company.
Cameron Walker said, "Miss Scott, would you like to have dinner together?"
"I’m sorry, I have plans tonight," Nina refused.
’Even though she hadn’t planned on going to the Mercer’s for dinner, she certainly had no intention of eating with Cameron Walker either.’
"Mr. Walker, I thought I made myself perfectly clear last time."
Cameron Walker said, "But that’s not what your family says. Your mother has already picked out a date for us. I think there’s a good one next month."
"If my mom picked it, then my mom can marry you," Nina shot back, never one to mince words.
Cameron Walker’s expression turned ugly, but he quickly composed himself. "I actually quite like your personality. It’s not that you don’t have feelings for me; you’re just resistant because of your mother. Why don’t you give me a chance and get to know me? I’m actually a very witty and humorous guy."
Nina said, "Sorry, I don’t like people who *think* they’re witty and humorous."
"Are you worried about the fact that I have a child? Don’t be. After we’re married, we can have our own. I’m sure you’ll love a child of your own."
"Stop right there. I have never wanted to have a baby for any man. I don’t like you. Don’t come looking for me again. Go talk to whoever has been contacting you!"
Nina tried to leave, but Cameron Walker blocked her path. He still hadn’t managed to give her the roses, and he was clearly losing face.
"Nina Scott."
"What do you think you’re doing?" Nina asked, watching him warily.
"The fact that I’ve come to see you, that I’ve even taken an interest in you, is an honor for you. Let’s be honest, your family wants to marry you off to me because of my status, right? They just want me to help your brother. Finding someone like me is you marrying up. And that poor-as-dirt boyfriend of yours? What can he possibly give you?"
"’Poor-as-dirt? Boyfriend?’"
A voice suddenly came from behind them. Nina looked over and saw Miles Mercer walking in.
Miles was tall, and standing before Cameron Walker, the two men projected completely different auras.
He looked down at Cameron Walker, his eyes filled with disgust.
"You... what are you doing here?"
Nina felt a major headache coming on.
"Grandpa told me to pick you up for dinner at home." Miles’s tone was cold, and he sounded displeased.
Before Nina could say anything, Cameron Walker sneered, "Dinner at home? Can’t you even afford to take her out for a meal? You’d be better off with me. I can order anything you want."
Nina: "..."
’Cameron Walker was so smug, she was half-afraid Miles would get annoyed and just bury the man in money.’
’The Walker Family might have some money, but compared to the Mercers, they were nothing.’
"Having a bit of money makes you that special?" Miles asked coldly.
His family had never lacked for money, but he had never once felt it made him superior to anyone else.
Nina jumped in. "What I eat is none of your business. I like eating with him. I’d rather eat scraps with him than dine with someone like you, no matter how rich you are. Let’s go!"
Nina linked her arm through Miles’s, her movement perfectly natural.
The moment Nina leaned against him, Miles didn’t pull away.
Though he hated being touched by women, he still took her hand in his.
"You..." Cameron Walker’s expression grew even fouler. He started to follow them but was stopped cold by a single glance from Miles.
’How can Nina’s poor-as-dirt boyfriend have such a powerful presence?’
Cameron could only watch helplessly as they left. But the more they acted this way, the more it twisted him up inside. He had to marry Nina. He absolutely could not stand to see the two of them acting so smug.
Cameron Walker picked up his phone and called Mrs. Scott. "Aunt Scott, I’m all set on my end. You just go ahead and set the engagement date."
"As for the project Seth is handling, I’ll have my people take care of it, so you don’t have to worry. I’ll prepare the betrothal gift in the next few days. Let’s get our business settled as soon as possible."