Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

"Where were you going to find me?" The man’s voice was impossibly hoarse.

"To Norhaven, of course. I didn’t expect you to be here too. I guess great minds think alike." Ivy Sherwood hooked her arm tightly around his. Quentin Blackwood smelled wonderful, and she breathed in his scent.

"From now on, let me be the one to find you. Whenever you want to see me, I’ll be by your side."

"Really? That’s easy to say, but hard to do."

"I, Quentin Blackwood, never go back on my word. Especially not with you."

"Then you’d better say it a couple more times. I’m going to record it so you can’t deny it later."

"I’ll say it as many times as you want."

It was a short time together, but it truly felt like absence made the heart grow fonder. They had only walked a couple of laps downstairs, but two hours had passed without them noticing.

It was time for Ivy Sherwood to go back, but Quentin Blackwood held her, not wanting to let her go.

"Stay with me a little longer." The man’s lips brushed against the shell of her ear.

"It’s too late. It wouldn’t be good if Grandpa found out."

"Then take me to meet your grandpa. I’ll work hard to make him accept me."

Ivy Sherwood thought for a moment. "That might be difficult. I don’t think Grandpa’s heart is very strong."

’What if he sees Quentin Blackwood, gets agitated, and his heart starts pounding?’

"I feel like some kind of secret mistress." It was the first time Quentin Blackwood had ever described himself that way.

Their relationship was perfectly legitimate, yet he had to meet with Ivy Sherwood in secret.

Ivy Sherwood said, "You promised you’d listen to me."

"Then you need to give me some official status."

"Speaking of which, you haven’t even passed your probationary period yet!"

Quentin Blackwood had been ignoring the whole probationary period thing. He’d always felt like he’d already made it official.

"People get promoted early based on their performance. My performance has been pretty good, hasn’t it?"

"Your performance has been just... average." Ivy Sherwood’s cheeks flushed slightly as she looked away.

The two of them were in the car, where the space was already tight.

Now, pressed close together, even the air seemed to burn.

"What was average about it? Tell me, what part is my Ivy dissatisfied with?" Quentin Blackwood’s hand was on Ivy Sherwood’s waist, and he gave her a light tickle.

Ivy Sherwood flinched away. "That’s bribing your superior. Points deducted!"

"Bribe or not, as long as it works." With that, Quentin Blackwood’s lips came down on hers.

He kissed Ivy Sherwood, his hand resting on her lower abdomen. She was over four months along, and her belly had a slight, rounded curve.

The two were lost in their embrace for a while before Ivy Sherwood, feeling she had been out long enough, finally said, "I really have to go back now."

"Okay."

"You should hurry back too."

"I’ll leave after you go inside," Quentin Blackwood said.

They got out of the car. Quentin Blackwood just watched Ivy Sherwood. She had already walked through the gate, but when she turned back, she saw he was still there.

The lighting in the residential complex wasn’t very bright. Quentin Blackwood’s figure was half-swallowed by the shadow of a large tree. The play of light and shadow elongated his form, obscuring his expression and making him look surprisingly pitiful.

Ivy Sherwood had found her family now, but Quentin Blackwood was still all alone.

She now had loving brothers, a grandfather, and an aunt and uncle. But Quentin? He was utterly solitary.

In that instant, a dense ache spread through her heart, and it filled with his sorrow.

Ivy Sherwood paused. Quentin Blackwood waved at her, as if signaling for her to hurry inside.

Ivy Sherwood walked forward. After she entered the lobby, she lost sight of Quentin Blackwood completely.

Her nose suddenly tingled, and a wave of sadness washed over her.

Ivy Sherwood got in the elevator, went upstairs, and opened her door, only to find her grandfather still in the living room. Their eyes met the moment she walked in.

"Grandpa," Ivy Sherwood called out.

Her grandfather said, "When did you go out? It’s so late."

"Just now," Ivy Sherwood said. "I felt a little indigestion after dinner, so I went for a stroll."

"You didn’t eat much tonight," her grandfather noted.

But he didn’t say anything more, simply turning back to his TV show with great interest.

Ivy Sherwood went back to her room but couldn’t fall asleep.

Her mind was filled with the image of Quentin Blackwood as she was leaving.

Quentin Blackwood hadn’t actually demanded anything of her, hadn’t asked her to stay with him longer, but for some reason, an inexplicable ache lingered in her heart.

’Maybe I’m all he has in his world. But just then, it felt as if even I had abandoned him.’

Ivy Sherwood tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Then, as if she had made a firm decision, she shot upright.

She put on a jacket, opened her bedroom door, and saw her grandfather was still sitting there.

Ivy Sherwood said, "Grandpa, I have to go out for something. I might not be coming back for a bit."

...

Quentin Blackwood was still downstairs. He lit another cigarette. He’d been seeing Ivy Sherwood less these past few days, and his smoking had increased again.

They had just parted ways not even an hour ago, yet he already missed her.

’At this hour, Ivy must be asleep already, or maybe she’s chatting with her grandfather.’

’He was happy that she had found her family, that so many people loved her now.’

’He wouldn’t be able to sleep if he went back anyway. It would probably be another sleepless night, so he might as well stay here a while longer.’

’At least here, he was a little closer to Ivy Sherwood.’

The ground was already littered with cigarette butts. Quentin Blackwood had smoked several but still showed no intention of leaving.

It was already late, almost one in the morning. Not many people were coming out anymore, just the occasional latecomer heading inside.

Another cigarette butt fell to the ground. Quentin Blackwood was debating whether to light another when he heard a voice. "You said you’d go back after I went inside. You didn’t keep your word. Points deducted!"

Quentin Blackwood looked up and saw Ivy Sherwood standing there in her jacket.

Stunned, Quentin Blackwood thought he was hallucinating, but then he saw Ivy Sherwood walking toward him.

Ivy Sherwood waved a hand in front of his eyes. "What are you staring at? Don’t you recognize me?"

Quentin Blackwood’s Adam’s apple bobbed. "Didn’t you... go back to sleep?"

"Can’t I come back out? If I hadn’t, how long were you planning to stand here?"

Ivy Sherwood smiled. "Look at this weather. Aren’t you cold wearing so little? Or are you planning to stand here and seduce other young women?"

"No... There are no other young women." Quentin Blackwood’s throat felt tight.

"I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t let it happen again. Next time we say goodbye, you have to go home. Otherwise, I won’t come looking for you."

Quentin Blackwood asked tentatively, "So, did you come out to bring me a coat?"

"Can’t you guess a little bolder? I told my grandpa I had something to do and wouldn’t be back tonight. Which means... I don’t have a place to stay tonight."

"So, Mr. Blackwood, would you like to go back to Norhaven, or would you rather get a room?"