Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

Quentin Blackwood knew that nothing he said would help at the moment, so he chose to remain silent.

Ivy Sherwood called out, "Grandpa!"

She knew her grandfather meant well, but she also trusted her own judgment.

"Hmph!" Old Master Mercer snorted. "We’re having dinner. If you haven’t eaten, you might as well join us."

Ivy Sherwood was stunned. ’Her grandfather is actually inviting Quentin to eat with us?’

Knowing her grandfather, she was sure there was a catch.

Ivy Sherwood whispered in Quentin Blackwood’s ear, "My grandfather can be childish. This dinner invitation isn’t as simple as it looks. Besides, Elijah Hawthorne is in there. Maybe we should do this another time?"

"It’s fine."

He was just happy that her grandfather had invited him to dinner at all. He would endure whatever Old Master Mercer had in store for him.

Seeing the two of them whispering intimately, Old Master Mercer spoke up, annoyed. "What are you two muttering about? You’re not willing?"

"Not at all. We’d love to," Quentin Blackwood answered immediately, afraid her grandfather would change his mind.

Elijah Hawthorne was inside, and Quentin Blackwood spotted him the moment he entered.

Quentin Blackwood started to walk toward the seat next to Ivy Sherwood, but Old Master Mercer stopped him. "Where do you think you’re going? You sit here!"

Her grandfather had picked a seat for Quentin that was the furthest from Ivy, with other people between them.

Ivy Sherwood: "..."

Her grandfather was cold and indifferent toward Quentin, acting as if he didn’t even want to look at him. In contrast, he was exceptionally kind to Elijah Hawthorne.

"Elijah, try some of this."

"Thank you, Grandpa," Elijah Hawthorne replied with a smirk, shooting a provocative glance at Quentin.

Elijah Hawthorne and Quentin Blackwood had never actually shared a meal before; this was a first. They were mortal enemies, after all. It was a miracle they didn’t come to blows on sight.

Elijah Hawthorne picked up his chopsticks as well. "You should have some too, Grandpa. This is delicious."

"Elijah is such a good kid, so considerate," her grandfather praised.

Elijah Hawthorne chimed in, "That’s right. When looking for a husband, you should find someone like me. Definitely don’t pick someone who always has a dark look on his face. That would make for a miserable life."

The jab was clearly aimed at Quentin, who didn’t dare say a single word in front of the old man.

Old Master Mercer raised his teacup. "Elijah and I hit it off right away. Come on, let’s have a toast."

Ivy Sherwood pressed her fingers to her forehead and secretly texted Quentin: "My grandfather is doing this on purpose. He’s still angry with you."

When Quentin saw it, he quickly typed back, "I know."

He didn’t care how her grandfather treated him. As long as he had Ivy, that was all that mattered.

Throughout the meal, her grandfather completely ignored Quentin, who barely ate two bites. The old man spent the entire time talking to Elijah Hawthorne, making it clear how pleased he was with him.

Elijah Hawthorne played along perfectly. Opportunities to mock Quentin and leave him speechless were rare, and he was determined to infuriate him.

After dinner, her grandfather added, "Elijah, you should come over for dinner more often."

"Of course, Grandpa. I’ll definitely come by often," Elijah replied, emphasizing the word "often."

Quentin Blackwood: "..."

Before the dinner party officially ended, both Elijah Hawthorne and Miles Mercer went to pay the bill, only to be told it had already been taken care of.

Quentin Blackwood hadn’t said a word, but he had quietly taken care of everything.

’Maybe this Quentin guy isn’t so bad after all,’ Miles Mercer thought, having heard about what was going on between Ivy and Quentin.

After dinner, Ivy Sherwood and Quentin Blackwood lagged behind the group.

"I’m so sorry. My grandfather is still fuming."

Quentin took the opportunity to give her palm a gentle squeeze. "Your grandfather didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t need to apologize. I’m not angry, either. One day, he’ll like me just as much."

Ivy truly admired Quentin’s confidence. He was so capable; she believed that one day, her grandfather would come to like him very much, too.

They had only exchanged a few more sentences before they reached the restaurant’s entrance. Her grandfather pulled Ivy away, insisting she come home. Ivy waved at Quentin, and they parted ways.

In the car, Ivy explained everything about her and Quentin. "Grandpa, I believe in him. He’s not that kind of person. I love him, so I want to give him another chance. It’s a chance for me, too. I don’t know what the future holds, but if his feelings for me are genuine, then he’s the one I’ll choose. Please don’t worry, Grandpa. If I sense anything is wrong, I promise I’ll get out immediately. I’ll leave without a second thought."

Old Master Mercer’s eyes reddened. He wiped away a tear but said nothing.

Seeing her grandfather like this made Ivy’s heart ache.

"Grandpa... can’t you just trust him this one time? Please?"

Old Master Mercer said, "Ivy, I... I don’t want to hurt you while claiming it’s for your own good. It’s just... when I see you like this, all I can think of is Winter."

"I still don’t even know who it was that hurt Winter. He let her come back home pregnant and all alone, only for her to leave again, still pregnant and alone. She was gone for so many years with no word... and in the end, she even lost her life."

"I... I just don’t want you to follow in your mother’s footsteps. All I want is for you to be safe and happy."

Her grandfather’s words made Ivy’s eyes well up. She hugged him tightly. "I know. I’ve always known."

Her mother’s story was clearly a wound that had never healed for her grandfather.

Now, something similar was happening to her. But Ivy felt that she was different from her mother. She believed that she and Quentin would definitely stay together forever.

Her grandfather still couldn’t bring himself to accept Quentin. To him, it was like being asked to accept the man who had hurt Winter—something he simply could not do.

Ivy didn’t press her grandfather. She just wanted him to know that she and Quentin were serious.

She wanted to give it one last try. If this all turned out to be a lie, then there would be absolutely no future for her and Quentin.

...

Jason Summers had been busy lately, so it was several days before he heard the news that Old Master Mercer had left Elandra.

And when he looked into it, he found the old man had gone to Lustre, of all places.

The old man had visited Lustre before the New Year, supposedly for a vacation. But for him to go back again so soon... it didn’t seem like a simple holiday trip.

Jason Summers hadn’t heard any recent news about the Mercer Family searching for Winter Mercer’s child, and Xavier Mercer was still in Elandra handling business. The whole thing seemed suspicious.

’Could it be... the Mercers have already found Winter’s child?’

If the child was in Lustre, one face immediately flashed through Jason Summers’s mind. She wasn’t exceptionally beautiful, but her eyes were strikingly similar to Winter Mercer’s. It was Ivy Sherwood.

’Could Ivy Sherwood really be Winter’s child?’

A strange feeling stirred in Jason Summers’s heart. In truth, just the thought of Winter Mercer’s face made his heart race. She had been truly beautiful.

He had been in love with Winter for so many years, but she had never once looked his way, choosing that other man instead.

A glint flashed in his eyes. ’No, I have to go to Lustre!’