Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

When Ivy Sherwood woke up the next day, her head felt completely numb.

She sat up, and a dull ache immediately throbbed in her head. She regretted drinking so much the night before.

Once her head cleared a little, she took a look at her surroundings.

Ah!

’This place... it’s strange but familiar. Wasn’t a driver supposed to take me home last night?’

’Why... Why am I at Quentin Blackwood’s place?’

’This feels so familiar... Isn’t this just like what happened last time?’

’Last time, I was being harassed at a restaurant, and the next thing I knew, I woke up here, at Quentin Blackwood’s.’

’I remember running into a couple of thugs at the bar last night, too... and now I wake up, and I’m at Quentin Blackwood’s place again.’

’Did I get stuck in a time loop or something?’

’I really can’t remember how I got here. Did I drink so much that I got in the car and gave the address for Norhaven?’

Ivy Sherwood started to get out of bed, but as she looked down, she noticed she was still wearing her school uniform with its short skirt.

Her eyes widened in shock, and she immediately covered her face with her hands.

’I took off my makeup before I went out last night... which means this is my real face!’

Ivy Sherwood rushed into the bathroom. Seeing her reflection in the mirror, her face filled with frustration.

’Don’t ask. The answer is despair.’

’So... did Quentin Blackwood see me like this?’

’He must have. There’s no way I could be at Norhaven without the master of the house knowing.’

’But what do I do now? Does Quentin know that I’m Ivy Sherwood?’

’Has the secret I’ve kept for so long really been exposed just like that?’

Ivy Sherwood had no idea how she was going to face anyone. The last time she’d accidentally wiped off her makeup in the middle of the night, she could at least use the darkness to hide. But now, in broad daylight, anyone with eyes could see her.

Just then, a maid’s voice called from outside, ”Miss? Miss?”

Ivy Sherwood came out of the bathroom. ”I’m here.”

The maid seemed to sigh in relief upon seeing Ivy Sherwood.

She was carrying a tray with a bowl on it. ”Miss, you’re awake. Please, drink this hangover soup.”

Quentin Blackwood had ordered the kitchen to prepare it, but he had forbidden the maid from telling Ivy Sherwood it was his idea.

”Hangover soup?”

”I saw that you’d had quite a bit to drink, so I asked the kitchen to make some. Otherwise, the hangover would be terrible.”

”Wait a minute, how did I get here?” This was the question Ivy Sherwood most wanted answered.

”The master brought you back,” the maid said.

”The master? You mean Quentin Blackwood?”

The maid nodded.

Ivy’s mind went blank. So her secret was out. The only question was, how did she run into Quentin Blackwood last night?

”Where is he?” Ivy asked.

”In the gym.”

Ivy was speechless.

’See? The scenario is playing out exactly like last time.’

First, Ivy Sherwood called Nina Scott to ask where she was. Nina said she was at home.

”Nina, do you remember how you got home last night?”

”Of course. Didn’t the driver take us home?”

”Did you see me when you left?” Ivy asked.

Nina hadn’t drunk as much as Ivy. ”You went to the restroom last night and just vanished,” she said. ”I was looking all over for you. The bartender eventually said he thought you’d already left. Then a driver showed up and took me home. Why? You didn’t make it home last night? Did something happen?”

”No... I just blacked out. I don’t remember anything.”

Ivy Sherwood didn’t tell Nina Scott she was at Quentin Blackwood’s house. She couldn’t explain it, mainly because she didn’t understand what had happened herself. If Nina started asking detailed questions, she wouldn’t have any answers.

”Well, I’m glad you’re okay. My head is still killing me, and I don’t have anyone to make me hangover soup,” Nina sighed.

Ivy Sherwood looked down at the bowl of hangover soup in front of her. ”As long as you got home safely. I’ve got to go.”

After hanging up, Ivy drank the soup. It was, after all, most likely from Quentin Blackwood.

The mention of the driver reminded her. She picked up her phone and checked her call log. There was only one call from the previous night—an incoming one from the driver.

’That’s strange. I thought I was the one who called the driver last night, not the other way around.’

’I can’t remember...’

With no change of clothes, Ivy had to stay in her school uniform. She put her hair up again, but this time, instead of a high ponytail, she casually twisted it into a bun.

This time, Ivy didn’t go looking for the gym. Instead, she waited for Quentin Blackwood in the main hall.

Before long, Quentin Blackwood emerged—freshly showered and impeccably dressed after his workout—and walked toward her.

For a moment, she had no idea how to begin to explain.

Panic was written all over her face, and she nervously clenched her fists.

”I...”

”Are all university students so forward these days?”

Ivy Sherwood and Quentin Blackwood spoke at the exact same time. Hearing his words, she froze for a second.

’What did he mean by that? He sounded like he didn’t recognize me. Could it be... he doesn’t know I’m Ivy Sherwood!’

”What?”

Quentin Blackwood enjoyed the play of emotions on her face—the initial panic, now replaced by stunned surprise. He took it all in.

Ivy was still in yesterday’s clothes, her small, delicate face completely bare of makeup. This was the second time she had stood before him as her true self.

Yesterday’s ponytail was now twisted into a casual bun, giving her a look of disheveled beauty.

Quentin Blackwood said deliberately, ”Clinging to a complete stranger on the street and insisting on going home with him.”

’I have no idea if he’s telling the truth or not. Did I really grab onto him first?’

’But why would Quentin Blackwood have been near Lustre U in the first place?’

Still, this brought Ivy a wave of relief. Luckily, it seemed Quentin Blackwood didn’t know her secret.

”I was drunk last night,” Ivy said. ”Besides, we’re not complete strangers, Mr. Blackwood. We met at the Scott Family’s banquet.”

Quentin’s expression remained perfectly calm. ”Oh? So this was all part of your plan?”

”I didn’t expect to run into you either, Mr. Blackwood. I don’t really remember what happened last night.”

”Thank you for taking me in, Mr. Blackwood. I’ll be sure to repay your immense kindness someday. I have to run, so I’ll be going now.”

Ivy’s only thought was to escape. The more she said, the more likely she was to slip up.

”Wait.”

She had just turned to leave when Quentin’s voice stopped her.

”You’re a student at Lustre U?”

Ivy nodded. ”I am.”

’I am a student at Lustre U. He could investigate all he wants later; it’s not like he’d find anything. I never showed my real face on campus, so even if he did some digging, he wouldn’t be able to connect this to me.’

”What’s your name?”

Ivy hesitated for a moment, then a name slipped out: ”Wendy Summers.”

”Wendy Summers?” A barely perceptible smile touched the corners of Quentin’s lips.

’This Ivy Sherwood... she’s really something else. Coming up with a fake name on the spot?’

Ivy nodded. ”Yes. ’Summers,’ for the end of summer.”

’She had her reasons for the name. Her mother’s name, her birthday... it all fit together in a way only she would understand.’

Seeing that Quentin didn’t press the issue, Ivy said, ”Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way.”

However, Quentin spoke at this moment. ”After that brief glimpse of you at the banquet, my nephew hasn’t been able to get you off his mind. I hear he’s turned all of Lustre upside down looking for you. Quite the infatuation, wouldn’t you say?”

The mention of Silas Blackwood gave Ivy a sinking feeling.

And sure enough, his next words sent a chill down her spine.

Quentin said...