Wrong Flirt, Right Trouble: His Uncle Pulls Me Close

Mrs. Scott had been beaming with joy for the past two days because everything was proceeding smoothly.

Moreover, Nina Scott didn’t seem so resistant anymore. She had even returned to the Scott family home for the past couple of days, appearing far less defiant. Mrs. Scott assumed Nina had finally come to her senses.

It was a rare occasion for the whole family to be gathered at the dinner table. Nina Scott sat at the far end, silently eating her meal.

”It would have been better if you’d come to your senses sooner. The wedding banquet is in a few days, and before that, you have to have dinner with the Walker family. You must attend, do you hear me!” Mrs. Scott commanded.

Nina Scott smiled brightly. ”Of course.”

She agreed so readily that Mrs. Scott, on the other hand, grew a bit suspicious. It felt like there was a catch.

Mrs. Scott asked, ”What are you really up to?”

Nina Scott said, ”You’re hilarious. When I disagreed, you forced me to agree. Now that I’ve agreed, you’re suspicious of me. So what is it you actually want from me?”

’I’m not afraid anymore. I have my certificate.’

”You...” Mrs. Scott was once again rendered speechless with anger.

Yara Scott quickly tried to soothe her. ”Mom, don’t be angry. It’s not good for your health. Don’t stoop to Nina’s level. Here, have some vegetables.”

After serving Mrs. Scott, she then put some food on Mr. Scott’s plate. ”Dad, you have some more, too.”

Finally, she piled a lot of food onto Seth Scott’s plate. ”Brother, you’ve been working so hard lately. I think you’ve even lost some weight. You have to take good care of yourself and watch your health. You’re the pillar of our family now, you know. Mom worries about you every day.”

Nina Scott watched Yara Scott’s hypocritical display and scoffed inwardly.

’Her earlier concern for our parents was just a prelude, all to make serving Seth less conspicuous.’

’Does she really think she can just never get married and wait around for Seth forever?’

’It’s just that Mom doesn’t know what’s in Yara’s head. If she knew Yara had a secret crush on her own son, knowing Mom, she’d marry Yara off without a second thought.’

The moment Nina let a small smile touch her lips, Yara shot a glare her way.

”Brother, you still haven’t found a girlfriend? Isn’t Mom worried?”

Mrs. Scott said, ”Your brother has his own plans. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Nina Scott said, ”I’m just concerned about my brother. I’m his little sister and I’m about to get married, but my big brother doesn’t even have a girlfriend. Doesn’t seem right, does it? Anyway, Bro, you’re definitely going to get married eventually, right? Maybe you’ll end up just like me, forced to marry some random woman for the family’s benefit. And then... someone who has been staring longingly for over a decade might just lose her chance.”

Mrs. Scott frowned. ”Nina Scott, what are you trying to say with all these snide remarks? Do you still want to eat this dinner or not?”

Nina Scott pushed her bowl away. ”I didn’t really want to eat anyway. Right, Yara?”

Yara Scott’s face went deathly pale, as if Nina had just stepped on her tail.

”Nina Scott! I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting! If you came here just to deliberately anger Mom, then the Scott family doesn’t welcome you.”

”It’s not your place to say whether I’m welcome here. What’s wrong? Getting all worked up? Did I hit a nerve and expose that disgusting, twisted mind of yours? You’re in love with—”

”Shut up!” Yara Scott cut Nina off.

Her panic was plain to see. ”Nina Scott, Mom asked you to come back for dinner, not to come here and turn the whole house upside down.”

Nina Scott said, ”You know what I hate most about you? It’s this whole sycophantic act. You pretend to be saying nice things, but really you’re just bad-mouthing me. I used to tolerate it, I tried not to care, but now... I’m done.”

Nina Scott looked at Mrs. Scott and Mr. Scott. ”And you two, don’t think this adopted daughter of yours is such a prize. Her mind isn’t nearly as pure as you imagine. There’s someone in this very house she’s been coveting for many years. I, for one, am just waiting for that to come to light. It’s going to be quite a show.”

”As it happens, I’ve lost my appetite. I won’t interrupt your family meal. I’m leaving.”

With that, Nina Scott made a cool, confident exit.

If you asked her how she felt right now, there was only one word for it: Awesome!

’So that’s what it feels like to just go crazy. It’s so satisfying.’ She had never been one to suffer in silence. If someone made her unhappy, she would make them unhappy right back. Perfectly fair.

She had been so focused on resisting the marriage before that she hadn’t had a chance to properly lose it.

Seth Scott chased after her. ”Nina!”

Seth caught up and grabbed her arm. ”Nina, our family hasn’t eaten together in so long. Why don’t you finish your meal before you go? Mom didn’t mean it that way. We’re all family.”

”Brother, you heard her. Yara said I’m not welcome in this house, that there’s no place for me here. What am I still doing here? I know you’re good to me, but you don’t have to try and convince me. In fact, Brother, let me give you a piece of advice: be careful of Yara.”

Seth Scott frowned. ”Nina, why don’t you try to get along with Mom? She really does love you.”

”Forget it. You’d better go console that old hag. I’d hate for her to die of anger. I’m leaving!”

Nina’s departure was swift and decisive. This house had never been her sanctuary, but a cage she wanted to escape. Every time she left, it was on bad terms.

After leaving the house, Nina was surprised to run into Miles Mercer.

”What are you doing here?” Nina asked, surprised.

”For you.” Miles Mercer’s reply was just two words.

In that instant, something stirred deep inside Nina, followed by a dense, spreading ache.

Her nose began to sting. It felt as though she was fighting the entire world, as if everyone disliked her and all she wanted to do was run away—only to turn around and find someone waiting for her.

Every time she had left the Scott residence before, it had been an unpleasant experience. Afterward, she would always sit in her car for a long time before finally driving away.

In fact, if any of the Scotts had ever bothered to chase after her, they would have seen Nina waiting at the gate for up to half an hour.

But no one ever had. Not once. Neither her mother nor her father had ever followed her out to spare her so much as a second glance.

”What were you waiting for me for?” Nina asked as she walked over, the rims of her eyes slightly red.

Miles Mercer looked at her. ”Were you crying? Did they give you a hard time again?”

”Are you kidding? Why would I cry? I’m a warrior. Besides, they can’t bully me. I was the one who chewed them all out.”

”Anyway, enough about me. You still haven’t told me why you’re here.”

Miles Mercer said, ”Grandpa was afraid you’d run off, so he sent me to keep an eye on you.”

A flicker of disappointment crossed her eyes. ”So you only came because Grandpa told you to?”

”Why else?” Miles Mercer retorted.

’He’d never admit to Nina that he’d come on his own. He was worried the Scotts would lock her up again, leaving her in a desperate situation with no one to turn to.’

’That’s why he was waiting outside. If Nina hadn’t come out within a few hours, he would have stormed in.’

’Of course, women were so much trouble. What if he told her the truth, and she got all emotional and fell in love with him? Better to just use Grandpa as an excuse.’