Chapter 284: Did You Cast a Hex on Me?
Even though Quentin Blackwood wouldn’t admit it, Ivy Sherwood was convinced it had to be him.
’So Mr. Blackwood is playing the good Samaritan now, doing good deeds without asking for credit.’
Before Quentin Blackwood could answer, Julian Grant, who had finished in second place, drove across the finish line.
If he hadn’t seen Ivy Sherwood get out of the passenger seat with his own eyes, he would have suspected they had swapped drivers.
"Ivy, you’re amazing! To be so skilled and still so humble."
Ivy Sherwood said, "It’s because I had a good teacher."
’If Quentin Blackwood hadn’t been right there guiding me, I definitely wouldn’t have been so sure of myself.’
"Teacher? Which teacher did you learn from?" Julian Grant asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Go get me a glass of water," Quentin Blackwood ordered Julian Grant.
"Why should I be the one to get you water? I’m not going!" Julian Grant said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Honor the bet. You’re going to slave away for me for a month. And for this entire month, you’d better be at my beck and call," Quentin Blackwood said coldly.
"You..." Julian Grant gritted his teeth and angrily went to get Quentin Blackwood the water.
Quentin Blackwood had another demand: he wanted lemon honey water.
The customer center here had plenty of water and snacks available for self-service.
While adding the honey, Julian Grant tossed in two extra spoonfuls, muttering, "Hope this is sickeningly sweet for you!"
He knew Quentin Blackwood didn’t like sweet things; he was doing it on purpose.
However, after Quentin Blackwood took the water, he tested the cup’s temperature with his hand. Once it had cooled down a bit, he handed it to Ivy Sherwood. "President Blackwood poured this himself. In the future, don’t hold back with him."
’I can’t believe Quentin got that water for me,’ Ivy Sherwood thought. ’No wonder he suddenly asked for lemon honey water.’
"Thank you," Ivy Sherwood said, taking the cup and cradling it in her hands.
Julian Grant: "..."
"Ivy, shouldn’t you be thanking me? I’m the one who went and got it!"
Ivy Sherwood replied, "Isn’t this what you’re supposed to be doing? A bet’s a bet, Mr. Grant."
"Fine! You’re all ganging up on me!" Julian Grant pretended to be angry.
It was getting late, so after a simple meal at the racetrack, they left for the mountain resort next door.
This was Ivy Sherwood’s second time here, and it felt completely different from the last.
’Last time felt like I was being sent to prison. This time actually feels like a vacation.’
The weather hadn’t been this hot on her last visit. Now, it was the peak of summer, which made the mountain resort feel especially pleasant.
The sea breeze here was incredibly refreshing and cool. Plus, the resort’s reputation had grown, and with it being summer vacation, many people chose to vacation here.
Quentin Blackwood was the owner, so there was always a room for him whenever he came. The small white villa was not open to the public; it was for his exclusive use.
Their luggage had already been sent ahead, so they all arrived empty-handed.
Julian Grant and Graham Sherwood were even sharing a suite, but it was large and had two separate bedrooms, so they each got their own room.
Ivy Sherwood looked at Quentin Blackwood. "What about my room?"
Quentin Blackwood looked at her. "We’re full. There are no other rooms."
Julian Grant raised his hand. "I can vouch for that. This place is incredibly popular. There really are no spare rooms."
He continued, "Besides, we’re all paired up in suites. Ivy, you can’t exactly stay with us, can you?"
"Then what about me—"
Before Ivy Sherwood could finish, Quentin Blackwood cut her off. "Come with me."
Julian Grant dragged Graham Sherwood off to their room. ’Quentin has his ways,’ he thought, ’so we should just stay out of it. The main reason we came was to help set those two up, anyway. We’re just the supporting cast.’
As it turned out, even though Quentin Blackwood had low emotional intelligence, he still knew what he was doing.
Ivy Sherwood arrived at the little white villa once again. The interior hadn’t changed; it was always kept clean, but no one ever stayed here.
"I’m staying here?"
"Mhm."
"And you?"
The hand Quentin Blackwood was using to carry the luggage froze. ’So it hadn’t even crossed her mind that we’d be staying together?’
"What do you think?"
"So we’re going to stay together? Given our current relationship, isn’t that a bit inappropriate?"
"Inappropriate? How is it inappropriate?" Quentin Blackwood set down the luggage he was holding and just stared at Ivy Sherwood.
"It’s inappropriate in every way!"
"An unmarried man and an unmarried woman. How is that inappropriate?"
Ivy Sherwood’s eyes curved into crescents, a sly, fox-like smile on her face. "So, as long as it’s a single man and a single woman, they can just stay together? In that case, I can do that next time I go on a trip with someone else. I could even save money on a room."
"Absolutely not!"
The moment Ivy Sherwood finished speaking, Quentin Blackwood closed the distance between them.
They were already near the door, and now Ivy Sherwood found herself pinned against the wall. They had been in this position countless times, but this time, it seemed, was when they were both the most clear-headed.
"’Absolutely not’ to what?"
"I won’t allow it. You can only share a room with me. Not with anyone else. Even if you go on a trip with Nina Scott, you have to get two rooms. I’ll pay for it," the man’s voice was thick with jealousy.
Ivy Sherwood lifted her gaze. Sometimes her eyes looked pure and innocent, but at other times, they were filled with a captivating allure. It all depended on the kind of smile on her face.
"Mr. Blackwood, you really are something else. We’re already over, yet you’re still trying to control so much. Last time, you were the one who said..."
"I regret it. What I said last time doesn’t count." Quentin Blackwood suddenly pulled Ivy Sherwood into his arms, an act he seemed to have wanted to do for a long time.
Ivy Sherwood was caught off guard by the embrace. Quentin Blackwood’s arms were strong and powerful, and his unique scent washed over her.
"So, President Blackwood is capable of going back on his word after all."
"What, am I not allowed to change my mind?" Quentin Blackwood’s eyes were dark and so deep they could pull a person in.
"It does make me curious. What sort of Magic Power do I have to make President Blackwood regret his words?"
A soft chuckle sounded by her ear. "That’s a question I’d like to know the answer to as well. Did you put a hex on me?"
’Otherwise, why do I always feel so empty inside? It’s an indescribable feeling, a heart-wrenching pain. I feel awful when I can’t see her, and even worse when I see her with someone else.’
"If I had that kind of power, I’d put a hex on the whole world and make everyone listen to me!"
"If it’s not a hex, then why does everyone seem to fall for you?"
"Who likes me?" Ivy Sherwood asked, completely unaware.
’All I feel is people hating me and being hostile toward me. People like Thea Sherwood, Anna Nash, and Sylvia Blackwood.’
Quentin Blackwood said through gritted teeth, "Silas Blackwood. And Seth Scott."
’Both of them have their eyes on Ivy,’ he thought. ’Silas Blackwood is no match for me, but he’s incredibly annoying. As for Seth Scott, with Nina in the picture, it’s impossible for Ivy to cut ties with him completely. But as long as Ivy has no feelings whatsoever for him, it’ll be fine.’
"Silas Blackwood has something wrong with his brain, and Seth Scott... he must be blind," Ivy Sherwood said. ’I don’t think there’s anything particularly attractive about me; I’ve always just considered myself an ordinary person.’
"So, are they the only two who like me?" Ivy Sherwood asked, blinking.
"Is there anyone else?"
Ivy Sherwood looked him in the eye and asked back, "What do you think?"
Quentin Blackwood’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His gaze darkened, and he opened his mouth to speak...