Chapter 303: Is That Something I Can Ask?
Nina Scott was worried sick. She rushed in the moment Elijah Hawthorne came out.
"Ivy, are you okay?" she asked, frantically checking Ivy Sherwood for any injuries or bleeding.
"I’m fine! I won, Nina!"
"That’s great! You scared me to death." Nina Scott hugged Ivy Sherwood, relieved that she was alright.
"How did you win? Tell me everything," Nina Scott asked.
Speaking of which, Ivy Sherwood felt that something wasn’t quite right, though she couldn’t put her finger on it.
In the end, Elijah Hawthorne’s hand was actually just a three. But that didn’t seem right at all; he had been so confident.
’Is this what it means to be powerful? Even with a terrible hand, he doesn’t show it. He makes you think he’s holding something big to break down your psychological defenses first?’
Ivy Sherwood looked at the cards. They had indeed been a brand-new, sealed deck.
She picked them up and looked. Unsure what compelled her, she counted the cards and realized one was missing.
"What is it, Ivy? Is there something wrong with the cards? Did Elijah Hawthorne cheat?" Nina Scott asked, watching Ivy’s movements.
Ivy Sherwood shook her head. "I don’t think so. I was the one who dealt."
Besides, she had been watching him closely the whole time, and Elijah Hawthorne hadn’t made a single suspicious move. If he could still cheat, it only meant his skills were truly exceptional.
’But if Elijah Hawthorne did do it on purpose... he was about to win, so why would he do that?’
Ivy Sherwood counted the remaining cards. A King of Spades was missing.
’That can’t be right. Did it get dropped somewhere?’
"Who cares? The point is, we won and we’re both safe. That’s all that matters. I was scared to death. Who is this Mr. Hawthorne anyway? What’s his deal?" Nina Scott still had no idea who he was.
Ivy Sherwood put the cards away and said his name. "Elijah Hawthorne."
"What? He’s *the* Elijah Hawthorne?" Nina Scott was stunned.
Ivy Sherwood grabbed her hand, taking the deck of cards with her. "Let’s go. Time to head home. Why don’t you stay at my place tonight?"
"Okay! I still have so many questions for you. How do you know Elijah Hawthorne? And what’s he doing here in Lustre?"
By the time Ivy Sherwood and Nina Scott got home, it was already past one in the morning.
After washing up, they both snuggled into bed.
"So, this Elijah Hawthorne came for Quentin Blackwood. But what about that photo? Why was Quentin hugging that Joy Sheridan woman?"
Ivy Sherwood shook her head. "I don’t know either, but I don’t believe he’s that kind of person. Anyway, let’s just get some sleep!"
"Aren’t you going to call and ask him?"
"He must be really busy right now. I’ll wait a couple of days." He hadn’t even replied to the message she’d sent earlier that evening. He had to be busy, and Ivy Sherwood didn’t want to bother him.
"True." Nina Scott nodded, wrapping her arms around Ivy. "It’s so warm and cozy in my dear Ivy’s bed!"
...
It wasn’t until the next morning that Ivy Sherwood received a message from Quentin Blackwood: "I was too busy last night to check my phone."
Seeing his message, Ivy Sherwood replied, "So you pulled another all-nighter!"
Quentin Blackwood wrote back, "There’s a lot to do."
With Old Master Sheridan’s incident, the Sheridan Family had lost its pillar. The Sheridan Company was a huge enterprise, and many vultures were circling.
Old Master Sheridan had been a benefactor to him, and now it was Quentin’s duty to protect the Sheridan Family for him. Quentin Blackwood hadn’t slept all night. He had been poring over Sheridan Group documents and investigating the poisoning. He already had a lead—it was likely someone within the company trying to seize power, poisoning the old master to force him to abdicate.
The designated heir to the Sheridan Family was Joy Sheridan, but from the looks of it, those people would eat her alive.
That was why the old master’s biggest worry was Joy Sheridan.
Ivy Sherwood was hesitating over her reply when a call suddenly came in from Quentin Blackwood.
Seeing his name on the screen and glancing at the still-sleeping Nina Scott, Ivy Sherwood stepped out into the living room.
"So, is Mr. Blackwood done with his work now?"
"There’s still a lot to do," came Quentin Blackwood’s voice.
He was in the car. After working all night without a break, he was now rushing to the hospital. It seemed Old Master Sheridan’s condition wasn’t good.
He could rest a little during the drive, and he just wanted to hear Ivy Sherwood’s voice, so he had called her directly.
"Aren’t you going to ask when I’m coming back?" Quentin Blackwood asked.
Ivy Sherwood paused. "Am I allowed to ask that?"
"Why not?"
Since Quentin Blackwood was giving her permission, Ivy Sherwood asked directly, "Then when are you coming back?"
"I’m not sure yet."
"Then... will you be back for Silas Blackwood’s wedding?"
Quentin Blackwood checked the date. Silas Blackwood’s wedding was in two days; he probably wouldn’t be able to make it back in time.
"I probably can’t make it."
"That’s alright. It’s not like his wedding is a huge deal anyway."
It just seemed like Quentin Blackwood would be in Aethelgard for a while.
He soon arrived at the hospital. Although he hadn’t spoken much with Ivy Sherwood, Quentin Blackwood felt the throbbing in his temples ease just from hearing her voice.
After hanging up, Quentin Blackwood took some files and headed upstairs.
Meanwhile, Joy Sheridan, who had been waiting downstairs, watched Quentin Blackwood get out of the car as he hung up the phone. Seeing the gentle expression on his face, her pupils contracted.
’Quentin Blackwood always kept her at arm’s length, treating her with nothing but cold distance. Yet for someone else, he could show such a gentle expression.’
Joy Sheridan was jealous of whoever he had been talking to, because Quentin Blackwood rarely answered her calls.
Seeing Quentin Blackwood about to head upstairs, Joy Sheridan hurried ahead of him and returned to her grandfather’s hospital room.
When Quentin Blackwood entered the room, Joy Sheridan was already sitting by the bed, staring at the man lying in it. Her eyes were as red and swollen as walnuts, and she looked as though she hadn’t slept all night.
Seeing Quentin, Joy Sheridan quickly stood up, a hint of a smile touching her face. "Quentin, you’re here."
As she stood, her body swayed, and she looked as if she might faint at any moment.
"Grandpa still hasn’t woken up... I... I’m so scared." As she spoke, Joy Sheridan began to cry again.
"I’ve already found the culprit. It’s one of your company’s shareholders. And these are some of your company’s important projects. I think you should familiarize yourself with them." Quentin Blackwood handed her the files.
"Quentin, I haven’t slept or eaten all night. I don’t want to look at these. Will you have breakfast with me? Please?" Joy Sheridan looked at Quentin Blackwood with pleading eyes.
"I’m not hungry. I’ll have someone send breakfast over for you."
"You should review these files carefully. If you have any questions, call my assistant."
As for the old master, the most Quentin Blackwood could do was talk to the doctors. He wasn’t a physician, and staying here wouldn’t solve anything.
"Are you leaving already?"
"Can you please stay with me a little longer? Just for a little while," Joy Sheridan pleaded, tears welling up again.
Quentin Blackwood hadn’t slept all night either. "You should go home and rest," he said. "I’ll stay here."
"I’m not tired. I want to stay here and watch over Grandpa." Since Quentin Blackwood was offering to stay, there was no way Joy Sheridan would leave.
"Then you can stay and watch. I’ll come back this afternoon."
With that, Quentin Blackwood turned to leave.
"Quentin, Quen—"
Quentin Blackwood had only taken two steps when he heard a thud behind him. He spun around to see Joy Sheridan collapsed on the floor.