Chapter 26: Chapter 26: So You Like My Brother
Ivy Sherwood was pulled to the buffet area by Nina Scott. She’d been so busy she hadn’t eaten much for lunch, so she was actually a little hungry.
She was only attending tonight’s banquet to accompany Nina Scott; she had no other business there.
As the two of them were eating, they ran into a busy Seth Scott. Nina waved at him. "Bro!"
Seth walked over. "Nina, I just heard Mom yelled at you again? Don’t take it to heart. That’s just how she is."
Seth was Nina’s older brother. In their family, he was about the only one who was even remotely nice to Nina. Ivy knew him, too. He was a great guy—a warm and refined older brother figure.
But right now, she wasn’t really here as ’Ivy Sherwood,’ so she didn’t greet Seth.
"I know, I know. And congrats, Bro. You’re about to take over the family business."
Seth smiled, but only he knew the pressure and helplessness hidden within that smile.
"You should come home more often to see Mom and Dad when you have time. We’re all family," Seth said.
"Alright, alright! Go on, Bro, you should get back to your duties!"
"Mm-hm." Seth glanced at Ivy. "Is this your friend? What about Ivy? I sent her an invitation. Isn’t she here today?"
’He was pretty sure Ivy was Nina’s best friend. The two of them were inseparable.’
’Ivy was surprised Seth had sent her an invitation—she hadn’t received it at all.’
Nina was the first to speak. "Ivy isn’t here."
Just then, Yara Scott walked over, calling out sweetly, "Bro!"
"There you are. Mom’s been looking all over for you." Yara’s gaze was fixed on Seth, unable to tear itself away.
"Well, Nina, you and your friend have a good time."
Seth left quickly, but Yara’s eyes followed him until his figure disappeared from view.
"Don’t you know how important today is? Can’t you be a little more thoughtful?" Yara said.
"What did I do to you now?" Nina was completely baffled.
She hadn’t done a thing, yet here was Yara, lecturing her out of nowhere.
"Everyone’s busy. Seth and Father are swamped, Mom and I are greeting guests, and you?" Yara said, looking annoyed.
"What do you mean, ’me’? I’m entertaining a guest right now. This *is* my guest!" Nina said, pulling Ivy closer.
Yara looked down at Ivy with a condescending air. "Nina, Mom told you not to make friends with just any riff-raff."
"What makes you say my friend is riff-raff?" Nina retorted, annoyed. ’That was Yara for you—two-faced.’
"Isn’t it obvious? She’s been staring at Bro the whole time. Who knows what she’s plotting!"
’The main reason was that Seth had glanced at Ivy a few times. The woman was just too beautiful, and it made Yara extremely anxious.’
’She had secretly run off all the other women who’d tried to get close to Seth, but this one... this one seemed like she wouldn’t be so easy to handle.’
"Are you insane? Let’s just ignore her!" Nina thought Yara had lost her mind. ’Sometimes, she felt Yara’s focus on her ’Big Brother’ was a little excessive.’
Ivy watched the fuming Yara and spoke slowly, deliberately. "I have no idea what my intentions are supposed to be. You, on the other hand, seem to have a lot on your mind. Is it that you don’t have the guts to say what you’re thinking, so you assume anyone who so much as glances at your ’bro’ must be in love with him?"
"You—!" Her secret exposed, Yara’s face turned beet red. "What are you talking about! That’s nonsense!"
"Did I say something? Or did I just strike a nerve?" Ivy watched her coolly, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to Yara’s frantic state.
It suddenly clicked for Nina. "Oh, I see now! So that’s it, Yara! You have a crush on my brother!"
"You should just give it up. All that sucking up to my mom, and it turns out you just want to be her daughter-in-law. If Mom knew what you were thinking, she’d definitely kick you out. Besides, my brother isn’t into your type, anyway."
"Nina!" Yara’s face was flushed with fury and humiliation. Before she could let fly a string of curses, a servant approached. "Young ladies, the Madam requests your presence."
"If you dare say a word of this nonsense to my brother or Mom, I swear I’ll make you regret it!" Yara threatened.
Nina told Ivy to amuse herself for a bit and that she’d be right back. Ivy waved, silently telling Nina not to worry.
After a couple of pastries, Ivy was full. She scanned the room but didn’t see the figure she was looking for.
As she stood there, quite a few men approached to hit on her, but Ivy paid them little attention.
Silas Blackwood was with Anna Nash. After a couple of drinks, he overheard some men talking nearby. "What do you think? Will anyone manage to take that woman home tonight?"
"That face, that figure... damn, she’s hot. I wonder what she’s like in bed."
"How many guys have gone over to hit on her? And they can’t even get a glance. She’s playing the ice queen."
"’Ice queen’? Please. Do any of you know her? Didn’t think so. She’s definitely not from our circle. She’s probably from some brothel or club, trying to land a whale. She just thinks you lot aren’t big enough fish."
Listening to their conversation, Silas couldn’t resist looking in the direction they were indicating. When he saw Ivy there, his eyes lit up.
’It was her!’
Silas had been fortunate enough to see her once before. It had been just a fleeting, stunning glimpse, but he’d turned the entire city upside down looking for her afterward, without finding a single clue.
She was like a goddess from a dream, and he’d begun to think the encounter was nothing more than a fantasy.
And now, here she was again!
Silas’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
The blue dress made Ivy look like a celestial being, a Snow White, beautiful beyond description.
Ruby-red lips and eyes that shone like stars—no words in the world seemed beautiful enough to describe her.
It wasn’t just her face; her legs were exquisite too—long, pale, and impossible to look away from. It was like being in a fantasy world, where everything before you might vanish in the blink of an eye.
Anna, who was beside him, was still talking. "Silas, should we go to your place or mine tonight? I just learned a new massage technique that I guarantee will make you feel amazing."
Silas didn’t hear a word she said. The moment he saw Ivy, he pushed Anna aside, grabbed a glass of wine, and strode toward her.
This was the Scotts’ party, and Ivy didn’t want to cause a scene. With Nina gone, she decided to slip out into the garden for some fresh air.
Most of the guests were inside the banquet hall, deep in conversation, so the garden was relatively empty.
Ivy had just stepped outside when a hand grabbed her wrist. "Miss."
Hearing that voice sent a shiver of revulsion down Ivy’s spine.
"Get lost!"
Silas was relentless, his eyes practically glued to her. "I can’t believe we’re this fated to meet again."
Ivy stared at Silas. ’I couldn’t have met him when I was dressed like this, could I?’
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