Don't Be a Tease, Mr. Blackwood

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Such a Green Tea

Yuri knew Alaric Blackwood had gotten married, but since he hadn’t received an invitation, he hadn’t given it much thought.

He had been very busy lately with the acquisition of Dragonstone Mall. He’d also been sending people to locate the nursing home where Mr. Drake was staying. Consequently, he hadn’t paid attention to online celebrity news and was unaware that Alaric Blackwood’s wedding had been a trending topic.

He looked down at the person sleeping soundly on the sofa, surprised to find that she was Alaric Blackwood’s wife.

’With such an extraordinary status, why didn’t she just buy Lynn’s necklace at the auction?’

’Alaric Blackwood’s wife shouldn’t be short on that kind of money.’

And yet, that night when he left the auction house, Sophie Shaw had stopped him with red-rimmed eyes, telling him she didn’t have enough money to bid on her mother’s necklace.

He stared at Sophie Shaw’s face, his gaze fixed and overly complex, which annoyed Alaric Blackwood.

Alaric walked over, pulled the blanket up, and covered Sophie Shaw’s head, hiding her from Yuri’s view.

Yuri couldn’t help but laugh at his childish behavior. "You scheme and fight to make so much money, so how can you be so stingy? Why won’t you spend it on your own wife?"

"What kind of bullshit is that?"

"Lynn’s one-of-a-kind piece was auctioned off. Miss Shaw was there that night, but she never raised her paddle. She told me she didn’t have that much money. Isn’t that because you’re too cheap with your wife?"

"Yeah, I am cheap."

"..."

Alaric Blackwood’s nonchalant, devil-may-care attitude never failed to infuriate Yuri.

"Coffee. How many times do I have to say it?"

Alaric Blackwood leaned back, crossing his arms and resting against the back of the sofa. "I’m cheap. So cheap I’d begrudge you even a cup of coffee."

"Can you stop trying to piss me off?"

"Am I pissing you off?"

Yuri took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger.

All his elegance, composure, and gentlemanly demeanor could easily be shattered in Alaric Blackwood’s presence.

"Mr. Blackwood, I came all this way. Could I trouble you for a cup of coffee?"

He softened his tone, asking Alaric Blackwood politely.

After a moment of thought, the man’s lips curled into a smirk. "Wait here."

With that, Alaric Blackwood walked toward the kitchen.

Seeing the man standing at the kitchen island and turning on the coffee machine, Yuri took the opportunity to sit down on the edge of the sofa. He tugged the blanket down from Sophie Shaw’s head, revealing her small, sleeping face.

Alaric Blackwood saw the entire scene clearly.

"Mr. Yates."

Alaric calmly started brewing the coffee. "You don’t touch what’s mine."

"I was just helping Miss Shaw pull the blanket down so it wouldn’t affect her breathing."

"Mr. Yates, I’ll have to trouble you to move that precious rear of yours."

Yuri couldn’t help but laugh. He stood up, moved to the sofa across from them, and sat down, creating a safe distance from Sophie Shaw.

Alaric Blackwood finished making a cup of coffee and brought it to Yuri.

"Drink it and get out."

Yuri nodded, reaching out to take the coffee cup.

The moment Alaric Blackwood turned around, Yuri’s fingers loosened, and he let the cup slip from his grasp and fall to the floor.

CRASH!

The noise startled Sophie Shaw.

She bolted upright on the sofa, her eyes wide with alarm.

Seeing the shattered cup on the floor, the puddle of coffee, Yuri sitting on the sofa, and the expressionless Alaric Blackwood standing nearby, she was completely bewildered.

"My apologies, Miss Shaw. I didn’t mean to wake you."

Yuri apologized politely.

Sophie Shaw looked at him in surprise. "Mr. Yates, what are you doing here?"

"I’m a friend of Alaric’s. A very good friend."

"We’re not—"

"Alaric invited me over for coffee. It was my fault; I was careless and didn’t get a good grip on the cup. I’m sorry for waking you."

Yuri cut Alaric Blackwood off before he could speak, then turned back to Sophie Shaw. "I didn’t realize you were Alaric’s wife. Regarding your mother’s necklace, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you in private. I was wondering if you have some time, Miss Shaw? Perhaps we could go somewhere for a drink?"

Sophie Shaw’s eyes lit up. "I have time."

She threw off the blanket. "Mr. Yates, please wait a moment. I’ll go change."

"No need to rush, Miss Shaw. I’ll wait."

"Two minutes, I’ll be right down."

Sophie Shaw said this as she ran upstairs, completely ignoring Alaric Blackwood.

Her back no longer ached, her legs no longer hurt. As if her heels were on fire, she dashed up the stairs in one breath and vanished in the blink of an eye.

Soon, only Alaric Blackwood and Yuri were left in the living room.

Their eyes met, and sparks flew.

"What do you think you’re doing?"

Alaric Blackwood broke the stalemate.

Yuri smiled faintly. "Can’t I ask Miss Shaw out for a drink?"

"You should call her Mrs. Blackwood."

"It’s just a title. Miss Shaw doesn’t seem to mind, so why are you so worked up?"

"..."

Yuri’s gaze fell to the shattered cup and the coffee stain on the floor. He crossed his long legs comfortably. "Aren’t you going to clean this up, Mr. Blackwood?"

CLICK.

Alaric Blackwood lit a cigarette.

He ignored the shards on the floor, and so did Yuri.

However, upon hearing the sound of Sophie Shaw’s footsteps coming down the stairs, Yuri, who was sitting on the sofa, moved.

He got up, went straight to the pile of shards, and reached out to pick them up.

Alaric Blackwood watched as he deliberately touched a sharp shard, cutting his finger and drawing blood.

"Hiss—"

Yuri frowned, cradling his bleeding finger.

Sophie Shaw ran downstairs just in time to see this.

She put down her bag, quickly grabbed the first-aid kit, helped the squatting Yuri back to the sofa, opened the kit, and started to stop the bleeding and bandage his wound.

Alaric Blackwood clenched the cigarette between his teeth, a throbbing pain pulsing at his temples.

He glanced at Yuri out of the corner of his eye, only for the man to shoot him a triumphant smirk.

’Damn it.’

’What an act.’

’So damn manipulative...’

Sophie Shaw, completely oblivious to Alaric Blackwood’s foul expression, skillfully bandaged Yuri’s injured finger.

"Mr. Yates, don’t worry about the shards on the floor. Mr. Blackwood will clean them up."

Yuri smiled and nodded. He glanced at his finger, which was now wrapped up like a tiny mummy, thanked Sophie Shaw, and stood up. "Shall we go then?"

Sophie Shaw agreed. Not forgetting to put the first-aid kit away, she said to Alaric Blackwood, "Mr. Blackwood, be careful when you’re cleaning up. Don’t cut your hand."

"Whatever you need to talk about, you can talk here at home. No need to go out."

Sophie Shaw said, "Oh," and was just about to ask Yuri for his opinion when he waved his hand. "It’s not very convenient. It would be better to find a coffee shop and talk in private."

Sophie Shaw thought for a moment. "Alright, we’ll talk in private then."

The two of them walked side-by-side toward the entryway.

Yuri said, "There’s no need for you to drive, Miss Shaw. You can ride with me. I’ll drop you back off on my way."

"My car is still at the shop. Mr. Yates, do you live nearby?"

"Yes, very close."

The sound of their conversation grew more distant.

SLAM—

The front door slammed shut.

The sound of Sophie Shaw’s voice was gone completely.

Alaric Blackwood extinguished his cigarette and strode to the entryway.

He pulled the door open and chased after them, but he was too late. Yuri’s car was already pulling out of the courtyard.

Sophie Shaw saw Alaric Blackwood in the rearview mirror.

But it was only for a glance before the car turned the corner, and the courtyard wall blocked him from her sight.

She sat primly in the passenger seat and politely asked Yuri, "Mr. Yates, about my mother’s necklace..."