Chapter 516: A Date at Sea

The weekend arrived quickly, and Ivy Sherwood and Quentin Blackwood had made plans to go on a boat trip together.

Ivy Sherwood had to cancel on him last time because of her grandfather.

This time, she was determined not to stand him up, so she started getting ready early.

The weather in Lustre was always lovely, and now that it was early summer, it was warm enough for sundresses. Afraid it might be windy on the water, Ivy Sherwood put on a light jacket anyway.

Ivy Sherwood was dressed very casually. The curve of her belly was still small enough that her jacket hid it completely. With her hair in a high ponytail and a pair of white sneakers, she looked as youthful and innocent as a high school student.

The weather was indeed perfect for an outing. Quentin Blackwood soon arrived downstairs and came up to get her.

Quentin Blackwood wore a suit every day, and today was no exception, yet for some reason, she felt he looked exceptionally handsome.

His hair was combed back, revealing his strong forehead. With a face that could rival a god’s, he was just unbelievably handsome!

Every time Ivy Sherwood looked at him, she felt her heart flutter a little more. ’A face like that,’ she thought, ’I wonder how many people have fallen for it.’

Ivy Sherwood could also tell that Quentin Blackwood was in a great mood today. ’I wonder if it’s because we’re going out,’ she mused.

"Let’s have breakfast first." Quentin Blackwood had brought food that he’d woken up early to make himself.

As he drew near, Ivy Sherwood caught a faint, pleasant scent on him—one different from his usual fragrance.

"Are you wearing cologne?" Ivy Sherwood asked.

"Yes. It’s from your company." He had gone to the store and bought it himself.

She felt a little embarrassed that he was using her company’s product.

"If you need cologne, just tell me. I can make some for you—a limited edition, exclusively for Mr. Blackwood!"

"Those might contain chemicals that aren’t good for you in your condition." Quentin Blackwood didn’t want her handling such things right now.

"What are you talking about? Do you think Iris is some unscrupulous company? Our perfumes don’t have any chemical ingredients. The raw materials are all extracted from real flowers, so I guarantee our products are completely pure."

The strictest requirement Ivy Sherwood had for Iris was the ingredients. She forbade the use of synthetic, lab-created fragrances; she only used the real thing.

In addition to partnering with florists, she also grew many of the flowers herself. On the outskirts of the city, she had a flower farm with all kinds of varieties planted just for her.

"Alright, then. You’re in charge of all my cologne from now on."

"No problem!"

Ivy Sherwood and Quentin Blackwood finished breakfast together before heading out.

It would take some time to get to the marina, but Quentin Blackwood didn’t seem to be in any hurry.

Instead of going straight to the marina, he took Ivy Sherwood around the city to have some fun first.

The weather was gorgeous today, with blue skies and white clouds so perfect they almost looked fake.

It wasn’t until after lunch that Quentin Blackwood drove to the marina.

The sea was an endless expanse of brilliant blue. Seagulls circled overhead, their calls echoing in the air.

A yacht was moored at the dock. While it was no luxury cruise ship, it was far more opulent than a typical yacht.

As they approached, a staff member walked over. "Mr. Blackwood, if you require anything, you can call us from the cabin. We hope you have a wonderful time."

Quentin Blackwood led Ivy Sherwood aboard by the hand. "Did you rent this?" Ivy asked. "Or did you buy it?"

"I bought it." President Blackwood was nothing if not extravagant.

To be precise, it was custom-made.

To Quentin Blackwood, money like this was nothing.

"So, do you know how to pilot it?" Ivy Sherwood asked, noticing there was no captain. It looked like Quentin Blackwood planned to steer it himself.

Quentin Blackwood said, "I don’t. You can teach me."

"How do you know I can? What if I can’t?" In truth, Ivy Sherwood did know a little.

Lustre was a coastal city, after all, so there had been plenty of chances to go boating.

She had learned a little with Nina a while back.

"I just had a feeling you would." Ivy Sherwood was actually very skilled. She was an excellent race car driver, with a level of expertise few could match.

In reality, Quentin Blackwood also knew how to pilot a yacht, but he’d pretended otherwise on purpose.

Ivy Sherwood walked over. "If I capsize this thing, we’re both going overboard."

Quentin Blackwood was unfazed. "I’d be willing to die, as long as it’s with you."

"Hey, don’t say that! Why are you talking about dying? That’s bad luck." Ivy Sherwood found it ominous and pulled Quentin Blackwood to join her in warding off the jinx.

Quentin Blackwood copied her. But when he performed the childish act, it wasn’t comical; it was filled with doting affection.

When you truly love someone, you’re willing to do all sorts of childish things with them.

Ivy Sherwood rolled up her sleeves, ready to show her stuff. Whenever she got serious, it was as if she began to glow.

The sun wasn’t too harsh, and the breeze felt wonderful.

After pushing the throttle and gear lever into position, she flipped the circuit switch and pressed the ignition button, and the yacht roared to life.

Even though it had been a while, Ivy Sherwood wasn’t the least bit rusty.

"It’s actually very simple. You just push this, then press this over here, and you have full control. Just be careful of your heading; don’t get too close to those reefs and small islands." As Ivy Sherwood instructed Quentin Blackwood, the two of them formed a beautiful, harmonious picture.

Ivy Sherwood didn’t even notice the flashing camera nearby, recording the beautiful moment.

The yacht, having been custom-built for Quentin Blackwood, came with an autopilot feature. Once a course was set, it would steer itself. Ivy asked Quentin where he wanted to go, set the route, and they no longer needed to pilot it manually.

That way, they were free to relax.

There were deck chairs on board, and Ivy Sherwood and Quentin Blackwood lay back on them. The yacht moved slowly, at the perfect speed for enjoying the scenery.

Perhaps because she was so comfortable, Ivy Sherwood drifted off to sleep. Quentin Blackwood didn’t disturb her, simply watching her quietly.

The moment was so perfect that Quentin Blackwood couldn’t resist taking out his phone and secretly snapping several photos of Ivy Sherwood.

He even leaned in to brush his lips against hers, a smile gracing his own as he caressed her cheek.

’So this is it,’ he thought. ’Just looking at her makes my heart race, but it’s a feeling filled with utter contentment.’

"Quentin!" Ivy Sherwood shot awake from a dream.

Her forehead was beaded with cold sweat, and she was panting for breath.

She’d just had a nightmare. In it, she saw Quentin Blackwood fall from the deck of the yacht.

She’d tried to grab his hand, but she couldn’t hold on. He had vanished right before her eyes, plunging into an abyss.

Gasping for air, she looked around frantically, but she couldn’t see Quentin Blackwood anywhere.

She scrambled to her feet. "Quentin! Quentin!"

Quentin Blackwood was inside the cabin, making fresh juice for her. Hearing her cries, he immediately dropped what he was doing and rushed out. "What’s wrong? I’m right here."

The moment Ivy Sherwood heard his voice, she ran over and threw her arms around him, holding on tight.

She pressed her face against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.