Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 112

Chapter 112: The Scapegoat Chapter 112: The Scapegoat Before Katie could finish her sentence, Selina had already flipped open the design portfolio-and everyone’s expression changed instantly.

Katie’s words caught in her throat.

Every single design was defaced with black ink, covered in vulgar slurs like “whore” and “bitch,” scrawled aggressively in red marker.

The handwriting was twisted and ferocious, oozing hatred toward the portfolio’s original owner.

A suffocating silence fell over the entire living room.

Selina slowly raised her head, her sharp, icy gaze locking onto Katie’s terrified eyes.

She spoke each word with deliberate, venomous clarity: “Katie, you’ve got a death wish.” Her eyes were so piercing, so devoid of warmth, that Katie’s knees buckled.

She collapsed to the floor with a thud, stammering, “I-It wasn’t me!” But her guilty, trembling voice made it painfully obvious-anyone could see she was the one who’d destroyed the designs.

Without warning, Selina lunged forward, grabbed Katie by the collar, and yanked her to her feet, her fingers tightening around Katie’s throat.

“Not your fault?

Mr.

Clark, take a good look at the kind of woman you’ve been defending.” James’s face paled as he glanced at the ruined portfolio.

A flicker of guilt flashed through his eyes, though he tried to suppress it.

“Katie… you…” he muttered, his voice low and strained.

Katie quickly averted her eyes, refusing to meet his gaze.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!

Let me go!” So what if she ruined Victoria’s designs?

That wretched woman had been dead for almost twenty years-she deserved to be forgotten.

Logan’s face darkened, his voice low and chilling.

“So this is how you treat Selina.

Noted.” James’s heart sank.

Whether Logan genuinely cared about Selina or not, it didn’t matter-right now, he was standing firmly on her side.

James snapped, spinning around and barking, “What the hell is going on?!” Katie flinched, but she still refused to admit anything.

“I-I didn’t do it!” Suddenly, Natalia stepped forward, biting her lip, her face a picture of fake innocence.

“Sister… Mr.

Reid… you’ve misunderstood my mother.” She shook her head gently, her voice soft and trembling.

“Mom loved Aunt Victoria like a sister.

She’d never do something like this.

The only person who knew about the designs being in the collection room… was the butler.” Katie immediately latched onto the excuse.

“Yes, it was the butler!

He must’ve done it!” Selina let out a cold laugh.

“Oh, really?” The butler’s face went pale as he shot a panicked glance at Natalia-only to see her subtly shake her head, signaling him to take the fall.

His breath hitched.

After a tense pause, he bowed his head and mumbled, “Yes… it was my fault.

Please don’t blame Madam or Miss Natalia.” Katie instantly burst into crocodile tears, her voice quivering as if she’d just been gravely wronged.

“Selina, you heard that, didn’t you?

Why do you always think the worst of me?” James’s expression softened slightly.

“Mr.

Reid, you see… it was just a misunderstanding.” But before he could finish, Selina cut in with an indifferent, almost bored tone.

“Funny.

From what I know, the butler was brought in by Mrs.

Bryant.

He arrived after my mother passed away, so… how could he harbor such deep hatred for someone he’s never even met?” The butler froze, his face stiffening as the room grew tense again.

Natalia quickly lowered her gaze, her voice dripping with false humility.

“Sister, back when Aunt Victoria was alive, the butler once applied for a job here.

He was rejected.

Maybe… he’s held a grudge ever since.” The butler gritted his teeth and eagerly seized the excuse.

“Yes!

Victoria rejected me.

I lost my job because of her, and I’ve resented her ever since!” Selina chuckled, the sound dripping with mockery.

Katie, ever the opportunist, pretended to scold the butler with exaggerated indignation.

“Butler Lee, that’s completely inappropriate!

If Victoria rejected you, it must’ve been because you weren’t qualified.

How could you destroy her belongings just because you didn’t like her?” She dramatically wiped her fake tears, sighing as if overwhelmed with grief.

“Selina, I don’t care if you misunderstand me, but my heart aches for you.

To find your mother’s belongings, only to see them destroyed like this-it’s heartbreaking!” Butler Lee, catching Katie’s unspoken cue, bowed deeply and added, “Miss Selina, it’s all my fault.

Please don’t blame Madam or Miss Natalia.” Katie relaxed, a smug smile flickering at the corners of her mouth.

The entire Clark Family estate was under her control.

Selina’s little tricks were no match for her.

Selina raised an eyebrow.

The butler, Lee, was taking the fall for Katie?

She spoke lazily, her tone dripping with casual indifference.

“Logan, Butler Lee has admitted to deliberately destroying my mother’s belongings.

What do you think should be done with someone like that?” Logan’s lips curled into a faint smirk.

“A disloyal servant like that should naturally be fired.

Jack can handle it.” Jack nodded promptly.

“Ma’am, I won’t disappoint you.” Selina gave him a satisfied nod.

“Handle it however you see fit.” Katie’s throat tightened.

Butler Lee was her right-hand man.

She couldn’t let Selina take him away like this!

“Selina, there’s no need to be so harsh.

Butler Lee has been with the Clark Family for years.

Firing him over a simple mistake would make us look petty in the eyes of others…” Jack flashed a polite, but unmistakably firm smile.

“Don’t worry, Mrs.

Bryant.

I’ll make sure high society knows that Butler Lee was fired for destroying his employer’s property.

It won’t tarnish the Clark Family’s reputation in the slightest.” Selina’s smile deepened.

“Butler Lee, shall we?” Butler Lee’s face twisted with frustration.

For years, he’d strutted around the Clark Family estate like he owned the place, basking in Katie’s favor and treating Selina like she was nothing.

Who was she anyway?

Some country bumpkin the Clark Family had discarded-now daring to fire him?!

But he was confident.

After all, Katie would protect him.

His voice was loud, defiant.

“Miss Selina, I’m the Clark Family’s butler.

The decision to fire me rests with Mr.

Clark, not you.

You don’t have the authority to give that order!” His chest puffed with false righteousness as he added, “Sure, I was wrong to damage Mrs.

Adams’ designs, but I’ve served this family for years.

Even if I haven’t achieved greatness, I’ve worked hard.

Are you really going to fire me over one small mistake and chill the hearts of everyone here?” Logan’s face darkened, his jaw clenching slightly.

Selina’s gaze turned frosty, her voice like ice.

“You think I don’t have the authority?” Katie quickly stepped in, feigning helplessness.

“Selina, dear, why are you being so stubborn?

Butler Lee is part of the family now.

Your mother’s been gone for years.

Is it really worth firing a loyal servant over someone who’s already dead?” Selina’s eyes didn’t waver.

She cut Katie off mid-sentence with a calm, chilling tone.

“Butler Lee.” She addressed him directly, but her words echoed for everyone to hear.

“Have you been under Katie’s thumb for so long that you’ve forgotten who this villa actually belongs to?

My mother left it to me.

I am the sole owner.

So don’t think for a second that firing a measly butler like you is difficult.

In fact, if I wanted to replace the entire staff-or even change ownership of this villa-I could do it with ease.” James’s face went pale, his expression shifting from arrogance to sudden fear.

Butler Lee’s heart skipped a beat.

“You’re twisting things!

This villa belongs to Mr.

Clark and Mrs.-” Selina’s cold smile cut through his protest like a knife.

“Oh?

If you’re so confident, let’s settle this in court.

I’m sure the scandal will be… enlightening.

After all, it won’t just be your reputation on the line, Butler Lee.” She took a step closer, her voice soft but dripping with venom.

“Imagine the headlines: ‘Mistress and Illegitimate Daughter Conspire to Steal Inheritance from Deceased Wife.’ Sounds scandalous, doesn’t it, Mr.

Clark?” Selina’s smile never wavered.

“And while we’re at it, we can investigate why a butler harbored such deep hatred for a woman who’s been dead for nearly two decades.

I wonder if someone put you up to it-perhaps a certain mistress who clawed her way to the top?” Katie’s heart raced with sheer panic.

No.

If this went to court, the truth would come out eventually.

And worse-Selina might expose secrets tied to the Carter Family.

She could feud with Selina all she wanted, but she couldn’t afford to drag the Carter Family’s name through the mud.

Her cushy life was just beginning-she wouldn’t let it all fall apart over a damn design portfolio.

Katie’s eyes darted to Butler Lee, her mind racing.

After all these years, she’d given him everything-it was time for him to return the favor.

Taking a deep breath, she forced a sweet smile and said: “You’re right, Selina.

A traitorous servant like Butler Lee should be fired.

Someone, get this man out of my sight!”