Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 123

Chapter 123: Slanderous Accusation Chapter 123: Slanderous Accusation As soon as Bella finished speaking, all eyes turned to Selina.  …Had she really never heard of Brody?

No way!

Just how ignorant was she?  Brody’s expression darkened instantly.

“Ignorant!”  Logan’s cold gaze lifted, but Selina quickly grasped his hand and asked curiously, “What is Mr.

Taylor’s most famous work?

If he doesn’t have one, is it really that strange that I haven’t heard of him?”  “Hmph!

Ignorant child!” Brody’s face turned livid with rage.  The thing he hated most was when people brought up the words “famous work.” Many claimed that his success was solely due to studying under Gavin.  But he believed it was simply bad luck-once he performed Distant Homecoming today, that piece would become his defining masterpiece!  “Miss Clark.”  Bella stepped forward and sighed softly.

“Regardless, Mr.

Taylor is a renowned pianist.

You can’t just dismiss his achievements simply because you don’t recognize him.

Everyone here knows his name-except for you… sigh.”  “Mr.

Taylor may not be the greatest in the world, but he is certainly not someone you should be questioning.”  Her words eased Brody’s expression slightly.  Selina found the whole situation baffling.

All she did was ask about Brody’s most famous work-was that really enough to make him lose his composure like this?  Could a pianist truly be considered great without a defining masterpiece?  Some people began muttering snidely:  “How can Selina be so clueless?

Miss Hayes must have gone to great lengths to invite Brody, yet Miss Clark claims she’s never even heard of him.”  “Well, what do you expect from a country bumpkin?

Such a pity for Mr.

Brody-he’s about to cast pearls before swine.”  Bella chuckled.

“That’s not quite right.

Mr.

Brody is actually my teacher, so inviting him wasn’t too much trouble.”  The flattery intensified.  “Miss Hayes is Brody’s student?

My goodness!”  “That means Miss Hayes is a direct disciple of Gavin!

Mr.

and Mrs.

Hayes, congratulations on having such an outstanding daughter!”  “The contrast is striking… Tsk tsk, one is a student of Brody, and the other doesn’t even know who he is.

Honestly, I think Mr.

Reid married the wrong person!”  Bella’s eyes gleamed as she turned to Brody.

“Teacher, please don’t be upset.

Miss Selina isn’t interested in music, which is why she doesn’t know you.

But everyone else here does-who hasn’t heard of your name?”  Brody, basking in the praise, grew even more conceited.  But then…  He suddenly furrowed his brows.

“Selina?

That name sounds familiar.”  Selina blinked.

He found her name familiar?

Strange.

She had never met Brody before.  Before she could make sense of it, Brody abruptly stood up.

His expression twisted into one of pure disgust and hostility.  “I remember now-Selina!

It’s you!

What right do you have to attend Grandma Perry’s birthday banquet?!

You’re shameless!

Absolutely disgraceful!”  …  The air went still for a few seconds.  Everyone was dumbfounded.  What… just happened?  Brody knew Selina?

And he loathed her?  Selina’s expression darkened.

Who was this man, and why was he suddenly pointing at her, throwing insults as if she had personally wronged him?

Did he think she was someone who tolerated such nonsense?  Bella’s eyes flickered with realization, and she quickly stepped forward, deliberately asking, “Teacher, why are you suddenly so angry?

Selina didn’t mean to-“  “My hatred for her isn’t because she hasn’t heard of me.

It’s because…”  Brody let out a cold snort and raised his voice.  “Because four years ago, at the City H Piano Competition, Miss Clark was also a contestant!

But while you, Bella, won the championship, Selina-” he sneered, “-was caught seducing a judge in an attempt to cheat and was permanently disqualified from the competition!”  The moment his words fell, the entire room went dead silent.  Logan’s pupils contracted.

The City H Piano Competition… four years ago?!  The crowd exchanged silent glances, too stunned to speak.  …Seducing a judge?

Permanently disqualified?  Selina… actually did something like that?!  She was only eighteen back then.

Eighteen!

To have committed such a disgraceful act at that age-how could she still have the audacity to marry Logan?!

Selina was utterly baffled-she had never even been to City H four years ago.  Bella gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

“Oh my god… Teacher, could you be mistaken?”  “I would never mistake this!

I’ll take this name to my grave-Selina!

You all have no idea how shameless this woman is!

She stripped naked and climbed into a judge’s bed, and that judge was old enough to be her grandfather!”  “When one attempt failed, she tried seducing another, and she even had the audacity to set her sights on me.

Disgusting!

Absolutely vile!”  Brody sneered with pure contempt.

“Grandma Perry, I refuse to stay in the same place as this woman.

I’m leaving!”  He turned on his heel, ready to walk out.

Instantly, the way people looked at Selina changed.  “How revolting is she?”  “She even drove Mr.

Brody away!

What about the old lady’s birthday celebration?”  “A few baseless accusations, and you dare slander my wife?”  Logan twirled a dagger between his fingers, his gaze ice-cold.

“I seem to recall Mr.

Brody being caught up in certain scandals not too long ago.

Would you like me to remind you?”  “You-!” Brody’s face darkened.

“Mr.

Reid, those so-called scandals were nothing but baseless slander from jealous fools!

How dare you compare them to this?”  “Selina seducing a judge is common knowledge.

The evidence is irrefutable!”  Logan narrowed his eyes dangerously.  Selina, however, simply raised an eyebrow and suddenly smiled.

“Even criminals have the right to defend themselves.

But in my case, Mr.

Taylor, you won’t even allow me a chance to explain?”  Brody scoffed.

“Explain?

Why would I waste my time listening to a shameless woman like-“  “If you’re so certain I seduced a judge, then how about this?” Selina interrupted coolly.  “I propose a competition between myself and Miss Hayes, the champion from four years ago.

What do you all think?”  The room fell into an eerie silence.  Everyone thought Selina had lost her mind.  She had been disqualified in the semifinals, yet she dared challenge a champion?

How could she even think of doing this?!  Logan instinctively turned to look at her.  Brody let out a loud, mocking laugh.

“Selina, do you really want to humiliate yourself?

This is hilarious!

Fine, let’s all witness just how pathetic you really are!”  Bella bit her lip before sighing helplessly.

“Selina, there’s no need for this.

The past is in the past.

Today is Grandma Perry’s birthday.

As juniors, we shouldn’t steal the spotlight.”  Selina remained poised and unbothered.

She lightly ran her fingers over the piano keys and curved her lips into a lazy smile.

“What’s wrong?

Miss Hayes, are you afraid?”  “You-!” Bella’s expression turned slightly pale.  “Selina, I was only trying to look out for you.

But if you insist…” She sighed again before finally nodding.

“Fine.

Let’s compete.”  “But remember, this was your idea.

If you lose, you should apologize to everyone for wasting their time.

Is that acceptable?”  Selina arched an eyebrow.  How odd.

Why was Bella so certain she would lose?  She had never participated in the City H Piano Competition four years ago.

Bella and Brody shouldn’t know her actual skill level.  Yet, they were so confident…  Did they know something?  But Selina had no recollection of this competition at all.

She had never even been to City H, let alone taken part in any contest there.  Bella was celebrating too soon.  After all, she had grown up alongside the renowned pianist Gavin, absorbing knowledge by his side.

Playing a few pieces was no challenge for her.  So…  Selina’s smile deepened as she asked sweetly, “Alright, if I lose, I’ll apologize.

But Miss Hayes, what if you lose?”