Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 19

Chapter 19: The Stepmother’s Scheme Chapter 19: The Stepmother’s Scheme Rachel’s tears streamed down instantly.

“Logan, how can you be so heartless?

We grew up together as childhood sweethearts!

Didn’t you promise my sister that you’d marry me?”  “Now, just because I made one tiny mistake, you break off the engagement and marry this woman who’s inferior to me in every way!”  Selina’s expression flickered.

Rachel’s words implied… Logan had promised to marry her because of her sister?  Before Selina could make sense of it, Jack, standing nearby, spoke up:  “Miss Rachel Hayes, this so-called ‘tiny mistake’ was stealing Mr.

Logan’s trade secrets and handing them over to his biggest rival, wasn’t it?”  Rachel’s expression froze in an instant.  “I-I…”  Logan had no intention of listening further.

“Show her out.”  Without hesitation, Jack escorted Rachel out the door.  Suddenly, the living room fell silent, leaving only Logan and Selina.  Selina was still in shock.

No wonder she’d heard rumors a few days ago about an internal mole in the Reid Group.

To think the culprit was Logan’s own fiancée, stealing his trade secrets!  This was what she called a “tiny mistake”?  “Miss Clark,” Logan’s calm voice interrupted her thoughts as he turned his gaze to her.

“What did you say to Rachel earlier?”  What did she say?  Selina thought back, and her face paled in an instant.  Oh no!

She had just blurted out Logan’s “condition” in front of everyone to shut Rachel up!  Logan’s smile deepened.

“It seems Miss Clark remembers now.”  After a pause, he chuckled softly and asked, “Impotent?”  Hearing this, Selina felt like a knife was pressed to her throat.

One wrong word, and she was done for.  She swallowed hard and racked her brain for an explanation.

“What if… I said I did it for your own good?”  Logan raised an eyebrow, leaning in slightly.

“Oh?

Do elaborate.”  Selina felt like she was dancing in a minefield.

If she stopped, she’d die; if she kept going, she’d also die.  Composing herself, she tried to sound as convincing as possible.

“Because there are too many people pursuing you.

For the sake of our marital stability, I had no choice but to take this approach.

Otherwise, when Rachel claims she’s carrying your child, how would you prove it’s not yours?”  “I was helping you avoid unnecessary trouble, preventing her from running around spreading rumors.”  Logan nodded thoughtfully.

“So, I should be thanking you.”  “No, no, as long as you understand my intentions, that’s enough.”  Selina glanced at him cautiously, her gaze involuntarily drifting downward.

“You’ve been at the hospital for quite a while… What did the doctor say?”  Logan suddenly chuckled.

“And what do you think I went to the hospital for?”  Selina hesitated.

How could she just blurt something like that out?  Lowering her head, she mumbled, “Don’t worry, Mr.

Reid.

Whatever private condition you have, I’ll keep it a secret for you!”  “It seems Miss Clark still has some misunderstandings about me.”  Logan clicked his tongue and took a step forward, trapping her against the wall.

He twirled a strand of her hair between his fingers and spoke slowly, “I think it’s time I corrected your perception.”  Selina had a bad feeling, especially as the overwhelming scent of male pheromones hit her.

Her knees suddenly went weak.

“Ah!”  A warm hand suddenly wrapped around her waist, the heat seeping through her clothes as it slowly moved upward.  Wherever his hand touched, it felt like fire igniting.

Selina had no idea Logan was capable of this, and it felt as though she no longer had control over her own body.  Her eyes started to glaze over as her lips parted slightly.

“Lo… Logan…”  “Now, Miss Clark, do you still think I’m incapable?”  Selina wouldn’t dare say yes.

Her mind was muddled, her ears barely registering sounds.

Acting purely on survival instinct, she shook her head frantically.

“No, no.”  Logan’s lips curled into a smile as he leaned in closer.

Selina instinctively shut her eyes tightly-  “Logan, I heard Rachel came by.

She still has the nerve to look for you?”  A voice sounded from the doorway, and time seemed to freeze.  Selina panicked, quickly shoving Logan away.

She scrambled to her feet and bolted upstairs in a flurry.  Ethan casually pushed the door open, stepping inside.

Sensing the odd atmosphere, he asked, “What were you two up to?”  Logan narrowed his eyes.

“Do you need something?”  A sudden chill ran down Ethan’s spine, and he swallowed hard.  “No, not really.

I just wanted to remind you that Rachel is definitely going to complain to her family.

And Mrs.

Hayes is a real piece of work.

Honestly, sometimes I wonder if the eldest daughter of the Hayes family even belongs to them.

How can two sisters be so different?”  Selina, eavesdropping upstairs, perked up at the mention of the Hayes family’s eldest daughter.  Was this the “sister” Rachel had been referring to?  And did she have a good relationship with Logan and his circle?  Logan didn’t respond.

Instead, his gaze flickered meaningfully toward the upstairs.  Selina shivered.

She could still feel the lingering warmth of his hand on her waist and hurried to take a shower.  …

Logan turned to Ethan, his tone casual.

“I recall that you have a partnership with the Clark Group?”  Ethan nodded.

“One of the Drake family’s subsidiaries is collaborating with the Clark Group.

Why?”  Logan’s voice remained indifferent.

“Pull out.”  Ethan raised a brow.

If he canceled the collaboration, everyone would know it was at Logan’s instruction.  Was Logan trying to stand up for the eldest daughter of the Clark family?  …

James answered a call and bolted out of bed, his face pale with panic.  Two lucrative deals had abruptly fallen through.

After frantically questioning contacts, someone finally hinted that his daughter had offended someone at the awards ceremony at City A University earlier that day.  By the time Natalia arrived, the living room lights were ablaze.

She covered her mouth, crying uncontrollably, and knelt before James with a loud thud.  “Natalia, what are you doing?”  “Dad, I heard about the two canceled deals.

I’m so sorry-it’s all my fault.

Dad, I’ll move out.”  James panicked.

“What are you talking about?

Why would you move out?”  Katie, her voice choked with tears, added, “James, you don’t understand.

Natalia was invited to present at the awards ceremony today, but Selina set her up.

She was humiliated in front of everyone and even scolded by Old Mr.

Carter.”  “Those companies must have heard about it and don’t want to offend Old Mr.

Carter, so they’re cutting ties with us to avoid trouble.”  Natalia sobbed, “This is all my fault.

If I listened to my sister, this wouldn’t have happened.…”  “Dad, let Mom and me leave.

My sister doesn’t want me here.

I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.”  Seeing his wife and daughter in tears, James’s heart ached.

Without thinking, he directed all his anger at Selina.  “You’re not going anywhere!

The trouble is Selina’s doing, so she’ll fix it!

Just an awards presenter-if Natalia wanted the role, Selina should’ve let her have it!

Instead, she escalates things and brings bad luck!”  James’s voice darkened.

“If Selina doesn’t make up for the company’s losses, I’ll make her pay!”  Katie suppressed the glint of calculation in her eyes and suddenly suggested, “James, Selina’s just a girl.

How could she cover tens of millions in losses?

Why don’t we find another partner?”  James frowned.

“But who would step in halfway and hand over tens of millions to the Clark Group?”  Katie smirked coldly.

“If no other avenues work, a business marriage then..”  “Ryan doesn’t want Selina anymore.

What decent man could she marry now?

Isn’t it up to you, her father, to arrange it?”