Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 313

Chapter 313: A Gentle Blade
Riley looked genuinely concerned, as if she had no idea what was going on.

“Jaxon, put the gun down… Nancy, what happened?”

Jaxon didn’t move an inch.

Riley turned to Logan, flustered and seemingly at a loss. “Logan, did Nancy do something to upset you? I’ll apologize for her, okay? Just put the gun away.”

Logan remained calm.

The whole backyard went eerily silent.

Then, Selina let out a soft laugh, breaking the stillness. “Logan, you scared Miss Nelson.”

Only then did Logan give a slight nod, and Jaxon holstered the gun.

Nancy collapsed to the ground with a thud, face pale and terrified.

Selina beamed at Riley, already sure of the answer to the question she hadn’t yet asked.

—Why was Nancy so bold? Because Riley gave her the nerve.

Riley glanced at the flattened herbs on the ground. “Selina, I’m sorry. Nancy’s out of control because I’ve spoiled her. Just name your price for the herbs, and I’ll compensate you.”

Selina cast her a sidelong look.

If she accepted the offer, and the story got out, Nelson Family would look like the reasonable ones.

After all, who’d believe a few herbs were worth that much?

Riley was betting Selina wouldn’t dare name a price. She was wrong.

Selina opened her mouth, but a cool male voice beat her to it.

“Then transfer the 0.5% Reid Group shares under Madam Nelson’s name to my wife as compensation.”

Logan said it casually, like it was no big deal.

“If you agree, Jack will handle the transfer later. If not, well, my wife is generous—she won’t press the matter.”

Madam Nelson’s expression cracked. Her vision swam.

0.5% of Reid Group…!

She had fought tooth and nail to get those shares—now she was supposed to hand them over to Selina?

Nancy was the one who ruined the herbs, so why was she footing the bill?

The shares might sound small, but the annual dividends added up to tens of millions.

She’d held onto them for years without Logan ever raising an eyebrow. Now he suddenly wanted them back? All for Selina?

Just as she was about to explode, Riley quietly held her hand.

“Mom,” Riley said calmly, like it had just occurred to her, “Logan’s right. That was a gift for Hunter. If he doesn’t want it, we should return it.”

Madam Nelson stared at her in disbelief. “Riley, you—”

“Mom, I’ve been meaning to say this. Hunter may be adopted, but he owes the Nelson Family nothing. If anything, we owe our current status to him. You can’t use your role as his adoptive mother to take advantage of his friendship with Logan.”

Selina raised a brow in surprise at Riley’s righteous tone.

Madam Nelson flushed, fuming. “Why should Selina get it, though…”

“Mom!” Riley cut her off sharply. “Selina is Logan’s wife. If Logan agrees, why are you arguing? Those shares were never yours to begin with.”

It seemed Madam Nelson was finally swayed.

Riley let out a subtle breath. “Jack, I’ll leave the rest to you.”

Madam Nelson stormed off with Nancy in tow, radiating fury.

Riley stepped closer to Logan, brows furrowed.

“Logan, I didn’t know Mom hadn’t returned those shares. I really did try to talk her into it… I’m sorry.”

Selina suddenly felt confused.

Why was Riley acting normal now?

From the conversation, it was clear the 0.5% stake was originally a gift from Logan to Hunter.

Madam Nelson had claimed it on the basis of being Hunter’s adoptive mother, but Riley had stood up and insisted it be returned.

From all angles, Riley looked like the “good guy” in this whole act.

Riley seemed to know this wasn’t the time for small talk. “Logan, I’m really sorry for today. I won’t keep you any longer—I’ll get going.”

She even looked over at Selina. “Selina, let’s grab lunch sometime when you’re free.”

With that, Riley walked away.

Selina narrowed her eyes.

If Riley hadn’t tried to provoke her several times the moment she returned to the country, Selina might’ve actually believed she was a genuinely nice person.

Respectful. Polite. Never crossing the line.

But now…

It seemed Miss Nelson operated on a level way above Natalia or Bella.

Selina snapped out of it and turned her head. “Hunter doesn’t get along with the Nelson Family, but he’s close with Riley?”

Logan was slightly surprised by the question. “Yeah.”

“Why?”

Logan answered casually. “Riley went abroad to study when she was a teenager. Hunter looked after her while she was overseas.”

Hunter took care of her…

That made sense.

Even if he was adopted, he and Riley had grown up together. To Hunter, Riley was like a little sister.

He built his career overseas. She studied abroad. Naturally, he’d look after her.

Still, for reasons Selina couldn’t quite explain, hearing this made her heart give a strange, twisting throb—tight and faintly aching.

And oddly… resentful.

Why would she feel that way?

…

Outside Sapphire Valley Villa, Riley got into the car.

Madam Nelson’s face was red with anger. She gritted her teeth. “Riley! Selina smashed our car and you still handed over those shares?! She’s not even worth it!”

Riley shook her head. “Mom, you’re oversimplifying things. You know exactly what kind of man Logan is. He’s friends with my brother—not with you.”

Madam Nelson huffed, “Can’t Hunter just talk to him?!”

Riley sighed, as if thinking aloud. “We can’t expect my brother to step in every time. He’s already busy enough.”

Madam Nelson fumed, “Hunter’s just a stray we picked up. If the Nelson Family hadn’t dragged him out of the gutter, he’d be long dead! I gave him a second life—he owes us!”

Riley gently said, “Mom…”

“Fine, the whole family knows you and Hunter are close. I won’t say more. But don’t forget—he’s not related to you by blood!”

Out of view, in the shadowed corner of the car, Riley’s lips curled in the faintest smirk.

Of course she remembered.

That’s exactly why she found the Nelsons so laughably stupid. No blood ties, yet they threw Hunter a bit of warmth—and he repaid it a thousand times over.

She had played that angle better than anyone—playing the one who “cared” most about Hunter.

And in return, she’d gotten power, status, and wealth beyond imagination… not to mention, gotten closer and closer to Logan.

…

Back in the backyard.

Selina bent down, picking up the scattered herbs. She sorted out a few still usable ones.

“Miller Butler, boil these,” she said calmly. “Let Logan drink a dose later.”

Not far off, Jack watched, curious. “Sir, do you think the madam’s medicine will really help your eyes?”

Logan’s expression stayed flat. “I don’t know.”

Jack: “?”