Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 35

Chapter 35: The Shameless Deadbeat Father Chapter 35: The Shameless Deadbeat Father Victoria’s daughter?!

The executives in the meeting room exchanged confused glances before their eyes turned to Selina.  Katie’s face burned hot with humiliation.

Noah’s bluntness was like a slap across her and her daughter’s faces.  “But… but didn’t you already agree with Ryan to collaborate with Natalia?

I understand that you and Selina are friends, but Mr.

Brown, you can’t go back on your word!

My poor daughter, oh…” Katie’s sobs filled the room.  Noah, visibly irritated by her theatrics, frowned in disgust.

“I agreed to collaborate with the true heiress of the Clark family.

Surely none of you believe that this illegitimate child is the real heiress, do you?”  “Where did you get the audacity to have an illegitimate child pose as the rightful daughter?

Was it this mistress here who gave you the idea?”  The room fell into uncomfortable silence as the realization dawned on everyone.  Noah’s intended partner wasn’t Natalia but Selina-the true Clark family heiress.

The family had simply assumed Noah meant Natalia, but that assumption was now unraveling.  Natalia, born just a month after Selina and as an illegitimate child, had quietly claimed the title of “heiress” for herself.

But how could she presume to take Selina’s place?  Katie’s face was pale with panic as she stammered, “No, no, this must be a misunderstanding-we must’ve gotten it wrong…”  Selina raised an eyebrow, cutting her off with a bright smile as she turned to Natalia.  “Sorry, sister.

It seems Mr.

Brown specifically asked for my mother’s daughter.

Are you so addicted to stealing what isn’t yours that you’re ready to swap mothers too?

Mrs.

Bryant is right next to you, and yet you’re eager to claim someone else’s mom.”  Natalia’s eyes widened with fury.

“I’m not-“  “Oh, so you and Mrs.

Bryant already claimed my achievements, and now Dad’s letting it slide too?” Selina turned to James, her smile tinged with mockery.

“Dad, you really thought Natalia deserved the credit for this?

You don’t find Mr.

Brown’s words surprising at all?”  The crowd nodded in agreement.

Noah had repeatedly referred to the “heiress.” Surely, as their father, James knew which of his daughters was the elder?  James’s blood pressure shot up, his face turning red as he stammered, “Selina, it must’ve been a misunderstanding.

Ryan must’ve miscommunicated, and that’s why I didn’t think of you at first!”  Selina tilted her head.

“Oh, so now you know the truth.

And then?”  James felt like he was on the verge of collapsing.

His rebellious daughter was forcing him to take a side in front of everyone!  Yet if he continued to defend Natalia, he’d lose the partnership entirely…  Gritting his teeth, James finally said, “Selina, this collaboration is all thanks to your efforts.

I’ll remember that.

During the partnership, you’ll take charge of coordinating with Mr.

Brown.”  Katie nearly lost her mind, screaming hysterically despite the setting.

“No!

What about Natalia?

She can’t-ah!”  James quickly clamped his hand over Katie’s mouth and forced a strained smile at Noah.

“Mr.

Brown, please don’t misunderstand.

Katie’s just a little emotional-she didn’t mean anything by it.

Selina, why don’t you take Mr.

Brown for a site inspection later?”  Selina smiled contentedly.

“Of course.

Mr.

Brown, shall we head to the office?”  With that, she led the way out of the meeting room.

The other attendees quickly began to disperse in twos and threes.  Only after the room cleared did James release Katie, shouting furiously, “Have you lost your mind?

How could you say that in front of Noah?!”  Katie burst into tears.

“James, we can’t let this happen!

The news is already out that Natalia is leading the collaboration.

If Selina takes over, what will happen to Natalia?”  Natalia bit her lip, feigning reluctance.

“I don’t want to compete with Sister, but I’m about to marry Ryan.

If I lose face, it’ll reflect poorly on him too.

I’m worried Sister’s actions will only make the Carter family resent me even more.”  James fell silent, taking a moment to calm down.

He knew he couldn’t let Selina take all the credit.  Katie’s eyes darted around as she schemed.

“James, here’s an idea.

Why don’t we let Natalia join Noah on the site visit?

Later, we can say the two sisters worked together on the project.

That way, Selina gets involved, but Natalia still gets the credit.”  James nodded.

“That might work.

Natalia, there will be reporters at the site.

I’ll have the family’s most expensive luxury car prepared for you.

Arriving in style will naturally make people think you’re the one in charge.”  Natalia clenched her fists tightly.

“Understood, Dad.”  Clark Group Office.  Noah reviewed the blueprint for the Clark Group riverside park project and frowned.

“This project has some serious issues.”  Selina blinked innocently.

“That’s why I asked for your help.

Are you saying Mr.

Brown isn’t willing to help me?”  Noah shuddered slightly.

“Don’t talk to me like that!

Fine, fine, since I’ve already agreed to help, I’ll go to the site and see if there’s anything salvageable.

I’ll try to make sure the project doesn’t completely fail…”  Selina tilted her head in confusion.

“Wait.

You think I’m going to help Clark Group improve this project?

Do you really think I’m that kind of person?”  “…Aren’t you?”  Selina suddenly smiled slyly.

“Then I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed, Mr.

Brown.

What I meant was, can you find more flaws in the project?

Make Clark Group lose every penny.”  Noah stared at her in silence before muttering under his breath, “She’s exactly like Logan.

Unbelievable…”  Selina narrowed her eyes.

“What does this have to do with Mr.

Reid?”  Noah’s mouth twitched.

“Nothing.

Let’s go mess them up.”  As he spoke, he sent a message to Logan: [Are you sure Selina needs ‘my care’?]  Logan replied: [Yes.

She has a gentle personality-I’m worried the Clark family might bully her.]  Noah stared at Logan’s message, nearly choking on his own disbelief.  Gentle personality?

Selina?

Is this a joke?  Thirty minutes later.  Noah suggested visiting the site for an inspection.  James had already prepared the luxury car.

“Mr.

Brown, Natalia will accompany you to the site.

She’d like to learn from you.”  Noah, maintaining a calm expression, agreed.  As the group moved to the entrance of the Clark Group building, a luxurious car pulled up.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

The car was worth a fortune-it was the one James had bought at an auction a few years ago for nearly ten million dollars!  James grinned and gestured toward the car.

“Mr.

Brown, please get in.”  Noah took his place in the back seat.

The driver and a vice chairman were already in the car, leaving space for just one more passenger.  Everyone’s gaze shifted between Selina and Natalia.

Both sisters were supposed to go to the site, but there was only one seat left.  Katie chuckled.

“Natalia, you should take the seat.

James was planning to give you this car for your birthday, so you’re already half the owner of it.”  If Natalia was already “half the owner,” then naturally, the final seat should go to her.  Selina raised an eyebrow.

This car cost ten million dollars.

There’s no way James’s business acumen could generate that much disposable income.

The money for this car must have come from my mother’s inheritance.  If this car was bought with my mother’s money, why should Natalia get to sit in it while I don’t?

Noah, sitting in the car, narrowed his eyes.

He noticed Selina’s silence and suddenly remembered Logan’s description of her: “She has a gentle personality.”