Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 36

Chapter 36: A Plan Thwarted Chapter 36: A Plan Thwarted Natalia feigned concern, shaking her head.

“But if I take the car, how will my sister get to the site?”  James, visibly annoyed, waved it off.

“The company doesn’t have any extra cars.

Let her take a taxi.

Natalia, you’re the apple of your parents’ eye, and it’s only fitting for you to ride in this car.

That’s just how it is.”  Katie, playing her part, turned to Selina with mock sincerity.  “Selina, you’re such a good child.

You wouldn’t compete with Natalia over this, would you?”  Selina smiled faintly.

Take a taxi?  Natalia and Noah would arrive at the site in a $10 million luxury car while she arrived in a taxi.

By the time reporters spun their stories, Natalia would undoubtedly be painted as the project leader.  Did they really think she’d fall for such a simple trap?  A flash of contempt crossed Natalia’s eyes.  So what if Noah favors Selina?

Natalia thought smugly.

With the full support of the Clark family behind me, there’s no way Selina can win.  Feeling triumphant, Natalia shot Selina a smug grin and gestured for the driver to open the car door.

She was just about to get in when-  “Mr.

Clark, I must say something,” Noah’s voice suddenly cut through as he rolled down the car window.

“You seem a bit too harsh on your own daughter.”  James assumed Noah was about to plead on Selina’s behalf and quickly explained, “Mr.

Brown, it’s just a small matter.

She can take a taxi.

Even if she’s my daughter, I can’t let her become spoiled!”  Noah’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Oh, I see.

I understand your frustration with Natalia posing as the project leader, but since she’s also going to the site, shouldn’t you arrange a car for her too?

Even if she’s an illegitimate child, she’s still your daughter.

Making her take a taxi-what kind of impression would that give?”  …  James froze, his words stuck in his throat.  Noah thought the car was for Selina and that Natalia would be taking the taxi?  Tears welled up in Natalia’s eyes as she stammered, “Mr.

Brown, you misunderstand.

My father-“  “Misunderstand?” Noah raised an eyebrow.

“But I clearly heard Clark say, ‘The company doesn’t have any extra cars.

Let her take a taxi.’ Are you suggesting the ‘her’ referred to Selina and not Natalia?”  James instinctively opened his mouth to confirm it was Selina, but Noah narrowed his eyes, his tone dropping with deliberate weight.  “Mr.

Clark, if the real eldest daughter of the Clark family has to take a taxi to the site, surely this illegitimate daughter can’t be the one riding in a $10 million car.

Don’t you agree?”  “Especially since this car was purchased with Victoria’s inheritance.

I trust you wouldn’t be so blind as to coddle an unaccomplished illegitimate child while ignoring the project’s key contributor.

If word got out, Mr.

Clark, how would you face the world?”  James’s face drained of color, going stark white.  He hadn’t anticipated Noah flipping the situation like this.

The car, originally meant to boost Natalia’s image, now made her look entirely unworthy.  Natalia’s smug expression froze, her lips trembling as if she’d seen a ghost.

“Mr.

Brown, this car…”  Noah arched an eyebrow, his tone light but cutting.

“Why the faces, Mr.

Clark and Miss Natalia?

Could it be I’m mistaken?

Should Selina be the one taking the taxi while this car was actually a gift for your illegitimate daughter?”  The pointed questions landed like blows, leaving everyone stunned.  James scrambled for an explanation, but Noah stepped out of the car before he could speak.  “Well, if that’s the case, I see no need for this partnership.

I agreed to this project for Miss Selina’s sake.

Who knew Clark Group would be so blatantly unfair.”  Noah shrugged casually.

“Mr.

Clark, I have no interest in collaborating with a family that sides with illegitimate children over their rightful heirs.

Goodbye.”  James was filled with panic-this collaboration was Clark Group’s lifeline!  If Noah left and the deal fell apart, not only would he be unable to face the shareholders, but he might even have to mortgage the family villa!  Terror surged through him as he rushed forward, ignoring Natalia’s resentful gaze, and spoke with an ingratiating tone.  “It’s all a misunderstanding!

How could I treat Selina that way?

That luxury car was prepared for Selina!”  Natalia staggered slightly.

“Dad…”  That car was supposed to be hers, her symbol of pride.

How could it be taken by Selina?!  But James had no time to deal with Natalia’s emotions.

He turned to Selina, putting on a facade of fatherly affection.  “Selina, my dear, you’re too much sometimes!

Saying the car was too ostentatious and refusing to ride in it-it caused this misunderstanding with Mr.

Brown.

Go on, get in the car now.”  Noah gave a faint smile.

“Ah, so it was my misunderstanding.”  James clenched his fists, wishing he could strangle Selina on the spot, but all he could do was maintain his fake smile.  “Exactly!

Selina is my most cherished daughter.

Natalia, on the other hand, is just an illegitimate child, not worthy of the spotlight.

Allowing her to learn a thing or two by your side is already a privilege-thinking about riding in the luxury car?

Absolutely not.”  Natalia’s tears fell like a waterfall, and she nearly fainted from humiliation.  Noah finally smiled with satisfaction.

“Good to hear.

I trust that Mr.

Clark isn’t the type to lose his head over a mistress.

Miss Clark, please get in the car.

As for Natalia…”  He paused, his voice taking on a heavy edge.  “If Natalia insists on going to the site, I won’t stop her.

She can take a taxi and make sure to arrive in half an hour.”  Natalia looked as though she might actually collapse.

Making her take a taxi and show up late?

This was clearly a deliberate attempt to humiliate her!  Noah opened the car door for Selina, gesturing politely.

“Miss Clark, after you.”  Selina approached the car but stopped to glance back.

“Sister, I’m so sorry.

This isn’t what I wanted, but as Mrs.

Bryant said, maybe this is just fate.”  As the car sped away, Natalia’s legs gave out, and she crumpled to the ground.  After the site inspection.  Noah drove Selina home, curious.

“Earlier, if I hadn’t stepped in, were you really planning to take a taxi?”  Could Logan have been right?

Does Selina actually have a good temper now, only getting upset when absolutely necessary?  Without looking up, Selina responded nonchalantly, “Oh, if you hadn’t helped, I was planning to smash the car.”  Noah: “…” Never mind.

She hasn’t changed a bit.  Sapphire Valley Villa.  Noah’s car pulled away after dropping her off.

Selina walked into the villa alone, but something felt off.  The house was pitch black-all the lights were off, and heavy curtains blocked out any daylight.  It was only three in the afternoon, yet the villa was shrouded in darkness.

Disoriented, Selina almost tripped as her eyes struggled to adjust.  She groped for the light switch but, after flipping it several times, realized the lights wouldn’t turn on.

A power outage?

Did Logan leave the house?  Carefully, she made her way upstairs in the dark when suddenly a shadow flitted past her.  “Ah!” Selina’s legs nearly gave out beneath her.  Warm, strong hands caught her waist, steadying her.

A low, gravelly voice murmured near her ear, “Mrs.

Reid, what are you doing?”  Selina: “…”  What am I doing?

What are YOU doing?!  In broad daylight, with no sleep or work to excuse it, why had Logan turned off the power, drawn all the curtains, and started acting so mysteriously?

What kind of eccentric behavior was this for a rich man?  Just as she was about to speak, Selina noticed something unusual-something damp against her hands.  Her palm was pressed directly against Logan’s bare skin, and she could feel his firm but not overly exaggerated abdominal muscles beneath her touch…  Selina froze.

Her brain turned to mush.  He… he had just taken a shower and wasn’t wearing any clothes!