Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Uninvited Guests Chapter 37: Uninvited Guests This realization made Selina’s face flush red, her hands unsure where to go.  She couldn’t see anything in the pitch-dark room, and without her sight, her other senses were heightened.

She could feel the rhythmic beat of Logan’s heart, the defined shape of his abs, and further down…  Selina immediately stopped her thoughts, mortified and furious.

“Why are you walking around the house with nothing on?!”  Logan paused briefly before letting out a soft chuckle.

“Mrs.

Reid, I heard your voice and thought something happened, so I came out immediately.

Who wears clothes while showering?”  The logic was sound, but Selina still found herself choking on her words.

“Then… then at least put something on…”  His voice grew husky.

“It was urgent.

I only had time to grab a towel.”  Selina let out a breath of relief.

Thank goodness-at least he was wearing something below.  But as she replayed the scene in her head, her annoyance surged.

The only reason she nearly fell was because of him!  Grinding her teeth, she snapped, “Why didn’t you turn on the lights?”  Logan’s gaze flickered momentarily before he looked away, his tone calm.

“The circuit seems to have an issue.

I’ve already called Jack to fix it.”  Selina frowned, unconvinced.

Really?  “Then why did you draw the curtains?”  Logan’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“I don’t like others prying into my privacy.”  Selina was momentarily at a loss for words.

Privacy?

Sapphire Valley Villa was surrounded by empty space-there wasn’t another house in sight.

Who could possibly spy on him?  Before she could question further, a faint collision sound echoed through the darkness.  Logan frowned and reached out to steady himself against the staircase railing.  Selina realized what had happened.

“Did you just hit the railing?

Logan, can you not see?”  It was strange-her phone’s flashlight was on, and while dim, it should have provided enough visibility to avoid bumping into things.

Logan walking straight into the railing filled her with a peculiar sense of unease.  Is Logan being treated for something?

An eye condition?  But she’d never heard of the Carter family heir having any vision problems.  Selina wrestled with her thoughts, starting to say, “Logan-“  At that moment, a soft humming filled the villa, and all the lights flickered back on simultaneously.  Selina instinctively glanced at Logan’s eyes, but he reacted faster, raising a hand to shield them.

A few seconds later, he lowered it.  “It’s too bright.

I need to adjust.”  Selina nodded, realizing belatedly that her own eyes felt strained from the sudden brightness.  Logan smiled faintly.

“You were about to ask me something?”  His calm, unreadable gaze settled on her, making her hesitate.

Shaking her head, she swallowed her words.

“Nothing.”  I must be overthinking it.

Logan couldn’t possibly have vision problems.  “Mrs.

Reid, don’t lie to me.”  He tilted her chin gently, forcing her to meet his eyes.  “I’m not lying.

I just…”  Her words faltered as Logan’s body came into full view, completely unguarded.

Selina froze, her breath hitching, before quickly covering her eyes.

Her voice wavered.  “I just care about you, that’s all!

Now-put some clothes on!

I’m leaving!”  With that, she wriggled out of his arms and bolted like her life depended on it.  Watching her retreating figure, Logan let out a quiet chuckle.

“So shy.”  The earlier encounter had left Selina so shaken that even after retreating to her room, she couldn’t calm down.  Why on earth wasn’t he wearing clothes?!  When she finally went downstairs for dinner, she couldn’t help being overly cautious, avoiding Logan’s gaze entirely.  The meal passed in an awkward, tense silence.

Selina barely touched her food, eager to escape back upstairs as soon as possible.  As she was about to slip away, Miller, the butler, rushed in.

“Sir, Mrs.

Hayes and Miss Hayes are here.”  Selina’s ears perked up.  Them again?

Haven’t they had enough of getting humiliated?  Logan paused mid-motion, letting out a derisive laugh.

“Not seeing them.”  Miller hesitated, looking uncomfortable.

“I’ve already told them you’re not accepting visitors, sir, but they…”  Before he could finish, Rachel’s pitiful voice drifted in from outside.

“Logan, I’m sorry… I came to apologize…”  Logan narrowed his eyes, irritation flashing across his gaze.  Rachel and Mrs.

Hayes, given their status, had managed to barge in despite the guards’ reluctance to intervene.

Rachel’s innocent and pitiful gaze quickly fell on Selina.  “Logan, I have something to say to you.

Can you ask Selina to leave?”  Selina raised an eyebrow, amused at Rachel’s audacity.

A guest asking the host to leave?

Where does she get the nerve?  She found it baffling that this mother-daughter duo had the gall to show up.

Rachel had leaked sensitive information about Reid Group, yet she still expected Logan to marry her.

Did she think everyone was an easy mark?  Logan’s voice was calm, indifferent.

He cast a brief glance at the pair.

“I’ve already said everything that needs to be said.

I don’t see any reason to have a private conversation with Miss Hayes.”  Rachel’s eyes welled with tears, and she began to sob.

“Logan, how can you be so cruel to me?

Can’t you give me just one more chance?”  Mrs.

Hayes sighed dramatically.

“Logan, this child has been crying non-stop since she got home.

Her eyes are swollen from days of tears.

All she wants is your forgiveness.”  Her gaze quickly shifted to Selina, her tone laced with insinuation.

“I understand-you have Miss Clark now and no longer care about Rachel.

But can’t you at least remain friends?”  The air in the room grew tense, an awkward silence settling over everyone.  Selina almost clapped for the duo.  Last time I saw them, they were arrogant, calling me a ‘lowly nobody.’ And now?

They’ve fully embraced the helpless damsel act.

Impressive.  Logan didn’t even glance at them.

“Miller, see them out.”  “Yes, sir,” Miller replied immediately.  Rachel’s tears flowed harder.

“Logan, how can you do this?

Are you really throwing me out because of *her*?

If you send me away, I won’t live anymore!”  Selina’s patience wore thin.

She was about to head upstairs to sleep when-  “Stop crying.

You made your own mistakes, and you’re the only one to blame.

Don’t pin this on anyone else!”  A commanding male voice rang out from the doorway.  A man in his fifties stepped inside, his expression stern.

He snapped at Rachel, “You’re not a child anymore.

Do you know how to do anything besides cry when faced with a mistake?”  “B-but, Father,” Rachel whimpered, “I know I messed up, and I’ve been trying to make amends… But Logan already has someone else.

He doesn’t want me anymore…”  The man sighed heavily.

“Enough.

Dry your tears.

Logan won’t hold a grudge against you.”  He turned to Selina, his tone sharp yet faintly condescending.

“You must be Miss Clark.

Rachel, look at Miss Clark-she remains composed and calm no matter the situation.

Unlike you, who wears your heart on your sleeve.

You’re over twenty and still act like a child.

I take the blame for raising you so spoiled, but it’s no wonder Logan chose Miss Clark instead.”  Selina pieced it together immediately.

This must be Rachel’s father, Liam Hayes.  No wonder Rachel and Mrs.

Hayes suddenly turned into meek little flowers-they’ve got a strategist coaching them now.  Liam turned his full attention to Selina, his expression calculated.

“Miss Clark, don’t you agree with me?”