Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Backing Chapter 72: Backing The living room fell silent.  James’s throat tightened, and the servants instinctively glanced over.  If the fiancée of Ryan was truly the eldest daughter of the Clark Family…  Then Mr.

Clark’s words were beyond shameless!  James’s legs nearly gave out.

He stammered, “M-Mr.

Reid, where did you hear that?

Ryan’s fiancée has always been Natalia.”  “Oh?

Then it seems my information was mistaken.” Logan didn’t press further.  James had barely exhaled in relief when he noticed Logan casually turning his head toward the screen behind them.  “Ethan, was the information you gave me wrong, or is Mr.

Clark deliberately lying?”  James instinctively turned his head, his expression freezing in place.  Behind the screen sat a group of people!  Ethan, Alice, Noah, and a handful of Ethan’s friends lounged in the reception room.

Who knew how long they had been listening?  Natalia’s face turned pale as she was gripped by a sudden sense of dread.  Even if others didn’t know, at least the Drake siblings and Noah knew the truth!  Sure enough, Alice let out a cold laugh.

“Mistaken?

Logan, the matter of Natalia snatching her way into the engagement was something Mr.

Clark himself admitted at his fiftieth birthday banquet!”  Noah sneered as well.

“And to think I used to believe the Clark Family treated Selina decently.

Turns out it was all an act!

You frame her as a homewrecker, while the real culprit plays the victim?”  The others chimed in, voices dripping with disdain:  “We all know the truth.

Who do you think you’re fooling?”  “Listening to Mr.

Clark, it’s clear Natalia’s the one without shame.

She’s the one with the poor character.

If the collaboration goes to Natalia, the Clark Family is done for!”  “Mr.

Clark was quick to criticize Selina, but when it comes to Natalia, this fake heiress and true homewrecker, you can’t bring yourself to say a word?”  Ethan delivered the final blow.

“Logan, anyone willing to slander their own daughter can’t be trusted.

I’d recommend scrapping the collaboration altogether-who knows when he might stab you in the back?”  Miller Butler joined in, feigning regret.

“Ah!

I can’t believe I believed Natalia.

Who would’ve thought she was acting all along?

Mr.

Clark, how could you favor such a deceitful illegitimate child?

I’ll make sure everyone knows the truth-no one else should fall for this like I did.”  Natalia panicked, tears streaming uncontrollably.  No, no!

What were they saying?  Didn’t men love gentle, delicate women like her?

Why were they treating her this way?  Where had it all gone wrong?  Logan’s tone remained indifferent.

“I don’t like dishonest people.

If that’s the case, the collaboration is off.

Miller Butler, see them out.”  James felt as though something had struck him in the head.

Terror and panic surged through him.

“Mr.

Reid, Mr.

Reid!

Let me explain!

It’s not like that, no, no…”  But the Sapphire Valley Villa security guards gave him no chance to protest, hauling him out the door without hesitation.  Selina slowly curved her lips into a smile.

Meeting Natalia’s gaze, she silently mouthed: The Clark Family’s last hope is gone.  Natalia’s mind swirled with dizziness.  Selina had planned all of this.

Everything today was her scheme!  The collaboration… that’s right, they had come here for the collaboration.  But now Logan had refused to invest, and both Ethan and Noah had declared their withdrawal…  The Clark Family had already sunk 300 million into the project.

Without Logan and Noah, after today, that money would vanish like water into the ocean.  For the first time, Natalia felt true fear.

Had she lost to Selina?

No, impossible!  “Little sister, aren’t you leaving?” Selina said casually.

“Shall I have the guards help you out?”  “Don’t get cocky, Selina!” Natalia hissed under her breath.

“I still have Ryan… just wait and see!”  “Alright, let’s wait and see.” Selina let out a light laugh.

“But now, it’s time for you to leave.

My apologies-I won’t be seeing you off~” Natalia stumbled as she was pushed out of the door.

She unwillingly turned back, her gaze falling directly on Logan’s wrist- where a couple’s watch was strapped.  Natalia froze in panic, her breath nearly stopping.  That watch… it was identical to the couple’s watch Selina had bought!  No, what did that country bumpkin Selina even amount to?

How could she and Logan possibly be wearing matching watches?  It had to be a mistake!  …  Selina returned to the living room to find that everyone had already left.  She was puzzled.

Why had Alice and the others gone?

Wasn’t Logan hosting them as guests?  Just then, a text came through on her phone.  Alice: “Logan suddenly called me and told me to be at Sapphire Valley Villa within the hour.

I thought it was an emergency, but turns out it was just to back you up.”  Selina froze, blinking in confusion.  They… were all called here by Logan, just to support her?  Another message from Alice popped up: “Looking at your expression, you didn’t know, did you?” Selina: “…”  She glanced up quietly, just as Logan set down a document and looked over at her.

Their eyes met, and for some reason, her cheeks felt warm.  Logan asked casually, “Alice told you?”  Selina felt a wave of embarrassment.

She jumped to her feet, her voice stammering.

“Your friends know about us… won’t it… be bad?”  Logan’s tone was calm.

“Bad?

For keeping our marriage a secret?”  Before Selina could answer, Logan chuckled lightly.

“It’s going to be public sooner or later.

What difference does it make if they know now or six months from now?”  The difference is huge!  Selina lowered her head in shame.

She really was a terrible person.

They had agreed to go public in six months, yet here she was, secretly wanting to keep their marriage under wraps.  But she couldn’t admit it, so she buried her guilt deep inside.  The problem with guilt, however, is that the more you try to bury it, the deeper it takes root.  Selina’s gaze grew complicated, her emotions a tangle of things she couldn’t put into words.

“Logan, thank you for helping me today.

I don’t know how to repay you… How about I cook dinner for you?”  Logan’s lips curved into a faint smile.

“Sure, but…”  Selina, already thinking about what to cook, paused mid-thought.

“But what?”  Logan looked at her lazily.

“But, Mrs.

Reid, have you ever been in a kitchen before?”  Selina choked on her words.  Logan didn’t press her further.

His tone was gentle, his smile warm.

“I’ll be waiting for your dinner.”  Once Selina scurried off to the kitchen, Jack sighed.

“Mrs.

Reid is so pure.”  Someone offering to cook a meal as thanks?

If that wasn’t pure, what was?  Logan cast him an amused glance.

“Pure?

Jack, even with three hundred tricks up your sleeve, you wouldn’t be a match for her.”  She feels guilty when I mention going public.

Looks like Mrs.

Reid doesn’t fully trust me yet.  Half an hour later, Logan raised an eyebrow and headed toward the kitchen.  For some reason, he found himself looking forward to what Mrs.

Reid might whip up.  Just as he approached, a loud bang came from the kitchen.  Selina stood helplessly by the stove, her wide, deer-like eyes darting toward him in confusion.  Logan: “…”  He was silent for two seconds before striding into the kitchen.