Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 85

Chapter 85: She Took the Bait Chapter 85: She Took the Bait Justin had somehow made his way to the edge of the crowd unnoticed.  Vivian’s mind went blank, a deafening buzz echoing in her head as though something heavy had struck her.

She felt utterly disoriented.  That horse belongs to Selina…

which means it threw her off intentionally because of Selina?!  Justin walked forward briskly, his expression cold and laced with sarcasm.

“The little horse belongs to Miss Clark.

So, tell me, does she have the right to be here?”  His gaze then shifted sharply toward Vivian, his tone even colder.

“And you, Miss Perry-I recall sending that invitation to the Perry Family.

But you?

You’re just the Perry Family’s adopted daughter, aren’t you?

And yet, here you are, acting so self-important.”  The crowd exchanged glances, the implication sinking in-an adopted daughter?

And she had the nerve to behave so arrogantly?  Vivian’s face drained of color.

She had been played.

First humiliated, then reprimanded, and now publicly called out by Justin, who had highlighted her status as merely an adopted daughter.  What had she done to deserve this?

How could she have known that someone as insignificant as Selina-a mere “country bumpkin”-would be connected to Justin?  Vivian clutched her face, tears streaming down as she turned and fled.  Justin sneered as he watched her retreating figure.

“Spread the word.

Either this so-called adopted daughter comes and apologizes in person, or no one from the Perry Family sets foot on my property again.”  Selina felt immense satisfaction and began clapping softly, thoroughly entertained.  Justin, having thoroughly ridiculed Vivian, now turned to Selina.

His mocking grin didn’t waver for a second.  “And you…

letting people walk all over you like that without calling for backup.

Vivian?

She’s nothing.

You actually entertained the idea of racing her?

She’s not even qualified.”  Selina: “…”  Justin didn’t let up, his tone brimming with disdain.

“I thought a few years might have helped you grow a brain, but it looks like your brain still hasn’t fully developed.”  Selina: “…”  Her face flushed red.

“Okay, Justin, I get it.

Stop already, or you’ll air all my dirty laundry!”  Logan, standing nearby, watched their interaction with a faint smirk.

His amusement deepened as he listened.

“Mr.

Gray, it seems you and my wife are quite familiar with each other?”  The surrounding atmosphere suddenly froze.  Selina’s expression stiffened.

She had completely forgotten that Logan was still there.  Wait, didn’t she just tell Logan that she didn’t know Justin?

How was she supposed to explain this now-  Justin, completely unfazed, smoothly interjected, “Not at all.

We just met.

Instant rapport.”  Selina subtly gave Justin a thumbs-up.

Truly impressive.  Justin maintained his composure as he explained, “I visited BW Town a few years ago and became acquainted with Mr.

Ford, Miss Clark’s butler.

He mentioned she enjoyed horseback riding, and since I had a young colt at the time, I gifted it to her.”  Logan’s sharp gaze narrowed ever so slightly.  He, of course, was well-acquainted with Mr.

Ford from BW Town.

Justin’s precise mention of both BW Town and Ford suggested one of two things:  Either Justin had simply encountered Selina’s butler in BW Town once, or he knew Selina well enough to be privy to every detail of her past.  Logan nodded faintly, his tone indifferent.

“If you’re not well-acquainted, then Selina and I won’t intrude further.

Mr.

Gray, enjoy yourself.”  Justin hesitated briefly, as if he had more to say to Selina.

But after pressing his lips together, he merely nodded.

“I hope you both enjoy your time here.”  Once Justin had left, Logan’s voice turned languid as he spoke to Selina.

“Mrs.

Reid, your camaraderie with Mr.

Gray seems a little too familiar to believe you just met.”  Selina’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly feigned nonchalance.

“Didn’t Mr.

Gray just say we hit it off instantly?

Why waste time with pleasantries?”  Logan, already forming his own conclusions, didn’t press the matter further.  Instead, he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin as he murmured, “Though judging by how you beat Dylan in that race, it seems you don’t need me to teach you how to ride anymore.”  Selina: “…”  Selina: “!”  Oh no.

She’d slipped up!  Hadn’t she just told Logan before arriving that she couldn’t ride and needed his help?

What was she supposed to say now?  For once, Selina’s face displayed genuine uncertainty, and Logan’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly as he observed her reaction.  “No matter,” he murmured, his voice soft but teasing.

“If Mrs.

Reid wants to keep her little secrets, I can understand.”  Selina’s heartbeat thudded heavily before she exhaled deeply, a wave of relief washing over her.  But her relief was quickly replaced by an overwhelming sense of guilt.  Why was Logan so considerate?

He wasn’t upset about her lying to him-instead, he gave her a graceful way out.

Selina’s eyes brimmed with unshed tears.

If it weren’t for the tangled mess in Country B, she would have confessed everything to him right then and there.  The man’s lips curved into a faint smirk.

Perfect.

She had taken the bait.  He spoke casually, “I told you before-if someone bullies you, you can come to me.

Why didn’t you earlier?

Were you worried I’d side with Vivian?”  Selina’s throat tightened, the excitement on her face gradually fading.  “No… I just thought I could handle it myself, so I didn’t bother you.”  It wasn’t that she feared Logan would take someone else’s side.  She was worried about relying on him too much-and that wouldn’t be good.  Logan easily saw through her lie but didn’t expose her.

“The troublemakers are gone.

Go enjoy yourself.

Go ride your horse.”  Selina hesitated, glancing up at him.  Logan’s tone softened, reassuring her, “You’re already here, and Justin went out of his way to bring your horse back.

You should have fun.”  Her emotions were tangled-a mixture of gratitude and guilt made her expression complicated.  Jack, standing off to the side, was inwardly exasperated: “How could the madam not realize?

It’s so obvious-Logan is baiting her!” A few simple sentences, and he had managed to probe her for all the answers he wanted.  As Logan watched Selina’s retreating figure disappear into the distance, the smile on his face gradually faded.

He turned to Jack and asked, “How did Vivian get in here?”  Jack lowered his head, responding cautiously, “Sir, those two invitations were sent to the old madam by Justin.

However, the old master intercepted them and passed them on to Vivian.”  Logan sneered coldly.

“That family never fails to show favoritism toward their adopted daughter.”  As for Justin and Selina…  Logan chuckled suddenly, recalling their earlier conversation.

Justin had brought up a collaboration opportunity but had slyly slipped in questions about his marital status.  The two of them definitely knew each other.

But what exactly was their relationship?  Justin’s tone when he spoke about Selina seemed protective, almost as if he were her older brother.  But Selina was an only child.

Victoria had passed away long ago-so where would she have gotten a brother?  …  After returning from the stables, Logan didn’t ask Selina anything more about her connection to Justin, and Selina finally let out a sigh of relief.  A few days later, after finishing her class and preparing for lunch, she received an unexpected call.  “Selina, are you free?

Would you come visit Grandpa Carter?”  Selina froze, completely caught off guard.

The call was from Grandpa Carter.  Since her engagement with Ryan had ended, she had deliberately avoided all contact with the Carter family.

From what she had heard, the Carters had more or less accepted Natalia into their fold, making it even less likely for Selina to seek them out.  She hesitated, puzzled.

“Grandpa Carter, is something wrong?”  The old man sighed.

“Selina, can’t I call you just because I miss you?”  Selina quickly shook her head, despite being on the phone.

“That’s not it.”  Grandpa Carter didn’t beat around the bush.

“Actually, I do need to talk to you.

Did you know the Gray family’s eldest son is back in the country?

Twenty years ago, the Gray, Carter, and Clark families worked together on a certain project.”  Selina stiffened.

Gray family?

Justin?  The three families had collaborated twenty years ago?

How had she never heard of this before?  Wait a second.  Twenty years ago was the same year her mother had written her will.  Could this project be connected to her mother?