Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 89

Chapter 89: Turning the Tables Chapter 89: Turning the Tables As Natalia’s words fell, the crowd’s gazes toward Selina shifted to disdain.  “I never thought she’d steal her sister’s bracelet.”  “Didn’t you hear what Jillian said?

She’s not used to luxury-probably couldn’t help herself when she saw something valuable!”  “No wonder the Clark Family resents her.

If I had a daughter who stooped to stealing, I’d disown her too.”  Ryan, standing protectively by Natalia’s side, spoke with a reprimanding tone.

“Selina, is there anything you lack?

Why would you bully Natalia?”  Selina finally raised her eyes, her voice calm but cutting.

“You think I stole something?”  Ryan, frustrated by what he saw as her refusal to admit wrongdoing, retorted, “What else?

How else did Natalia’s bracelet end up in your hands?”  A faint, cold smile curled Selina’s lips.  Old Mr.

Carter’s face darkened.

“Enough.

Are we still eating, or not?

It’s just a bracelet-why would Selina need to steal it?”  Ryan, visibly irate, couldn’t understand his grandfather’s insistence on defending Selina.

“Grandpa, the evidence is right there!

Selina clearly-“  “Ryan, please don’t!” Natalia interrupted, her eyes brimming with tears, feigning urgency.  “Selina didn’t steal anything.

The bracelet… the bracelet was borrowed.

She asked me for it earlier-I must’ve forgotten.

Please don’t blame her, Ryan.”  Her words, spoken with such self-sacrifice, only painted Selina in a worse light.  Jillian seized the moment to escalate the tension, turning to Old Mr.

Carter.

“Dad, Natalia is being considerate, but I can’t just let this go.

Selina is clearly abusing your favoritism to act out, showing no respect for the Carter Family!”  Avery chimed in dramatically, “Natalia, even now you’re defending her?

Today it’s a stolen bracelet-what’s next?

Stealing someone’s man?”  Natalia bowed her head, guilt washing over her face.

“That’s not true…”  Ryan, his voice cold, said, “Selina, no matter your reasoning, you must face the consequences of theft.”  “Even a criminal has the right to defend themselves,” Selina said, her tone suddenly sharp.

“You’re ready to convict me without letting me explain?”  Selina slowly lifted her chin, her voice steady.

“What if I told you this bracelet is mine?”  Ryan scoffed, as if she’d just made the most ridiculous claim he’d ever heard.

“Yours?

This sapphire bracelet is one of a kind-Uncle Clark gave it to Natalia for her coming-of-age gift!

Do you think we’re all fools?”  “Ryan, if you don’t believe me, why don’t we head to an appraisal office?

We’ll see if this bracelet is authentic or not.”  Under the weight of the crowd’s gaze, Selina removed the bracelet from her wrist, her demeanor shifting from confident to vulnerable.  With a trembling voice, she continued, “Father gave both Natalia and me bracelets for our coming-of-age gifts.

Hers was a genuine sapphire, but mine… mine was a glass imitation.”  “I know Father never liked me.

I’ve spent my entire life walking on eggshells around my stepmother, just trying to survive in that household.”  “I never wanted to compete with Natalia.

I never even told anyone the truth about my bracelet because… because I didn’t want to create trouble.

But now you’re all using it to accuse me of theft.”  Her voice hardened.

“Natalia, you said your bracelet was stolen.

Why don’t you open your bag and show everyone?”  The room fell into a tense silence.  A few socialites stepped closer, examining the bracelet Selina had removed.

From afar, it looked identical to Natalia’s-but up close, it was clearly glass.  Ryan felt as if ice water had been dumped over his head.

He stared blankly at the bracelet, a voice echoing in his mind: You’re done for.  And indeed, the moment the realization set in, the room erupted with condemnation.  “How horrible!

Why would the Clark Family treat her so differently?”  “Exactly!

One daughter gets a priceless sapphire, and the other gets a cheap knockoff?

And Natalia still has the audacity to play the victim?”  “Did you hear what Selina said?

She’s been living under the thumb of her father’s mistress.

The Clark Family is disgusting!”  Justin smirked, adding fuel to the fire.

“Is this the type of woman you’re proud of?

A scheming illegitimate daughter who only knows how to frame her sister?” Natalia’s face turned deathly pale as she staggered back a step.  The glass bracelet-what was going on?!

No, this couldn’t be real.

Selina was setting her up!  “Ah-look!”  Before Natalia could come up with an explanation, Selina took a step forward, pretending to stumble into Natalia.

In the commotion, Selina deftly slipped the real sapphire bracelet back into Natalia’s bag.  A moment later-thud!

The bag fell to the floor, and a gleaming sapphire bracelet tumbled out.  Its pristine color and sparkling gemstones caught everyone’s attention, leaving them stunned.  “The real bracelet was in Natalia’s bag all along!

My God, it’s bad enough for a mistress’s daughter to act so entitled, but framing someone?!”  “Ryan was preaching righteousness just a moment ago-how does Carter Family have someone so foolish?”  “This whole scene smells like a setup.

Natalia and Ryan are probably working together to ruin Selina’s reputation so no one questions Natalia’s climb as the mistress’s daughter!”  The crowd’s murmurs grew louder as their piercing gazes shifted between Natalia and Ryan.

Both of them turned pale, their faces alternating between shades of red and white, suffocated by the weight of public judgment.  Ryan, never having experienced such humiliation, found himself at a complete loss for words.

Desperately, he tried to salvage the situation.

“Natalia just made an honest mistake in a moment of panic!

And she was defending Selina earlier!

Selina, can’t you be more understanding?”  “Why should I be understanding?”  Selina abruptly set down her chopsticks and stood up.

Her voice rang clear and sharp:  “Ryan, you cheated first.

You and Natalia wronged me.”  “But neither of you have shown the slightest bit of remorse.

Instead, you flaunt your relationship and mock me to my face.

And now?

Now you’re trying to frame me too.”  “Would it take me dying for you to finally leave me alone?

I’ve already broken off the engagement.

Can’t you just let me live in peace?”  She turned to Old Mr.

Carter, bowing deeply.

“Grandpa Carter, it’s clear your family doesn’t welcome me here.

I won’t stay to endure this humiliation.

Regarding the cooperation, I’ll go straight to the office to discuss it in the future.

Goodbye.”  With that, Selina gave them all a resolute, unyielding silhouette as she walked out with her head held high.  Justin: “I’ve had enough of this!

Ryan, you wronged her first, and now you want to drive her into a corner?

Old Mr.

Carter, forgive me, but I’ll be taking my leave as well!”  The remaining guests exchanged uneasy glances.

With the eldest son of the Gray Family leaving in anger, lingering too long might put them on the wrong side of the powerful family.

One by one, they made excuses to leave.  Natalia’s face contorted in fury, while Jillian, caught off guard, stammered, “Why is everyone leaving?

It was just a little misunderstanding!

Selina is so petty-“  “Shut up!”  Old Mr.

Carter suddenly rose to his feet, slamming the table in anger.

“Natalia, I can’t understand what Ryan even sees in you!

Jealous, spiteful, and petty-an absolute disgrace!”  “And as for you, Jillian!

Don’t think I’m unaware of the stunts you’ve pulled.

I may have turned a blind eye before, but that doesn’t mean you can keep playing games under my roof!”  The old man stormed off in anger, leaving Natalia’s face so dark it seemed like it could drip ink.  No, this couldn’t be the end.

She had to think of a way to turn things around.

She couldn’t sit back and do nothing!  …  As soon as Selina stepped out of the villa, her expression shifted from aggrieved to relaxed.

She leisurely strolled toward the gates, her demeanor calm and collected.  But just as she reached the entrance, she encountered someone unexpected.  Jacob smiled.

“Miss Clark?

What a coincidence.”  Selina blinked.

“Mr.

Carter?”