Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 99

Chapter 99: He’s Investigating Her Chapter 99: He’s Investigating Her Selina shivered slightly, thinking she must have misheard.

“N-No way, what a coincidence?”  Justin shrugged and stepped aside.

“If you don’t believe me, see for yourself.

But I’d suggest you come up with an explanation quickly-Logan is about to walk in.”  Selina swallowed hard.

“…”  She visibly panicked.

“Did he see me?”  Justin shook his head.

“Not yet.”  Selina’s mind whirred before she suddenly had a stroke of genius.

“Then just pretend I was never here!

I’ll leave through the back door!”  She moved swiftly, slipping away with the painting, but just as luck would have it, Logan appeared at the back entrance.  Selina’s scalp tingled.

She felt cornered, scrambling to come up with an excuse when suddenly-  “Logan, I got what I needed.

Mom and Dad were wondering if you’d come home for dinner?”  A gentle female voice carried over from a short distance away.  Selina froze.  That voice-it was the same one from the phone call yesterday!  So this was the ‘friend’ Logan had gone to pick up?  The woman had long, wavy hair cascading down her back, standing next to Logan like they were a picture-perfect pair.

For some inexplicable reason, Selina felt a strange discomfort in her chest.  Logan declined impassively.

“No, I’ll have Jack take you home.”  The woman didn’t press further, but as she turned, she glanced in Selina’s direction with a soft, knowing smile.

“Alright, let’s catch up another time.

Don’t forget to bring Ethan along next time.”  She was warm and polite, her demeanor flawless.

Nothing about her behavior crossed any boundaries.  Yet, something about it just felt… off.  Especially when she seemed to lean a little closer to Logan right after noticing Selina.  …It had to be her imagination, right?  As soon as the woman left, Selina planned to slip away unnoticed-  But Logan’s voice suddenly rang out behind her, slow and deliberate.  “Mrs.

Reid, have you seen enough?

Are you going to come out now?”  Selina stiffened, her back straightening as she turned awkwardly.

“W-What a coincidence!”  Logan’s expression was unreadable.

“Not really.

I came here specifically to find you.”  Selina almost blurted out, Weren’t you supposed to be picking someone up at the airport?

But before she could say anything, Logan’s gaze landed meaningfully on the scroll in her hands.  “I heard from Miller Butler that you were heading out today.

I figured this must be for Grandma’s birthday?”  Selina’s mind was already a mess, distracted by something she couldn’t quite pinpoint.

Without thinking too much, she answered, “Yeah.”  Logan nodded.

“Judging by the composition, brushstrokes, and ink technique, this is undoubtedly Gordon King’s work.

And given this store doesn’t deal in counterfeits, that confirms this is an authentic Gordon original.”  “A masterpiece like this is nearly impossible to obtain.

It’s quite generous of Mr.

Gray to part with it.”  Something about his tone made Selina pause.  She had plenty of Gordon’s paintings, but suddenly, she didn’t feel like explaining.

What was Logan implying?  He can go shopping with some childhood sweetheart, but Justin giving her a painting is an issue?  Selina wasn’t sure why she felt this irritation bubbling up.

“Yeah, well, what can I say?

I have a big enough presence to make it happen.”  Logan raised a brow slightly, suddenly realizing-Mrs.

Reid had misunderstood.  “Mr.

Reid, you’ve got it wrong.”  At that moment, Justin strolled over.

“It’s not that I’m being generous.

Victoria was once a student of Mr.

King.

That’s why he gifted this painting to Miss Clark.”  Logan narrowed his eyes.

“Oh?”  Justin remained completely composed.

“I merely safeguard Mr.

King’s artwork-I don’t just hand it out to anyone.

So, how could this painting possibly be a gift from me?

Mr.

Reid, you’re overthinking things.”  Logan’s lips curved slightly.

“I see.”  Satisfied that Logan had stopped questioning things, Justin nodded toward the entrance.

“Alright, it’s getting late.

You two should head home.

We’re closing up.”  Logan turned to Selina.

“Mrs.

Reid, are you coming home with me?”  Selina: “…”  Did she even have a choice?

Since Jack had taken the woman home, Logan had to drive himself, which naturally put Selina in the passenger seat.  Her mind was in turmoil the entire ride.  How did Logan recognize at a glance that the painting was an authentic Gordon piece?

Was it because, as the Carter Family heir, he had seen too many masterpieces to be fooled?  Why did Logan say he had come to find *her*?

He clearly had another woman with him.  And then…  Selina’s thoughts suddenly halted.  Her fingers brushed against something in the passenger seat-a lipstick.  “Mrs.

Reid, you’ve looked at me nearly ten times in the last three minutes.

If you have something to ask, just ask,” Logan said without taking his eyes off the road.  Selina felt caught red-handed, her tongue suddenly going dry.

After a moment of hesitation, she finally blurted out,  “I… I saw that woman earlier.

What’s your relationship with her?”  Screech-  At the red light, Logan pressed the brake and suddenly chuckled.

“With the way you’re asking, Mrs.

Reid, should I assume you’re jealous?”  Jealous?!  Selina’s expression gave her away immediately-she was completely stunned.  Before she could respond, Logan calmly explained, “Ethan was supposed to pick her up today, but Ethan had a patient to check on, so I had to go instead.”  “So, there’s no need to be jealous.

Whether she returns to the country or not has nothing to do with me.”  Selina blinked.

Was that really all?  Logan’s explanation was clear and logical, and it didn’t sound like there was anything suspicious about it.  And yet… they were just in a contract marriage.

Did she really need to be prying so much?  Realizing this, she suddenly felt a pang of inexplicable disappointment.

Her voice dropped, sounding dull.

“Oh.”  Logan followed her gaze and finally noticed the lipstick in her hand.  He let out a low chuckle, suddenly realizing what had been on her mind.  “Mrs.

Reid,” he said, amusement laced in his voice.

“When I picked her up, Jack was driving, and I was in the backseat.

That lipstick was left in the passenger seat-it has nothing to do with me.”  Selina immediately processed what that meant, her face heating up as she quickly turned away.  “I-I wasn’t even asking about that…,” she muttered under her breath.  So, Logan had been sitting in the backseat while that woman sat in the front.  Why did her mood suddenly feel lighter?

How strange.  …

Back at Sapphire Valley Villa, Miller Butler was thrilled when he heard that Selina had acquired a painting from Gordon.  Unable to contain his excitement, he eagerly approached her as she unrolled the painting.

Jack also came over to take a look.  “Madam, you’re truly thoughtful.

The old lady will be overjoyed!”  “Yes, acquiring a piece from Mr.

King must have been incredibly difficult,” Miller Butler said, his brows furrowed with concern.

“Did you have to pay a hefty price for it?”  Selina felt guilty about receiving such praise but couldn’t exactly reveal the truth.

“It wasn’t a big deal, really.”  Just then, her phone rang.  It was Justin.  She hurried upstairs to take the call.

“Justin, what’s wrong?”  “Luna, are you sure Logan doesn’t know your identity?”  Justin’s usual lazy tone had vanished, replaced with rare seriousness.

His voice was low, laced with tension.  “Logan is investigating you… or rather, he’s investigating Luna.”  Selina’s breath hitched.  Realizing the gravity of the situation, she asked, “Is he doing it as Logan?”  “Yes,” Justin confirmed.

“He called me directly, asking if I knew Luna.”  Justin sighed, rubbing his temples in frustration.

“I really think he knows.

Be careful, don’t get carried away.”  …

Ten minutes earlier.  Logan watched Selina’s retreating figure and let out a quiet chuckle.