Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' Chapter 88: Playing Along with Her Act

Selina froze for a mont. "Y-Yes."

Logan raised a brow. "So, it seems the Carter Family plans to have you lead the collaboration?"

Hearing him ntion the collaboration, Selina finally rembered. "Why aren’t you here?"

Logan smirked. Mrs. Reid probably still believed he was the Carter Family heir, hence the question.

He didn’t correct her. "Sothing ca up. I won’t be attending."

Selina instinctively asked, "What happened? Is it serious?"

Logan chuckled lightly. "I didn’t realize Mrs. Reid cared so much about . But instead of worrying about , you should worry about Ryan. You’re there to discuss collaboration, not to drive everyone up the wall."

Selina choked on her words, protesting, "How am I the one causing trouble? They’re the ones bullying !"

Logan laughed softly. "Yes, yes, they’re the ones bullying you."

Selina: "..." Why did it feel like he wasn’t taking her seriously at all?

At that mont, Ethan’s voice ca through the phone. "Logan, it’s ti for your dication."

Logan clicked his tongue. "Mrs. Reid, enjoy yourself at the Carter Family. I’ll have Jack pick you up later."

Hearing Logan’s faint laugh, laced with indulgence, Selina felt her cheeks flush as she awkwardly replied, "Oh, okay."

After hanging up, a realization hit her. Logan seed very inford about what was happening at the Carter Family. Soone must have been keeping him updated.

Well, that made sense. Even if he wasn’t attending, as the rightful Carter Family heir, it wasn’t surprising he’d be in the loop.

Also... Ethan ntioned dication. Could Logan be injured?

...

At Reid Group’s office.

Logan hung up the call and glanced at his wound indifferently. "That’s all my dear father has left in his bag of tricks."

Ethan frowned. "Don’t brush it off. The wound might not be deep, but the poison is dangerous. How’s your vision been lately?"

Logan raised a brow. "It flared up once. Selina saw it."

Ethan’s face imdiately darkened. "Did she say anything?"

Logan recalled the mont Selina had seen him in the dark. He’d lied, saying the power was out, and she’d believed him without question.

His mood lifted. "No. Even if she suspects, it doesn’t matter."

His voice carried a tone of absolute control, as if every detail had been ticulously planned.

But Ethan caught a hint of sothing else. "Are you planning to go public with your marriage?"

Logan’s smirk deepened. "That depends on whether Mrs. Reid is willing to play along."

...

At the Carter Family estate.

The butler ca upstairs to inform Selina that dinner was ready. She nodded and made her way down, only to be bumped into by soone rushing past her.

The montary impact felt off, and Selina frowned. Reaching into her bag, she found sothing that hadn’t been there before—a sapphire bracelet of significant value.

Her expression turned icy.

This bracelet was a gift Jas had given Natalia. Clearly, Natalia had orchestrated this, slipping it into her bag to fra her. What else could it be but a setup?

Selina narrowed her eyes and returned upstairs. "Justin, give that bracelet of yours."

Justin arched a brow. "Who are you plotting against this ti?"

Selina feigned innocence. "What do you an, plotting? Soone tried to set up, and I’m just... responding in kind."

Justin chuckled softly and handed her the bracelet. "Don’t go overboard."

Selina rely smiled, saying nothing.

The two bracelets looked nearly identical from a distance. A perfect swap. Selina was satisfied.

...

In the banquet hall, Old Mr. Carter gestured for Selina to sit beside him. "Selina, don’t hold back. Treat this as your ho."

Resting her chin on her hand, Selina smiled. "Grandpa Carter, don’t just worry about . My sister is still here."

Natalia sniffled pitifully, tears brimming in her eyes.

The stark contrast between the two Clark daughters—one seated and the other standing—was glaringly obvious. Ryan, deeply sympathetic to Natalia, couldn’t help but speak up.

"Grandpa, Natalia stayed behind specifically to apologize to you. Perhaps you could..."

Old Mr. Carter frowned deeply but eventually relented. "Fine, we’re all family. Let her sit down."

Ryan quickly urged Natalia to thank him, and the two took their seats at the table.

As the evening went on and drinks flowed freely, Jillian’s eyes glinted with an idea. She couldn’t help but speak up.

"Ryan, look at Natalia’s wrist—it’s still bare. Rember that jewelry store I told you about? Take her there when you have the ti."

Her gaze flicked to Selina with deliberate emphasis. "Natalia is the true Clark Family heiress, raised in comfort and elegance. You ought to treat her well!"

She sneered, her voice laced with mockery. "Unlike so country bumpkins, who’ll follow you around just for scraps."

Justin’s brow furrowed. That was unnecessarily cruel.

The implication was clear: Natalia was accustod to a life of luxury, surrounded by expensive jewels, while Selina was supposedly nothing more than a simpleton who could be appeased with re leftovers.

Well then, let’s see who the real embarrassnt is, Justin thought.

Natalia, however, had shed her earlier tearful deanor and now wore a shy smile.

"Aunt Jillian, you misunderstood. I just don’t want Ryan to overspend. I already have a bracelet. I’ll wear it now."

Ryan, ever the doting partner, explained softly, "That bracelet is extraordinarily valuable, priceless even. Natalia treasures it, so she only wears it on special occasions."

Everyone imdiately turned their heads, eager to see what "priceless" looked like.

But as Natalia lowered her head to search her bag, her expression suddenly turned pale.

"Ryan, my bracelet—it’s gone! It was here just a mont ago!"

The room fell silent in an instant.

Ryan tensed. "Maybe you left it sowhere. Check again."

Natalia looked utterly lost, her brows furrowed and tears threatening to fall.

"I’ve kept it in my bag all day. How could it just disappear?"

Avery shrieked, "Natalia, that sapphire bracelet is so expensive! There are so many people here—what if soone... wasn’t honest?"

The guests, hearing the accusation, imdiately started defending themselves, anxious not to offend the Carter Family.

"We didn’t take anything."

"Yes, Natalia, none of us even got close to you. Maybe soone else stole it?"

Natalia bit her lip in thought, her expression faltering before trembling slightly, as if she’d realized sothing but was hesitant to say it.

Ryan frowned. "What is it? What do you know?"

"Earlier... my sister..." Natalia’s voice was soft, filled with hesitation and worry. "She touched my bag, but I don’t think she would ever..."

Avery gasped dramatically. "Selina touched your bag? It must be her!"

Natalia shook her head weakly, putting on a pitiful act.

"No, Avery, don’t say that. My sister has a kind heart. She couldn’t possibly steal..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Avery stord forward and grabbed Selina’s hand.

A dazzling sapphire bracelet glead on Selina’s wrist, quietly resting there for all to see.

Natalia looked as though she’d been struck, stumbling backward in shock, her face pale.

"Sister, how... how could it really be you?"

Everyone froze, stunned. No one had expected the "thief" to be exposed so quickly. And even more shocking—it was Natalia’s own sister!

Selina slowly curled her lips into a smirk, her expression unreadable.