Chapter 61: I Despise Betrayal Before Selina could respond, James suddenly turned around and slapped Katie hard across the face.
"Selina, Iâve already disciplined her for you. Stop being stubborn and come back home, okay?"
Katie, still in shock from the slap, widened her eyes. "Why are you letting this little wretch come back homeâ"
Before she could finish, Selina cut in. "Dad, look at how Aunt Bryant keeps calling me names. Sheâs clearly not happy with me here. Why should I stay? I might as well leave."
"No... no, you canât!" James quickly grabbed Selinaâs arm and glared at Katie. "What are you standing there for? Apologize!"
Katie was livid, screaming, "You slapped me, and now you want me to apologize to that little brat?!"
"Shut up! Do you want Nataliaâs marriage into the Carter Family to fall apart?" James snapped.
Selina watched the two of them argue, amused by the chaos. She was ready to enjoy the show a bit longer, but Katie, seemingly realizing what was at stake, forced herself to calm down. Barely able to contain her rage, she reluctantly said, "Selina, you know how you areâalways provoking me. If you didnât make me so angry, I wouldnât have tried to kick you out."
James quickly added, "See? Your Bryant Auntie already apologized. Weâre all family. Donât hold a grudge."
Selina shrugged. "Fine. If Dad says not to hold a grudge, I wonât."
James exhaled in relief and immediately scanned behind her. His face dropped. "Wait... whereâs Noah? He didnât come back with you?!"
Selina tilted her head, feigning confusion, and dragged out her words. "Mr. Brown said heâd come by in two hours. If you donât believe me, you can call him yourself. But... Dad, isnât your reaction a little strange? If Noahâs not here, does that mean I canât be here either?"
James gritted his teeth. "No, of course not! This is your homeâyouâre always welcome here!"
Satisfied, Selina returned to the sofa and made herself comfortable.
James shot a warning glance at Katie and Natalia, then softened his tone toward Selina. "Selina, about last time... Your Bryant Auntie and Natalia know they went too far. They just wanted to joke with you but didnât realize youâd take it so seriously."
"Now Noah has the wrong impression about us, which is affecting our family. Could you explain things to him? Say a few good words on our behalf?"
Selina paused, looking bemused.
"Last time? Dad, which time are you talking about? Was it when Aunt Bryant tried to marry me off to Mr. Perez, or when Natalia spread rumors about me at school? Or maybe when you all stole my momâs belongings? There are so many incidents, itâs hard to keep track."
Jamesâs face darkened further with each word, but he swallowed his anger and lowered his voice.
"Selina, those were all misunderstandings! Noahâs accusations that we treated you poorly are groundless. You know how much this family cares for you!"
Selinaâs expression turned icy.
"Cares for me? Dad, you actually have the nerve to say that?"
But she couldnât deny how much she enjoyed watching James try to suppress his temper while having no choice but to butter her up.
"Well," she said with a mocking tone, "but what Aunt Bryant did is a fact. How exactly do you want me to explain that to Mr. Brown? Should I tell him I willingly offered myself to Mr. Perez?"
freewÄbnoveâ.com She turned to Katie, her voice sharp. "Aunt Bryant, are you really that shameless?"
The servants around them lowered their heads in discomfort.
It was true. Katie had driven the eldest daughter out of her home, ruined her engagement, and nearly forced her into the arms of an old man. And now she expected Selina to swallow all the injustice and defend her in front of Noah.
Katie clenched her fists and trembled with fury, unable to form a response. She felt like Selina would drive her to an early grave.
James couldnât hold back anymore. "Even if Katie did those things, arenât you fine now?!"
Selina was even more astonished. "So Iâm supposed to forgive the culprits just because nothing happened to me? Dad, have you ever been to Paris?"
James blinked, not understanding.
Selina continued with heartfelt sincerity, "I thought you graduated from the Notre Dame Cathedral. Youâre such a saint."
The household staff lowered their heads, stifling laughter: "..."
James felt his blood pressure spike. "Then what do you want before youâll speak up for the family?"
Selina blinked innocently. "Why are you asking me? You should be asking yourself."
"I was never cared for in this house. I didnât even have my own room. I used to live in the attic, and after I left, Aunt Bryant turned it into a storage space. Mr. Brown could see at a glance that Iâm not valued here. How can I plead on your behalf?"
"Even if I do speak up, Mr. Brown might just think you forced me to. If that backfires, it wonât be my fault."
James felt the words catch in his throat, almost choking on his anger.
He had already swallowed his pride to beg this ungrateful daughter, and now she was rubbing it in his face!
James gritted his teeth. "Selina, letting you live in the attic before was my oversight! Natalia arranged for you to have a much better room, so we turned the attic into a storeroom. Donât get the wrong idea!"
Selina feigned surprise. "Oh, really? Then let my dear sister take me to see it."
Natalia suppressed her seething anger. "Donât worry, sister. Iâve put a lot of thought into it. Youâll love it."
Selinaâs tone turned sharp. "Oh? And what if I donât?"
Natalia was so furious she nearly lost control and lunged at Selina.
James took a deep breath. "If you donât like it, weâll change it!"
Noah was arriving soon. James couldnât afford any slip-ups now.
Selinaâs gaze shifted, and she smiled faintly. "Fair enough. Lead the way, sister."
Reid Group Office.
Logan didnât look up from his desk. "Arenât you supposed to go to the Clark Family today?"
Noah nodded. "Yeah, but thereâs still time."
Loganâs eyes narrowed slightly. "Time?"
Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
ï¤Chapter 60: Annoy Them on Purpose!
Apocalypse: The Supporting Actress Made a Comeback ï¤Chapter 739 - 395 Bite back Shadow Slave Noah seemed to realize something and leaned closer. "Originally, I wanted to help because Selina is Victoriaâs daughter. When I heard the Clark Family was bullying her, I couldnât let it slide. I immediately made sure to cause a few hiccups in their business."
"But now Iâve realized, Selina doesnât seem to need my help at all. Sheâs turning the entire Clark Family upside down on her own."
Logan squinted slightly. "So?"
Noah clicked his tongue. "Donât act like you canât guess what Iâm getting at. I know youâre investigating that hacker from five years ago. Iâve known Selina longer than you have, so I know more about her. Are you really not going to keep digging into her?"
Noah hadnât initially made the connection, but when he learned the hacker had stayed in BW Town for a while, he began to suspect Selina.
If Selina was that person... wouldnât that pit the couple against each other?
As much as he cared for Victoriaâs daughter, Logan was his closest friend. He couldnât stand by and watch history repeat itself.
Thatâs why Noah brought it up.
Loganâs hand paused slightly, his gaze dark and intense. "Selina sees you as a friend. If she really is that person, then what youâre doing now is betraying her."
He intended to uncover Selinaâs secrets himselfânot through her friend.
Noah broke out in a cold sweat under Loganâs piercing stare. "Iâm trying to help you!"
Loganâs tone remained calm, yet firm. "In Selinaâs eyes, youâre someone she trusts enough to confide in. You shouldnât betray that trustânot even for me. Noah, I despise betrayal."
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