Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22: The Failed Accusation

No one expected Selina to open the door at that moment.

Katie’s eyes flickered with calculation. Selina seemed hesitant, unwilling to open the door fully, and there was even the faint sound of a man’s voice inside.

It appeared that Mr. Perez was still there!

Katie quickly donned her "kind stepmother" persona. "Selina, as long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. James was just worried about you. Open the door and let us come in."

Selina’s gaze lazily swept across the crowd. "Open the door? That won’t do."

Her response was like a match igniting a fuse, prompting disapproving murmurs from the group.

"This is shameless! Even now, she’s acting like this. All for a bit of money, selling her body!"

"Seriously, Mr. Perez? How could he? I guess those rumors about Selina having affairs are true. She’s unworthy of being Natalia’s sister."

Katie felt triumphant.

Selina’s life was destined to be nothing more than a stepping stone for Natalia—a final contribution to the Clark family’s prestige. Just like her mother, Selina would meet a life of humiliation and disgrace.

Yet Katie maintained her fake tearful demeanor, softly sobbing. "Please, stop saying such things. It’s my fault as her stepmother for failing to guide her properly. She’s my daughter too, my flesh and blood. How could this happen to her?"

James’s expression darkened. "Selina, what are you hiding in that room? Open the door now!"

Selina chuckled softly. "Father, are you sure you want me to open the door?"

James had to ensure Selina married Perez. Otherwise, the 50 million would never come through. There was no more effective way to force her compliance than catching her "in the act" in front of everyone.

He raised his voice deliberately. "Of course! You’ve already disgraced us, and you still won’t admit it? What other option do you have but to marry Perez? Open the door—I’ll discuss the marriage arrangements with him myself!"

The bystanders exchanged knowing looks and shook their heads. Everyone knew Mr. Clark didn’t favor his eldest daughter, but wasn’t he being considerate? If rumors about Selina and Perez spread, no one would marry her. Marrying Perez was her only path forward.

Feigning difficulty, Selina sighed. "Opening the door isn’t impossible... but I’m afraid the people inside aren’t ones you’d want to offend."

A few socialites eager to please Katie chimed in with venomous sneers.

"The eldest Miss Clark—could there be more than one man inside? Spent the night entertaining several, did she? Honestly, children without mothers have no shame. If it were me, I’d die of embarrassment."

"Mr. Clark, you really need to discipline this daughter of yours. Promiscuous to the core—what is she not capable of?"

James’s anger boiled over. Lifting his foot, he kicked the slightly ajar door wide open.

"I’ll see for myself who it is I supposedly can’t offend—"

His words caught in his throat as his face paled, frozen in place.

Everyone turned to look into the room.

The large, pristine bed was perfectly made, untouched.

In the luxurious suite, three people sat on the sofa, leisurely playing cards.

Hearing the commotion, two of them—a man and a woman—turned their heads, smirking with amused, meaningful expressions.

"Mr. Clark," the man drawled, his tone dripping with mockery, "we’re just playing cards in Miss Clark’s room. Do you have a problem with that?"

The crowd was stunned.

This was nothing like they’d imagined! Where was Selina entertaining a man? She’d been playing cards the entire time?

And the people in the room...