Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24: The Competition of Feigned Frailty

Could anyone still fail to see the truth now? Just from forcing Selina to toast Mr. Perez and bribing his assistant, Katie’s intentions were obvious!

"This stepmother is truly ruthless. Just to pave the way for her own daughter, she pushed Selina into the hands of that Mr. Perez. The daughter of the first wife is really pitiful..."

"Exactly. Who knows how many women Mr. Perez has ruined? And now her daughter is the mistress, yet they still want to drive Miss Clark to ruin..."

Ryan hadn’t been here long, but he had already caught most of the story.

In his heart, he believed Selina must have intentionally offered herself to curry favor with Mr. Clark, and that Katie had nothing to do with it. _{freeweɓnovēl.coɱ}

But as the evidence piled up, even he began to panic. Could it be that Selina wasn’t just drunk last night, but actually...

"I had no choice!"

At that moment, Katie, who was being accused from all sides, suddenly dropped to her knees in front of Selina with a thud.

"Selina, I was desperate! You know the state of the Clark Family right now. All the investors have pulled out. Without Mr. Perez, the Clark Group is finished... You’re part of the Clark Family too. Can you really stand by and watch it collapse into bankruptcy?"

"Mr. Perez said that as long as we had a business marriage, he would invest in the Clark Group. That’s the only reason I came up with this plan. Selina, it’s my fault, but I did it all for the Clark Family..."

The onlookers exchanged uncertain glances. Katie’s explanation... did seem to make some sense.

After all, it was common knowledge that the Clark Group had lost its investors, and Mr. Perez was the only one willing to step in.

Katie’s methods might have been wrong, but...

"What a joke!" Alice sneered coldly, her words cutting like a blade.

"If you want a business marriage by selling a daughter, why not sell your own? Is your illegitimate daughter so precious while the first wife’s daughter means nothing?!"

"Your daughter just climbed into her brother-in-law’s bed, and you turned around and handed Selina over to that scum. What’s this—trying to cleanly get rid of Miss Clark so Natalia can marry into the Carter Family without a hitch?!"

Alice then shot Ryan a sharp glance, adding mercilessly, "The Carter Family must have lost their minds, all except for Old Mr. Carter, to even consider taking in such a two-faced, scheming illegitimate daughter!"

Ryan’s face darkened instantly, but he couldn’t find a word to refute her!

Selina swallowed nervously, looking at Alice in shock.

Wait... did Alice just insult everyone in the Carter Family except Old Mr. Carter?

Didn’t that mean Logan got dragged into it too?

Selina instinctively glanced at Logan’s expression, only to see him looking calm and unbothered, as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

...As expected of the head of the Reid Group. Unflappable.

James was trembling with rage. "Miss Drake, you—"

Alice spoke quickly, her words razor-sharp.

"The Drake Family cut ties with the Clark Group because of this illegitimate daughter’s offenses! And what does the Clark Family do? They make up for her mistakes by selling Selina. Truly the work of a mistress clawing her way to the top—unmatched in cunning!"

That single word, "mistress," managed to hit two targets at once. The guests instinctively stepped back from the Clark Family.

"What a clever scheme... The illegitimate daughter causes trouble, and it’s Selina who pays the price. I wouldn’t be surprised if Natalia did it on purpose!"

"Right? No matter what Natalia does, the Clark Family would never sacrifice her. Instead, they make Selina suffer."

"James and Ryan—what blind, heartless men. Honestly, Miss Clark is far superior to Natalia in both character and beauty..."

"Some people just have a taste for mistresses and sneaky affairs."

Cold sweat began to bead on Katie’s forehead. Every word of the crowd’s condemnation rang in her ears, twisting her expression into one of desperation. "No, this has nothing to do with Natalia—ah!"

Clutching her chest, Katie’s eyes rolled back as she collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

"Mom!" Natalia cried out, tears streaming down her face. "Sister, please let us go! Dad, Mom’s heart isn’t good. I’m so upset..."

James’s heart ached. "Selina, you heard her. Katie didn’t do it on purpose. She’s fainted now—do you really want to push her to death? She’s so kind..."