Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36: A Plan Thwarted

Natalia feigned concern, shaking her head. "But if I take the car, how will my sister get to the site?"

James, visibly annoyed, waved it off. "The company doesn’t have any extra cars. Let her take a taxi. Natalia, you’re the apple of your parents’ eye, and it’s only fitting for you to ride in this car. That’s just how it is."

Katie, playing her part, turned to Selina with mock sincerity.

"Selina, you’re such a good child. You wouldn’t compete with Natalia over this, would you?"

Selina smiled faintly. Take a taxi?

Natalia and Noah would arrive at the site in a $10 million luxury car while she arrived in a taxi. By the time reporters spun their stories, Natalia would undoubtedly be painted as the project leader.

Did they really think she’d fall for such a simple trap?

A flash of contempt crossed Natalia’s eyes.

So what if Noah favors Selina? Natalia thought smugly. With the full support of the Clark family behind me, there’s no way Selina can win.

Feeling triumphant, Natalia shot Selina a smug grin and gestured for the driver to open the car door. She was just about to get in when—

"Mr. Clark, I must say something," Noah’s voice suddenly cut through as he rolled down the car window. "You seem a bit too harsh on your own daughter."

James assumed Noah was about to plead on Selina’s behalf and quickly explained, "Mr. Brown, it’s just a small matter. She can take a taxi. Even if she’s my daughter, I can’t let her become spoiled!"

Noah’s lips curled into a faint smile. "Oh, I see. I understand your frustration with Natalia posing as the project leader, but since she’s also going to the site, shouldn’t you arrange a car for her too? Even if she’s an illegitimate child, she’s still your daughter. Making her take a taxi—what kind of impression would that give?"

...

James froze, his words stuck in his throat.

Noah thought the car was for Selina and that Natalia would be taking the taxi?

Tears welled up in Natalia’s eyes as she stammered, "Mr. Brown, you misunderstand. My father—"

"Misunderstand?" Noah raised an eyebrow. "But I clearly heard Clark say, ’The company doesn’t have any extra cars. Let her take a taxi.’ Are you suggesting the ’her’ referred to Selina and not Natalia?"

James instinctively opened his mouth to confirm it was Selina, but Noah narrowed his eyes, his tone dropping with deliberate weight.

"Mr. Clark, if the real eldest daughter of the Clark family has to take a taxi to the site, surely this illegitimate daughter can’t be the one riding in a $10 million car. Don’t you agree?"

"Especially since this car was purchased with Victoria’s inheritance. I trust you wouldn’t be so blind as to coddle an unaccomplished illegitimate child while ignoring the project’s key contributor. If word got out, Mr. Clark, how would you face the world?"

James’s face drained of color, going stark white.

He hadn’t anticipated Noah flipping the situation like this. The car, originally meant to boost Natalia’s image, now made her look entirely unworthy.

Natalia’s smug expression froze, her lips trembling as if she’d seen a ghost. "Mr. Brown, this car..."

Noah arched an eyebrow, his tone light but cutting. "Why the faces, Mr. Clark and Miss Natalia? Could it be I’m mistaken? Should Selina be the one taking the taxi while this car was actually a gift for your illegitimate daughter?"

The pointed questions landed like blows, leaving everyone stunned.

James scrambled for an explanation, but Noah stepped out of the car before he could speak.

"Well, if that’s the case, I see no need for this partnership. I agreed to this project for Miss Selina’s sake. Who knew Clark Group would be so blatantly unfair."

Noah shrugged casually. "Mr. Clark, I have no interest in collaborating with a family that sides with illegitimate children over their rightful heirs. Goodbye."

James was filled with panic—this collaboration was Clark Group’s lifeline!

If Noah left and the deal fell apart, not only would he be unable to face the shareholders, but he might even have to mortgage the family villa!

Terror surged through him as he rushed forward, ignoring Natalia’s resentful gaze, and spoke with an ingratiating tone.

"It’s all a misunderstanding! How could I treat Selina that way? That luxury car was prepared for Selina!"