Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 318

Chapter 318: Refusing to Believe

"Luke’s very well-behaved. Don’t you think scolding him in front of his own brother is rather unpleasant, Miss Nelson?" Selina said calmly.

Logan, without a shift in expression, pushed the document back. "We’ll handle this tomorrow. One night won’t affect Hunter’s schedule."

Riley bit her lip. "Alright then..."

She tucked the document back into her bag and pulled out a gift box—the one with the East Sea pearl inside.

Opening it to reveal the lustrous pearl, her eyes glimmered as she spoke casually, "Selina, I brought you a little something. Think of it as a belated wedding gift."

"A gift? You’re calling that a gift for Selina?"

Luke looked like he’d just heard a bad joke. His voice dripped with sarcasm. "Miss Nelson, that’s a clever move. You stole it from Selina and now you’re acting like the generous one for giving it back? Should we applaud you for your kindness?"

Riley cursed him as an idiot in her head, but on the surface, she put on her most innocent expression. "Luke, what are you talking about? I’m sorry if I upset you, but—"

"Riley," Luke cut her off, seething. "Don’t assume everyone here is stupid. You brought this pearl back as a ’gift’ just to flaunt that you won."

Riley’s eyes welled up with tears. "Luke, you’re misunderstanding me—"

"Misunderstanding?"

Luke was livid now, too far gone to care about the crowd in the room. He pointed at the pearl in Riley’s hand and spoke to Logan, his words clipped and furious:

"This pearl was won by Selina—she bid eight million, paid in full. Then the auction host told her it had been pre-ordered. By you. As a gift. For Riley."

"We left and got stopped at the door by Madam Nelson and Nancy, who made sure to humiliate Selina, saying Riley is your true childhood sweetheart—closer to you than your actual wife!"

Blood boiling, Luke glared at Riley, his tone dripping with scorn.

"So tell me, what’s really going on between you and Logan that gives you the nerve to flaunt your closeness to another man’s wife?"

"And now, after all that showboating, you waltz into Sapphire Valley Villa with the pearl like it’s some noble gesture, pretending it’s a kind gift?"

"Oh, I get it now. What you’re saying is—Logan’s resources go to Selina only when you’ve turned them down. That as Mrs. Reid, she’s a second choice. You’re the real leading lady in Logan’s life, right?"

Selina blinked.

She had already guessed Riley’s intentions, but she didn’t expect Luke to lay it out so plainly.

Riley never really wanted the pearl.

She planned all along to eventually give it back to Selina.

But the goal wasn’t the item—it was the message:

—That the pearl originally belonged to Riley, and only ended up with Mrs. Reid because Riley didn’t want it.

—That in Mr. Reid’s world, Riley comes first; Mrs. Reid is second.

—That even though Riley is clearly so important to Logan, she’s still gracious enough to treat Mrs. Reid like a friend.

—And that in the future, no matter what Riley does... who could blame her? She’s just kind and gentle. Logan was the one who insisted on treating her well. What had Riley done wrong?

Selina had never met a woman with this level of calculated charm before.

She couldn’t help but applaud—literally.

Riley cursed Luke to hell and back internally. Everything he said was true. But how could she ever admit it?

"Luke... I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about..."

Luke scoffed. "Don’t play dumb. When Selina was at the auction confronting Mr. Green, weren’t you there too? Don’t tell me you didn’t know she was the one who bid on the pearl."

The moment the words fell, everyone else in the villa turned their attention toward Riley, their gazes now laced with suspicion.

Riley’s eyes turned red, but she still shook her head. "I’m sorry. I really didn’t know. I knew Selina went to the auction, but I had no idea she was after the same pearl... I..."

Logan’s eyes darkened—he now understood everything.

He had indeed instructed Mr. Green at the auction house to take care of someone, but that someone was Selina.

Jack looked like he was about to drop dead. "Sir! I swear I called and told Mr. Green to look after Mrs. Reid!"

Then... why did Green mistake Riley for the one to be looked after?

The room froze.

Luke blinked. Selina blinked. Riley’s face instantly lost all color.