Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'-Chapter 442: The Uninvited Guest

Everyone fell silent at once.

For years, SL’s day-to-day decisions had all come from Mr. Brooks. The real chairman never intervened in anything big or small—he was legendarily private, never showing his face.

Even these core employees had never seen the chairman. But now they were hearing Riley was an old friend of his, and that he even "had a crush on her"—

They exchanged glances. It was clear they’d better start cozying up to Riley.

...

Elsewhere, Mr. Brooks stood respectfully beside Selina.

"Miss, would you like to announce your identity now?"

Selina shook her head calmly. "No need."

Mr. Brooks shot a sharp glance at Logan. "If you don’t go public, but I announce you as the project lead, there will be plenty of complaints. Miss, I don’t want you getting hurt."

Selina blinked. "We can announce it, sure. But there’s something I don’t get."

Brooks nodded. "Please ask."

Selina tilted her head curiously. "Has Nelson Family ever done business with SL? Or does Riley have any connection to SL at all?"

Logan’s eyebrow lifted.

Brooks frowned in confusion. "Of course not. Miss, why would you ask that?"

Selina drawled, "Because everyone out there is saying I’m pathetically in love with her, so I’m desperate to hand her the lead position."

Brooks fell silent for a long moment. "...."

Finally he asked, baffled, "Riley’s really saying that in public?"

"Not just Riley—the whole Nelson Family is swearing it’s true." Selina rested her chin in her hand. "So I’m asking: did SL ever work with her? Did someone give her this delusion during negotiations?"

Brooks shook his head firmly. "Absolutely not."

That was odd. Selina didn’t believe Riley would dare spread that kind of "rumor" without some hook to hang it on.

...

Brooks went off to finish preparations for the press conference and annual gala, leaving Selina and Logan in the lounge.

Logan eyed her meaningfully. "You’re really not going to announce who you are?"

"It’s too showy." Selina waved dismissively.

The SL Group chairman title would mean constant flattery everywhere she went. She didn’t want it. Too much hassle.

Better to stay behind the scenes.

As for Riley? That little soap bubble of a lie would pop on its own without Selina ever needing to show her face.

...

"Sir, it’s almost time." Jack knocked on the door.

Logan stood, his smile lazy. "Mrs. Reid, you realize if you don’t come out as the boss, Brooks and I will have to handle all the press?"

Selina batted her lashes. "Then I’ll just have to trouble Mr. Reid to go make us money. Everyone already calls me a gold-digging fox, you know."

Logan’s mouth curved, a rare note of tenderness in his voice. "All right. Then would the fox spirit kindly accompany me to the banquet hall?"

...

Inside the ballroom, Logan and Brooks shook hands onstage to announce the partnership.

Selina picked an out-of-the-way corner to sit down. She’d barely peeled an orange when she overheard people gossiping nearby.

"Hey, think the SL chairman will show?"

"No way, that guy’s a total mystery..."

"But Riley’s here! Everyone knows the chairman’s in love with her."

"Come on, she’s the project lead now. She’ll have tons of chances to see him. The chairman wouldn’t bother showing up tonight. Nelson ..."

They trailed off in a panic when they realized who was standing behind them.

Riley had heard every word. She shot a smug look at Selina in the corner and stepped forward with fake graciousness.

"Don’t mind me," she cooed. "Talk about whatever you like."

Someone nearby asked curiously, "Miss Nelson, about you and the chairman..."

Riley gave a helpless, demure little smile.

Madam Nelson’s eyes gleamed as she jumped in smoothly. "That’s right. SL’s chairman has known our Riley for ten, twenty years. Riley doesn’t think of him that way, but..."

"Mom." Riley cut her off, shaking her head with a sigh, pretending to be reluctant. "I’ve only ever seen him as a friend."

The people around exchanged knowing glances. The meaning couldn’t have been clearer:

—The SL chairman was hopelessly in love with Riley, childhood friends for decades, he’d been pursuing her all these years, but she just wouldn’t budge. He hadn’t given up!

"No matter what, Miss Nelson must be truly exceptional for the chairman to be so taken with her."

"Absolutely. I heard this merger between Reid Group and SL was all thanks to the project lead. Miss Nelson is amazing."

Madam Nelson was nearly glowing with pride, finally feeling vindicated.

Today, Riley would be the center of attention, everyone’s eyes on her—and no Selina...

Wait. Selina?!

Madam Nelson’s face twisted when she spotted Selina sitting calmly in the corner.

"Riley, why is there someone extra here at SL’s annual event?"

Everyone turned to follow her gaze and saw Selina.

Riley blinked as if suddenly realizing. "Selina? Oh, you’re here too? What a coincidence... but I don’t remember you having an invitation."

She sighed heavily, playing the exasperated saint. "Today’s event is for SL staff only. You might be Logan’s assistant, but you didn’t get an invite..."

Selina answered evenly, "Miss Nelson, I didn’t see your name or Madam Nelson’s on the guest list either."

Riley’s expression froze for a second before she gave an exasperated little shake of her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Selina, you..."

"I’m the project lead. My mother knows the SL chairman. It’s perfectly normal for us to be here. But you... well, never mind."

Riley let out a long-suffering sigh, making herself seem so magnanimous. "Let’s just say I’m inviting you, Selina. Just behave yourself, okay?"

"Just say you’re inviting me..." Selina repeated slowly, rolling the words around before giving a lazy, amused smile. "Sure."

Sure?

The whole room went quiet for a moment, startled.

That answer felt... shameless. Nelson was clearly being polite, and this woman without an invitation was getting cocky?

Madam Nelson nearly lost it and cursed right there, but Riley quickly forced a smile. "Good, that’s settled. Selina, I have some things to handle, but when I’m free we’ll catch up."

Her words carefully painted her as the busy, driven career woman—so different from someone like Selina who only knew how to latch onto a man.

Selina propped her chin on her hand with a bright, unbothered grin. "Mm. Don’t let me keep you."

Riley’s smile twitched and faded.

Who did she think she was to act so arrogant—!

Then she spotted someone around the corner, and an idea flashed in her eyes. She picked up her skirts and hurried over.

If Selina wanted to act all high and mighty, fine. She’d make sure Selina had nowhere to hide.

"Scott..." Riley’s voice trembled as she let her eyes fill with tears. "Scott, I really don’t know what to do..."