Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
Chapter 404: That Place Was Seriously Broke

Chapter 404: That Place Was Seriously Broke

The room went quiet.

Joe stood there awkwardly, looking at Selina, wanting to say something but holding back.

Damien was beyond annoyed at Joe’s spinelessness—always trying to please everyone. He let out a cold laugh and said, "Selina, don’t bother listening to people who don’t matter. Just eat."

Joe had officially been reduced to "someone who doesn’t matter."

His face flushed red. He opened his mouth but couldn’t get a word out.

Grandma Morris was furious, shaking with rage.

What did they mean by mocking the Morris Family for not being strong enough? The Morris Family gave Selina a chance to come back—she was the one who refused it!

But...

Grandma Morris’s eyes lit up with an idea.

Sure, Mrs. Brown and Damien were backing Selina for now, but they weren’t her real family. Who knew what her life was actually like in the Brown Family? Maybe they were just putting on a show for outsiders.

At that moment, some guests nearby struck up a casual conversation.

"My daughter’s birthday is coming up. I’ve already given her everything she could want—I’m stumped this year. What do you all get the younger generation?"

The second table wasn’t far from the main one. Everyone seated there was wealthy and influential, so the responses came quickly.

"I bought my daughter a new car this year."

"I gave mine the violin she’s been eyeing for months."

As everyone shared their gifts, Grandma Morris’s smile barely stayed hidden.

A car? A violin? How ordinary. Today, she had Sandy wear a piece by none other than Madame Haidi, the world-renowned watchmaker.

Feeling smug, Grandma Morris chimed in proudly, "Joe may have spent years searching for his daughter, but he always bought her gifts—more extravagant with each year."

People’s eyes subtly shifted toward Selina.

Selina raised a curious brow, easily catching the bragging tone in Grandma Morris’s voice.

...Seriously, what was she bragging about?

Mrs. Brown gave a quiet, derisive laugh. The kind of smug social climbing displayed by Grandma Morris was nothing new to someone raised in a family like the Browns.

Grandma Morris continued, "Joe’s very frugal with himself, but when it comes to his daughter? There’s nothing he wouldn’t give her."

Selina couldn’t help but let out a mocking chuckle.

Right, nothing he wouldn’t give.

So now Grandma Morris was implying that Selina was ungrateful—for not acknowledging this oh-so-generous father?

The guests caught on too. They frowned subtly.

On Brown Family’s turf, indirectly criticizing the young lady the Brown Family openly claimed as their own? The Morris Family sure had some nerve.

Still, no one from the Brown Family stepped in, so the guests said nothing either.

Grandma Morris pressed on. "Victoria loved jewelry and watches, so Joe figured their daughter would too."

"A few years back, when Madame Haidi passed away, her students held an exclusive auction of her remaining works. Just to get in, you needed a twenty-million-dollar deposit and a million-dollar entry fee. But Joe went—just to bid on her piece, Starlit Galaxy."

Everyone instantly recognized that auction. It had been a major event. The barrier to entry had scared off many, and only ten watches were auctioned. The cheapest had gone for six million.

The most expensive—Starlit Galaxy—had fetched a record-shattering three hundred million, with a bidding war between three individuals.

Starlit Galaxy...

Mrs. Brown narrowed her eyes. The name sounded familiar. Then it clicked, and her gaze lit up as she glanced meaningfully at Damien.

Damien instantly caught what Grandma Morris was trying to brag about.

He arched a brow and gave a knowing, amused smile.

Unfortunately, Grandma Morris didn’t notice. The more she talked, the more smug she became.

"That watch ended up going for 300 million. Can you believe it? Joe must’ve been out of his mind. He just wanted his daughter to be happy. But his reaction time was too slow, and some rich heir from City N bought it instead. Joe was disappointed for a long time."

"In the end, Joe spent 30 million on another watch. Sure, it wasn’t as expensive as Starlit Galaxy, but when it comes to gifts, the thought matters more than the price tag, right?"

The bragging was thick in her voice.

She might as well have tattooed on her forehead: The Morris Family is rich and Joe is a wonderful father—Selina, you’re a fool for not claiming him.

The guests exchanged stiff smiles.

Mrs. Brown, however, looked intrigued. "Oh? The 30-million-dollar watch Chairman Morris bought—was it meant for Selina?"

Joe’s lips moved slightly, a flicker of guilt passing through his expression.

Mrs. Brown let out a cold laugh.

Grandma Morris quickly stepped in, eyes darting. "Well, Selina’s birthday already passed... and with everything that happened before..."

"Since things were so tense between Selina and the Morris Family, and she didn’t want to come home, I decided to give the watch to Sandy instead."

Sandy lowered her head in bashful silence.

Mrs. Brown nearly laughed from sheer disbelief.

"Didn’t you just say Chairman Morris loves his daughter more than anything? Then how come the gift meant for her ended up with someone else? What, is Chairman Morris planning to adopt another daughter?"

Joe looked at Selina, guilt twisting across his face. "Selina, I..."

"Mrs. Brown, that’s not quite fair," Grandma Morris interjected with a regretful shake of her head. "Joe just got emotional looking at the watch—it reminded him of Selina. I thought it was better to give it away than let him dwell on the past."

"But luckily, Sandy is such a grateful child. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind making her my granddaughter. Having someone so sweet and obedient? That’s a blessing I never dared ask for. Much better than..."

She trailed off, but her pointed glance at Selina said the rest.

"If we ever have another valuable gift in the future, Sandy will get it first. I’m old. I need family who actually cares, and Sandy’s always by our side."

Right on cue, Sandy subtly showed off the 30-million-dollar watch, smiling demurely. "Grandma, even without gifts, you’re still my grandma."

Grandma Morris beamed. "That’s my good girl! Sandy, don’t hold back on my account. If someone else doesn’t want anything from the Morris Family, then it’s all yours."

Mrs. Brown’s expression turned into one of disgust, like she’d just swallowed a bug.

Seriously? Morris Family trying to flaunt wealth in front of her? And even implying Selina didn’t deserve a 30-million-dollar watch?

Mrs. Brown tucked her hair behind her ear and said lightly, "You know, Grandma Morris, not to be rude, but 30 million is a tenth of 300 million. Chairman Morris originally wanted to gift a 300-million-dollar watch to his daughter, and now Sandy gets one worth 30 million. That actually makes sense. Fits her status."

Sandy’s face turned pale. Her teeth clenched.

Grandma Morris choked on her breath. What was wrong with Mrs. Brown? Was she pretending not to get it?

"Oh, unless..."

Mrs. Brown suddenly wore a look of exaggerated realization.

"Unless Chairman Morris couldn’t actually afford the 300 million watch in the first place? And Grandma Morris keeps saying she treats Sandy like her real granddaughter, so what she really means is—the real daughter of the Morris Family only deserves a 30-million-dollar gift. Tsk tsk. Now I get it."

Mrs. Brown let out a faux-relieved sigh.

"Selina, good thing you never went back to the Morris Family. That place is seriously broke."