Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
Chapter 420: Sweet but Scheming Fiancée

Chapter 420: Sweet but Scheming Fiancée

Selina thought she’d misheard. "A matchmaking prospect?"

"...Yes," Brooks said, equally exasperated. "She’s already considered Joe’s fiancée. Grandma Morris is bragging everywhere that the Morris Family has tied itself to the Hill Family. She wants Kyle and you—"

Selina’s voice turned ice-cold. "Say it."

"...She wants you to call her Mom."

Selina let out a cold, incredulous laugh.

Joe going on a matchmaking date? She had no problem with that.

But expecting her to call another woman "Mom"? Was Grandma Morris still dreaming?

Brooks sighed. "But to be fair, the Hill Family name is intimidating. Hannah Hill was the top debutante in City N growing up. She and Charles’s daughter were constantly compared. A City N socialite marrying Joe is definitely a step up for the Morris Family. Grandma Morris probably wants you and Kyle to show support, to help keep Ms. Hill around."

Selina’s brow twitched. So this "Ms. Hill" and Charles’s daughter had been compared to each other back in City N?

She could picture it. Hannah, the epitome of refined, gentle elegance, while Charles died and Mrs. Hill lay in a coma, leaving no one to protect Charles’s daughter. She’d have been dragged out as the ugly foil to Hannah’s grace and talent.

They would have used Charles’s daughter’s "rudeness" or "wildness" to highlight Hannah’s gentleness and brilliance.

A cold, hard-to-explain disgust twisted in Selina’s gut.

Outside, Grandma Morris was still going on, voice shrill with complaint.

"Hannah, I’m sorry for making you suffer! Joe, can’t you say a single comforting word to Hannah? You’re practically engaged already—how can you act like this?"

Hannah gave a soft, polite laugh. "Old Madam, it’s nothing serious. Just a small misunderstanding. Oh, by the way, Old Madam, Sandy—did either of you see any handbags you liked? Consider them my gift to you."

Grandma Morris lit up. "Oh, you shouldn’t spend money on us! Joe, why are you just standing there?"

Joe, stiff and embarrassed, mumbled, "Ms. Hill, pick whatever you like."

Grandma Morris kept nagging on the side. "Ms. Hill? How formal. You two are practically engaged. Look at Hannah—so gentle, such a good temperament, such a famous talent in City N. She’s so much better than Victoria ever was. Victoria had no upbringing, and look at the rude, ungrateful daughter she raised..."

Selina felt outright nauseated listening to her.

"Logan," she asked flatly, "do you think I can afford to piss off the Hill Family?"

Logan gave her a long, meaningful look. "As long as I’m here? By all means, go ahead."

"Good." Selina turned. "Uncle Brooks, from now on, I don’t want to see them in my store."

Outside, Sandy and Grandma Morris were still fussing over bags when Brooks suddenly arrived with a squad of security guards.

"Ma’am, apologies, but our owner says XR is no longer welcoming you four."

Grandma Morris’s face twisted. "Do you even know who we are—"

"Of course," Brooks cut in coolly. "Morris Family’s Old Madam and the daughter of the Hill Family’s former head. I know exactly who you are."

He didn’t bother hiding his disdain. "Please leave."

Hannah’s perfectly composed smile flickered, confused. "I... I don’t understand—what’s going on?"

Joe felt humiliated. "President Brooks, we all move in the same circles. Do you really need to go this far? Besides, our Morris Family has never—"

What, exactly, had the Morris Family ever done to offend XR’s owner? It didn’t make sense.

"...Wait, I think I understand."

Hannah spoke up, her voice gentle as ever.

"Joe, when we came in earlier, I saw a young woman standing with President Brooks. She looked a lot like your daughter."

Brooks’s eyes narrowed slightly, studying Hannah. Hill Family women really were sharp.

"Selina’s here?" Joe asked, eyes lighting up.

But Grandma Morris’s face fell into an ugly scowl. She understood immediately.

Of course. That’s why President Brooks was throwing them out—he knew Selina.

Her voice rose in a shriek. "Where is she? Tell her to get out here!"

President Brooks let out a cold laugh. The Morris Family’s Old Madam always acted so high and mighty—even now, she was still being so aggressive.

"Old Madam, please don’t get upset," Hannah said gently. "I know there are some misunderstandings between Selina and the Morris Family. I’m sure she didn’t mean it intentionally. If you scold her now, it’ll only make things worse, and Joe will be the one hurt most."

She turned to Brooks with an apologetic smile. "President Brooks, would it be possible to have Miss Selina come out for a moment? I’m technically her elder. I even prepared a small gift for our first meeting. Why not give it to her today?"

Joe, who’d been desperate to see Selina, looked at Hannah gratefully. "Ms. Hill..."

"Joe, it’s nothing. It’s just what I should do. You and Selina are father and daughter. You should have an honest talk."

After saying this, Hannah stepped back, giving off the perfect image of being gracious and knowing her place.

Selina clicked her tongue quietly. She found Hannah incredibly fake—especially after learning Hannah used to be the "gold standard" contrasted against Charles’s daughter. She just couldn’t help but feel a deep, unexplainable dislike.

Grandma Morris let out an annoyed snort. "What an ungrateful brat. Look at her—making her elders wait here..."

"Grandma Morris, are you saying Uncle Brooks is being too polite?"

Selina leaned close to Logan’s ear and murmured, "I’m about to start trouble. Mr. Reid, make sure you clean it up for me."

Then she stepped forward. Her voice was cold and clear:

"Letting the Morris Family leave with any dignity was already me being generous because of so-called blood ties. But since Grandma Morris doesn’t appreciate it—Uncle Brooks, don’t bother being polite."

"Yes, Miss."

President Brooks nodded, and his face turned icy.

"Throw them out. And from today on, XR will blacklist the entire Morris Family from all our businesses. Move."

Sandy immediately shrieked, "Selina, what the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

Grandma Morris’s face flushed red with fury. "How dare you!"

Selina’s tone was maddeningly calm. "Well, you’ve always called me rude. Don’t you think I dare?"

Joe realized it was those few grumbling insults from Grandma Morris that Selina had overheard. He felt completely embarrassed and stammered, "Selina, your grandmother didn’t mean it that way. She’s just... used to comparing you to Victoria. She wasn’t trying to insult you..."

Selina let out a cold, mocking laugh.

"Old Madam, don’t be angry."

Hannah’s gaze lowered to hide her expression before she smiled softly and stepped forward to soothe her gently. Then she turned and addressed Selina with a sweet, reasonable voice:

"You must be Selina. I know you’re upset with the Old Madam and Joe, but we’re all family here. Making things too ugly won’t help you in the long run, right?"

Selina wasn’t buying any of it. She casually flipped her hair back, eyes glinting with sarcasm.

"And you are...?"

Joe’s face turned bright red. He suddenly didn’t know what to say and cast a helpless look at Grandma Morris for help.

Selina nearly laughed at how spineless he looked. She made a mental note to arrange a paternity test—was this coward really her biological father?

Sandy’s eyes gleamed with mischief.

"Selina, you probably don’t know yet—this is Uncle Joe’s fiancée. They’re getting married soon. You’ll have to call her Mom."

Hannah let out her signature gentle laugh.

"Oh, she’s grown up now. Forcing her to call me Mom might be too much. It’s fine. She can just call me Auntie. No need to push her."

Then she gave Selina a sympathetic, understanding look.

"Selina, you don’t have to worry. There’s no romance between me and Joe. We’re just... getting older. We want someone to lean on, someone to walk through life with. I would never try to replace your mother’s role. Don’t blame Joe for this."

Selina heard all of that—and suddenly laughed.