Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
Chapter 426: I Never Make a Losing Deal

Chapter 426: I Never Make a Losing Deal

"Yeah, Riley knows CY Club like the back of her hand. She must have guessed exactly where you hid the score, Mr. Hanks!"

"Once Riley gets back, I’m gonna congratulate her properly. That was way too smart!"

"Seriously impressive. Didn’t you say there were a ton of passwords, Mr. Hanks?"

Scott didn’t deny it. "There were some codes and puzzles, yes. I admit I’m curious myself how Riley moved so fast."

The codes weren’t impossibly hard, but they weren’t trivial either. He’d expected the fastest person to need at least half an hour.

"Easy fix—just ask her when she gets back!"

"By the way, anyone know where Miss Selina even is right now? Mr. Hanks, maybe you should tell her to stop trying? Otherwise, she’ll be wandering around for three hours—how embarrassing."

Luke’s face darkened. The smugness was getting to him.

He clenched his fist. "Scott, you hear yourself? What if Selina wins? Maybe hold off on the congratulations till you’re sure it’s Riley. You’ll be the ones embarrassed if it’s not her."

Scott smiled pleasantly. "Luke, you worry too much. No one but Riley could find it in five minutes. If you’d walked CY Club’s layout yourself, you’d know how crazy the halls are."

Luke shot back stubbornly, "So what? Maybe Selina will pull off a miracle."

Scott let out a patient laugh. "True, I suppose. She’s your sister-in-law—of course you’d back her. But Logan? What’s your view? You think Luke’s right, or me?"

Luke’s eyes went wide. Damn, that was slick!

He shot Logan a look, hoping for backup. Logan’s lips quirked in a faint, amused curve. Then he spoke slowly.

"How about we make it interesting."

There was a beat of confusion. Scott lifted his brows. "Logan, what do you have in mind?"

"Let’s bet on who comes out first," Logan said calmly. "We’ll wager club shares."

"You’re holding 5% of CY Club. I have 12%."

Logan’s voice was certain, unbothered. "I’m betting Mrs. Reid wins."

Scott froze, his pulse jumping.

Is Logan out of his mind?!

They were friends of a sort. Scott had never seen Logan so reckless. He was about to wager his own shares?!

Scott reflexively tried to back away. "Logan, transferring ownership isn’t that simple. Even as a bet or a gift, the board would need to approve—"

"Whether the board approves is my problem. The only thing you need to decide is: are you in or out?"

Scott hesitated. He was tempted.

He had nothing against Logan. He hadn’t planned to humiliate Selina. But if Logan insisted on handing over club shares on a silver platter...

And betting on Selina? It was laughable. There was no contest here.

Scott gave a soft, easy laugh. "Come on, Logan. You really trust her that much?"

Luke wanted to hit something.

He wasn’t stupid. He could feel Scott’s attitude toward Selina. It wasn’t hate. It wasn’t anger.

It was dismissal.

She wasn’t an enemy to him. She was irrelevant. Forgettable. Like a scrap of paper blowing past him—so insignificant he wouldn’t even look twice.

Scott wasn’t even trying to be cruel. He just didn’t think of Selina as someone worth considering.

And that—more than anything—made Luke want to puke.

Who the hell gave them the right to act so superior?

Scott called over his assistant. "All right, let’s draw up a contract."

Logan gave a calm nod.

Scott still felt like it was unreal. "Logan, you’re sure? You’re really putting all 12% of your shares on Selina?"

"As a friend, I’d hate to see you screwed over, so let me just say it again... think carefully."

Logan’s tone cooled. "Sign it."

Scott heard the impatience there and quickly lifted his hands in mock surrender.

"Okay, okay—I’ll sign. But hey, if you’re determined to hand over that 12%, who am I to refuse?"

Logan watched him finish signing, then let out a small, deliberate laugh.

"Scott," he said softly, "I never make losing deals."

I never make losing deals.

Scott froze for a second, an uneasy chill crawling over him.

It hit a nerve.

Because years ago, both the Reid Family and the Perry Family had thought they’d cornered Logan, thought he was done for. He’d said those exact same words—I never make losing deals.

And in the end?

The ones who lost everything were them.

Not Logan.

But... this was different, wasn’t it?

How could Selina possibly beat Riley?

Scott convinced himself Logan was just trying to save her face, give her some dignity so she didn’t feel alone. Logan was rich anyway. Losing the dividend income from those shares? He wouldn’t care.

Yeah. That had to be it.

Feeling reassured, Scott’s confidence returned.

"I’m sure Riley’s almost back," he said with a satisfied little smile. "Logan, it’s too late to regret it now."

Logan’s reply was casual. "We’ll see."

Scott chuckled smugly. "Sure..."

But before he could finish, there was a click at the door.

Someone was knocking.

Scott’s face lit up. That must be Riley!

He all but strode to the door, grinning back at Logan.

"Logan, looks like you’ve lost this one. Pitting Selina against Riley was unfair from the start, but..."

"But what?"

A woman’s voice cut him off lightly.

Hold on.

That voice didn’t sound like Riley’s...

As the door swung open, the entire room seemed to freeze.

They all stared in shock.

Her?

Scott’s mind blanked for a beat, then horror dawned as realization crept up his neck and stiffened it.

Selina calmly smoothed her hair back and arched a brow.

"Mr. Hanks, you seem surprised. Were you not going to let me in?"

Luke blinked for a moment, then launched himself forward in delight.

"Selina, you’re back! Where’s the sheet music?!"

Selina gently raised the ancient music score in her hand

Luke cleared his throat dramatically.

"Well well well, Mr. Hanks. Looks like your plan didn’t quite work out. Who would’ve thought Selina would be the first one back?"

Scott’s eyes met Logan’s across the room.

He felt something crumble in his chest, tripped back a step.

He’d miscalculated.

This was a trap.

He wasn’t stupid.

Logan hadn’t bet for no reason. He knew Scott underestimated Selina. He’d wanted to teach him a lesson.

Scott usually didn’t care what other people thought. He didn’t waste time hating them. But this...

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

How had Selina beaten Riley?

This was Riley’s home turf—CY Club!

Selina shouldn’t even know her way around!

Impossible! someone shouted immediately. Riley’s friends couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

"Riley knows CY Club better than anyone! There’s no way she lost to you, Selina!"

"She had to have cheated somehow!"

Scott stayed silent.

He didn’t want to fling accusations.

But how Selina had beaten Riley?

He couldn’t explain that.