Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'-Chapter 389: What Is She Hoping For?

The more Madam Nelson thought about it, the more brilliant she believed her plan was.

Of course—just blame Hunter. He was Logan’s friend, but to the Nelson Family, he was technically still an "outsider." So what if Logan got angry at him? It wouldn’t really matter.

Slapping her thigh like she’d had a revelation, she exclaimed, "Look at me—getting old and mixing up Riley and Hunter! Logan, Riley never said anything. It was Hunter who mentioned it several times."

"He said you two were close friends, said he’d been to Pear Blossom Estate before, told me I could come stay for a few days—that everyone here would respect him!"

Selina let out a low scoff. Yep. Definitely the adopted one. Not only was Hunter not favored, the Nelson Family treated him like a scapegoat, throwing every problem onto his back.

Logan’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Hunter, huh?"

"Y-yes!" Madam Nelson stammered, her throat tightening. "We all know you and Hunter are friends—that’s why we believed him! We didn’t realize Pear Blossom Estate was private. Hunter really set us up!"

Logan nodded calmly. "Then I suppose I need to give him a call and clear things up."

"Logan—" Madam Nelson’s face turned green.

She was just trying to find a way out! Why was Logan taking this so seriously?

Hunter’s personality was stubborn—if Logan really called him out, he’d deny it without hesitation... and Riley would end up paying the price.

"Logan, come on. It’s such a small matter—you and Hunter are so close, let’s not make a big deal out of it..."

Logan’s tone didn’t budge. "Even blood brothers keep accounts clear. And if there’s one thing I despise, it’s people using their ’relationship’ with me to throw my name around like a weapon. Don’t you agree, Madam Nelson?"

Selina had it figured out.

Logan wasn’t upset because Madam Nelson showed up uninvited with a crowd. No—what truly pissed him off was how easily she threw Hunter under the bus.

Given Logan’s position and his complex relationship with the Nelsons, if Madam Nelson had simply admitted she was in the wrong, he might’ve let it slide.

But instead, she thought—Hunter’s just the adopted one. Might as well use him.

And that? That hit a nerve.

Madam Nelson had never expected Logan to keep pressing even after she’d dragged Hunter’s name into it. Her throat tightened in panic.

"Logan, you’re right. I’ll discipline Hunter myself. He’s probably busy anyway, no need to call—"

Too late.

Logan had already dialed.

Without giving her a chance to protest, he spoke directly into the phone: "Hunter, Madam Nelson says you invited her to stay at Pear Blossom Estate. Is that true?"

Madam Nelson felt her throat close up. Please, she begged internally, please don’t be an idiot, Hunter...

"No," came Hunter’s cold reply.

The single word dropped like a hammer.

Logan ended the call without ceremony. "Madam Nelson?"

"H-Hunter... he’s lying..." Madam Nelson stammered, her face turning white.

She never imagined such a minor issue would escalate like this. All she wanted was to stay a few days—what was the big deal? Logan was the younger one—who gave him the right to say no?!

And Hunter—he only needed him to lie once, just a tiny white lie. What was his problem, acting all self-righteous? He was just the adopted son!

The expressions of the other socialites around her started to shift, their eyes suspicious and increasingly cold.

Feeling the embarrassment burn through her skin, Madam Nelson tried to salvage what was left.

"H-Hunter’s always disliked me. He probably did that on purpose—"

"Mom!" a voice called out from the entrance.

Riley came rushing in, clearly panicked. She grabbed the phone from the manager, who was still holding it out for Logan, and quickly spoke into it.

"Logan, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I thought Pear Blossom Estate was going to open soon, so I told my mom she could come stay. I didn’t mean to bother you or Selina. It’s completely my fault."

Selina raised an eyebrow.

Before Logan could say anything, Riley turned to the group of wealthy ladies nearby and said, "I’m really sorry for the misunderstanding. Please, go ahead and head back. As an apology, all hotels under the Nelson Family’s name will be free for each of you for a month. Again, I truly apologize."

Her apology was sincere, and it quickly dispelled the suspicion those women had just been whispering about.

—It must’ve been a simple misunderstanding. No way Miss Nelson was intentionally showing off her relationship with Mr. Reid.

Once the socialites left, Madam Nelson looked absolutely sour and muttered under her breath, "Riley! Why did you admit to anything? Just now Hunter—"

"Mom!" Riley interrupted, not-so-subtly glancing at the phone and confirming Logan was still on the line. Then she deliberately raised her voice, sounding firm and self-righteous: "It was clearly my mistake. How can you blame my brother?"

Madam Nelson quickly adjusted. "Your brother and Logan are close. Logan won’t blame him. I’m just worried he might hold it against you, that’s all."

Riley replied helplessly, "Wrong is wrong, Mom. There’s no shame in admitting it. Selina hasn’t been in a good place lately. Logan brought her here for a break, and then you showed up uninvited—of course he’d be upset."

"Come with me and apologize to Selina."

Selina couldn’t help feeling there was something off about that last sentence. That classic "green tea energy"—soft words with a hidden edge.

The reason Madam Nelson had been shut out was simple: Pear Blossom Estate was a private residence.

But when Riley said it, it subtly became: Selina didn’t welcome Madam Nelson, and that’s why she was turned away.

Sure enough, Madam Nelson bristled. "If I’d known Selina was here, I would’ve waited a few days before coming! Who’d have thought she’d be so possessive—now I can’t even step inside!"

"Mom, that’s enough."

Riley shook her head, then turned toward the phone with a warm, sincere tone.

"Selina, I’m really sorry. My mom didn’t mean to disturb you. I know it interrupted your rest, and I’m not sure how to make it up to you—but how about this? When you’re free, let’s go on a trip together. All expenses on me."

Selina pulled the corners of her mouth into a polite smile. Clever.

That wasn’t just an apology. Riley had made sure Logan heard every word.

The Nelson Family relied on their so-called "gratitude" toward Hunter to guilt-trip and exploit him. But Riley? She played a different game.

She knew Logan valued his friendship with Hunter, so in front of Logan, she made it seem like she cared deeply for her "brother."

But did she really?

Hunter, the adopted son, had brought substantial benefits to the Nelson Family—Riley being one of the biggest beneficiaries. Could she really be unaware of how her family treated him?

If she truly cared about him, then when Hunter tried to break away from the Nelsons, why didn’t she support him? Instead, she used their "sibling bond" to keep him tied to the family, continuing to serve their interests.

Still, Riley was slick—she never left behind anything anyone could pin on her.

Like today: she presented herself as someone who could admit fault, someone who wouldn’t let her brother take the blame.

Selina curled her lips into a faint smile.

"Miss Nelson, since your apology is so sincere, of course I’ll accept it."

"I’m glad to hear that, Selina."

Riley sighed gently. "I’ve heard about what happened to you... Staying at Pear Blossom Estate for a while is probably a good idea. At least Chairman Morris can’t get to you here. Don’t worry—I’m always on your side."

Then she added, as if remembering something: "By the way... since you’re the Morris Family heiress, you hold shares in the family, don’t you? If you walk away from that identity, you’re giving up those shares. Doesn’t that seem like a bit of a loss?"

"After all... some of those shares belonged to your mother, too."

Selina narrowed her eyes.

Why did it feel like Riley was really eager for her to reconcile with the Morris Family?

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