Chapter 17: I Donât Want to See You Sad A manâs voice echoed through the microphone, filling every corner of the arts hall.
Everyone instantly turned their heads.
The organizer of the calligraphy competition rushed onto the stage. "Miss Clark, Iâm sorry, but the award presenter has been changed. Please step down."
Nataliaâs expression froze, but she quickly softened her tone. "This role has always been mine. Are you sure thereâs been no mistake?"
"Thereâs no mistake! Someone influential demanded the presenter be replaced. Natalia, stop stalling and come with me!"
Nataliaâs face darkened. Impossible! Replace her?
Ryan strode over, his brows furrowed as he snapped, "Who dares make changes without my approval? This isnât the place for petty scheming. The presenter has already been decided, and itâs not subject to change!"
The organizer, wiping cold sweat from his forehead, stammered, "Actually, this role was originallyâ"
Ryan interrupted harshly, "This role was finalized by me! Do you even know who I amâ"
The organizer, growing desperate, raised his voice, "Yes, I know youâre Mr. Carter. But this change was ordered by Old Mr. Carter himself!"
The room instantly fell silent. Nataliaâs face turned pale.
Ryanâs eyes widened, disbelief evident in his voice. "Thatâs impossible! Donât think you can justâ"
"How is it impossible?"
Before Ryan could finish, a booming voice rang out backstage.
An elderly man in his seventies emerged, leaning on a cane and visibly angry. "Iâm the one who replaced Natalia. Whatâs the matter? Do you have a problem with that?"
The crowd gasped. Wasnât this the head of the Carter Family, Old Mr. Carter himself?
Ryanâs panic was evident as his voice softened considerably. "Grandfather, why didnât you tell me you were coming?"
"If I hadnât come, who knows how much more Selina wouldâve been wronged!" Old Mr. Carter exhaled deeply. "Selina, come here."
Selina stood frozen, stunned by his arrival. She hadnât expected Grandpa Carter to show up. WaitâLogan had made a phone call earlier...
Her eyes shifted to Logan, who smirked and leaned in, his voice low. "Go on."
Not wanting to keep Old Mr. Carter waiting, Selina walked over.
Nataliaâs eyes reddened as she called out, "Ryan..."
Ryan scowled and barked at Selina, "What did you say to Grandpa this time? Do you even realize how important this awards ceremony is? Stop causing trouble!"
"Shut up!" Old Mr. Carter roared, louder than anyone expected.
"Selina causing trouble? You gave her award presenter role to Nataliaâwas that not causing trouble?!"
The audience collectively gasped. So, the presenter role originally belonged to Selina?
And Natalia had just been flaunting it in front of her? Shameless!
Ryanâs tone weakened. "Grandpa, you donât understand. Natalia has been through a lot tooâ"
"Been through a lot? Today, you drove her to City A University in a luxury car, letting her bask in all the attention! But Selina was your fiancée for over ten years. Did you ever do that for her even once?!"
Disappointment filled Old Mr. Carterâs gaze. "Youâre so concerned about Nataliaâs grievances. Do Selinaâs grievances mean nothing to you?"
The onlookers glared at Ryan with disdain.
Unbelievable. Selina had been his fiancée, yet even before the engagement was officially broken off, he was already involved with Natalia, even stealing Selinaâs rightful role for her.
And Natalia? Playing the part of the innocent goddess while scheming behind everyoneâs back? Disgusting.
"Enough!" Old Mr. Carter declared. "Iâll present the award myself. You stay here and apologize to Selina. As for you..."
His sharp gaze landed on Natalia. "Youâre nothing but a disgrace. Go back to wherever you came from!"
Nataliaâs face twisted in fury, her nails digging into her palms.
This decrepit old man! How dare he humiliate her like this! If she left now, sheâd become the laughingstock of everyone. No, she couldnât allow that...
Natalia suddenly clutched her chest, her body swaying slightly.
"Natalia!" Ryan quickly caught her, exclaiming, "Grandpa, Natalia has a heart condition! Iâll take her to the infirmary!"
Without waiting for a reply, he rushed out through the back door, leaving no time to apologize to Selina.
Old Mr. Carterâs disappointment deepened. The grandson he had once valued most was now unable to distinguish right from wrong, overturning principles for a woman, and even discarding the dignity of the Carter Family.
"Selina, come, join me on stage," Old Mr. Carter said firmly.
Taking the trophy, he instructed the host to bring the winning students on stage. Together with Selina, he personally presented the awards to the recipients.
Half an hour later, Selina was supporting Old Mr. Carter as they returned backstage.
The elderly man looked weary, his face lined with fatigue. "Selina, something so serious happened, and I was the last to know... Youâve suffered too much. Donât blame me for this."
Selina felt a pang of sadness in her chest. "Ryan and I are impossible now. I donât want you to worry about me."
She had been willing to marry that useless Ryan largely for Grandpa Carterâs sake.
Though his health was failing, he had insisted on fulfilling the old engagement and had always shown her heartfelt careâsomething she had never experienced with the Clark Family.
Old Mr. Carter shook his head. "Itâs good that the engagement is broken. That unworthy grandson of mine doesnât deserve you. Itâs his loss. Next time, Iâll introduce you to my youngest son."
His youngest sonâthe true heir of the Carter Familyâwas a dashing, wealthy man and one of the most sought-after bachelors among City Aâs elite.
But Selina froze, blinking in confusion.
Wait a minute. Wasnât Grandpa Carter brought here by Logan?
If Logan had gone to fetch him, surely Grandpa Carter knew she and Logan were acquainted. So why was he talking about "introducing" them?
She struggled to keep a straight face. "Your youngest son... isnât he here already? Havenât you seen him?"
Old Mr. Carter let out an "oh," his tone casual. "He seems to care a lot about this calligraphy event. Heâs probably around, but heâs busy, and Iâm too tired to look for him. Iâll arrange for you two to have dinner at home next time."
Selina sighed in relief. That seemed fine.
But... why did it still feel a little strange?
She hesitated, gathering her courage to ask if the Carter Family heirâs name was Logan, butâ
Old Mr. Carter suddenly clutched his chest, his breathing labored as he erupted into a fit of violent coughing.
Medical staff quickly surrounded him, helping him stabilize. Shaking his head with regret, Old Mr. Carter muttered, "This old ailment of mine has flared up again. You should head back. Come visit me in a few days."
Watching him board the car, Selina realized this wasnât the right time to press him with questions.
Worried about his health, she took out her phone to message a friend, but just then, her phone rang.
Answering the call, she heard Grandpa Clarkâs furious, disappointed voice.
"Selina, whatâs wrong with you?! How can you cause trouble even while attending school? Do you know how many eyes are on Natalia right now?
For the sake of the Clark Family, canât you bear a little grievance? Natalia is your sister!"
Hearing his reprimand, Selina found it absurdly laughable.
Someone elseâs grandfather was heartbroken over her suffering and wanted to stand up for her. Yet her own grandfather was questioning why she couldnât swallow her pride.
Selinaâs eyes turned icy. "Are you really my grandfather? Do you even see me as family?"
Grandpa Clark bristled with anger. "Selina, since when did you become so unreasonable? Youâ"
Beep.
The call ended abruptly as her phone was snatched away.
Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
ï¤Chapter 16: I Want to Stand Up for You Apocalypse: The Supporting Actress Made a Comeback ï¤Chapter 739 - 395 Bite back Shadow Slave ï¤Chapter 2468 Home Bitter Home Logan had hung up without hesitation.
His cold, calm eyes swept over her as he spoke in a steady tone. "Miss Clark, you donât need to waste your breath on people who donât care about you. Because the people who do care about you donât want to see you upset."