Chapter 304: The Seed of Doubt Of course Loganâs words were still fresh in Joeâs mind.
He had wanted to speak up for Angelicaâ
But Logan had calmly said:
"Chairman Morris, do you truly believe Angelica is your daughter?"
"The Clark family treats her like sheâs gold. They spent ten million just to secure her a title, and they were even willing to frame their own blood for her. Ask yourselfâwould you ever do that to your biological daughter for the sake of a stepdaughter?"
Of course not.
To Joe, his biological child was precious. Heâd give her the world if he couldânever hurt her like that.
Even if the Clark family hated Selina... this level of cruelty?
Joeâs expression shifted, complex thoughts flashing across his face.
"Mr. Reid, please take Miss Clark with you. Angelica needs to rest."
The sudden shift in tone made Selina raise an eyebrow in amusement.
Angelica stared, stunned.
"Dad, Selina hit me. Youâre just going to let her get away with that?!"
Joe opened his mouth, hesitated, then finally shook his head.
"Miss Clark, letâs leave it at that for today. I donât want to see this happen again. Whatever else, Angelica is a member of the Morris family. The Clark familyâs affairs have nothing to do with her."
Selina beamed. "Alright then. Goodbye, Angelica. Logan, letâs go."
As she passed Angelica, Selina leaned in and lowered her voice:
"Last time your manager took the fall for you. This time, your motherâs going to prison for you. Angelica... I wonder, next time, will there still be someone left to stand in front of you?"
Angelica could only watch helplessly as Selina walked away, seething with fury and frustration.
"Why... why is this happening to me?!" she sobbed. "Why are they all doing this to me?!"
Joe watched her tears silently, then let out a long sigh.
"Angelica, your mother... wasnât this much of a crybaby."
"Iâ" Angelicaâs tears froze. A cold shiver ran down her spine.
Joe looked at her closely.
"You donât resemble your mother at all."
Victoria would never cry like this at the first sign of trouble.
And she would neverâafter stepping on others to rise upâpretend she was completely innocent.
Loganâs words rang again in Joeâs mind, and for the first time, doubt took root.
What if... she isnât?
If Angelica isnât really Victoriaâs daughterâthen where is his real child?
Was she out there somewhere, living in hardship, going without?
Angelicaâs shoulders stiffened. Sweat beaded at her temples.
A wave of paralyzing fear crashed down on her.
"D-Dad, what are you talking about...?"
Joeâs expression darkened.
"Nothing. Just one questionâDid you always know Katie wasnât your biological mother? And does the Clark family know?"
Jamesâs favoritism toward Angelica was understandable if it was just about Katie.
But if they all knew Angelica wasnât related to Katie by blood, then why did they still treat her so well?
Angelicaâs nerves were stretched to their limit. Then, suddenly, she broke down in tears.
"Dad, what are you saying? Are you actually doubting that Iâm your real daughter?"
"We did do a DNA test! And I have all of Momâs design drafts and sketchesâIf I werenât her daughter, how could I possibly have those?! Isnât that enough proof?"
She bit her lip, weeping as she covered her face.
"Iâve already lost my adoptive mother... I canât lose you too. Everyone else can question me, but why you, Dad? Why you?"
Joe stood there in silence.
Yeah...
Everyone else might doubt Angelica.
But heâshouldnât.
After a long, long silence, Joe finally let out a heavy sigh.
"The competitionâs been delayed a week. Go home for now."
Angelica stood up looking weak, but a flash of cold malice flickered in her eyes.
She had to do somethingâand fastâto make Joe stop doubting her.
Damn it.
...
Outside the lounge, Selina blinked.
"What did you say to Chairman Morris just now?"
Sheâd just mocked Angelica mercilessly, and yet Joe didnât blow upâInstead, he let her leave, didnât even bring up the fact that she hit Angelica.
Was he drugged? Lost his mind?
Logan gave a faint smirk.
"Nothing much. Just reminded Chairman Morris to make sure heâs backing the right daughterâotherwise, he wonât be able to clean up the mess."
Selina shook her head.
"Doubt it did much good."
Yeah, probably not.
Loganâs face stayed calm, but there was something unreadable in his eyes.
"Get it out of your system?"
Selina froze, her tone suddenly defensive.
"W-What? Get what out of my system? I have no idea what youâre talking about."
"Oh? So Mrs. Reid didnât come here on her own just to land a few slaps?"
Logan raised a brow, amused.
"I thought I showed up too early and spoiled your fun."
Selina swallowed hard.
To be honest... he wasnât wrong.
If Logan and Joe hadnât shown up so fast, sheâd have landed two more slaps on Angelica.
"The competitionâs delayed a week. Letâs go home," Logan said, casually shifting the subject. "Get some rest. You pulled an all-nighterâdonât do that again."
Selina muttered under her breath, "Lukeâs the one who kept me up all night. Why donât you scold him?"
Loganâs gaze slid sideways, then he leaned in suddenly, completely enveloping her in his shadow.
His voice dropped, low and rough.
"I only have enough energy to manage you. Lukeâs not my responsibility."
Selina: "..."
Her cheeks flushed bright red.
How is he so good at this?!
"Youâre so shameless."
Logan gave a satisfied hum, took the insult in stride, and said casually, "Heâs used to it."
Selina choked.
"Young Master Logan."
Just then, someone stepped up.
The man gave Selina a quick, dismissive glance, then offered a fake smile and a gesture of polite invitation.
"Young Master Logan, Old Mr. Carter asked me to deliver something to you. Would you mind coming with me for a moment?"
Loganâs eyes narrowed slightly.
Selina raised a brow. Someone from the Carter family?
They still had the nerve to call him "Young Master"?
The Carter assistant clearly did have that nerve.
"Young Master Logan, the old man did raise you for many years. I believe you left a few things behind with the Carter family, didnât you?"
Logan gave a short, chilling laugh.
His tone was calmâyet it sent a shiver down everyoneâs spine.
"Are you threatening me?"
The assistantâs face twitched.
Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
ï¤Chapter 303: Pissed Off? Do Something About It Apocalypse: The Supporting Actress Made a Comeback ï¤Chapter 739 - 395 Bite back Shadow Slave ï¤Chapter 2468 Home Bitter Home "Of course not, sir. I would never. Itâs just... the old man really has something he wants to give you."
Logan stared him down for a long beat before finally turning to Selina.
"Wait in the car. Iâll be back in five."
Selina nodded.
Once in the car, she planned to wait.
But after staying up all night, the second she leaned into the plush seat, her eyelids started drooping.
Her thoughts turned fuzzy. Sleep was closing in.
Five minutes later, Logan tossed whatever "item" Old Mr. Carter had given him into the backseat without a second glance.
Jack asked from the front, "Sir, what did the Carter family want?"
Logan casually pulled off his gloves and threw them into the trash.
"Nothing. Just greedy for my blood."
He scoffed.
"A bunch of clowns, thatâs all."