Chapter 35: The Shameless Deadbeat Father Victoriaâs daughter?!
The executives in the meeting room exchanged confused glances before their eyes turned to Selina.
Katieâs face burned hot with humiliation. Noahâs bluntness was like a slap across her and her daughterâs faces.
"But... but didnât you already agree with Ryan to collaborate with Natalia? I understand that you and Selina are friends, but Mr. Brown, you canât go back on your word! My poor daughter, oh..." Katieâs sobs filled the room.
Noah, visibly irritated by her theatrics, frowned in disgust. "I agreed to collaborate with the true heiress of the Clark family. Surely none of you believe that this illegitimate child is the real heiress, do you?"
"Where did you get the audacity to have an illegitimate child pose as the rightful daughter? Was it this mistress here who gave you the idea?"
The room fell into uncomfortable silence as the realization dawned on everyone.
Noahâs intended partner wasnât Natalia but Selinaâthe true Clark family heiress. The family had simply assumed Noah meant Natalia, but that assumption was now unraveling.
Natalia, born just a month after Selina and as an illegitimate child, had quietly claimed the title of "heiress" for herself. But how could she presume to take Selinaâs place?
Katieâs face was pale with panic as she stammered, "No, no, this must be a misunderstandingâwe mustâve gotten it wrong..."
Selina raised an eyebrow, cutting her off with a bright smile as she turned to Natalia.
"Sorry, sister. It seems Mr. Brown specifically asked for my motherâs daughter. Are you so addicted to stealing what isnât yours that youâre ready to swap mothers too? Mrs. Bryant is right next to you, and yet youâre eager to claim someone elseâs mom."
Nataliaâs eyes widened with fury. "Iâm notâ"
"Oh, so you and Mrs. Bryant already claimed my achievements, and now Dadâs letting it slide too?" Selina turned to James, her smile tinged with mockery. "Dad, you really thought Natalia deserved the credit for this? You donât find Mr. Brownâs words surprising at all?"
The crowd nodded in agreement. Noah had repeatedly referred to the "heiress." Surely, as their father, James knew which of his daughters was the elder?
Jamesâs blood pressure shot up, his face turning red as he stammered, "Selina, it mustâve been a misunderstanding. Ryan mustâve miscommunicated, and thatâs why I didnât think of you at first!"
Selina tilted her head. "Oh, so now you know the truth. And then?"
James felt like he was on the verge of collapsing. His rebellious daughter was forcing him to take a side in front of everyone!
Yet if he continued to defend Natalia, heâd lose the partnership entirely...
Gritting his teeth, James finally said, "Selina, this collaboration is all thanks to your efforts. Iâll remember that. During the partnership, youâll take charge of coordinating with Mr. Brown."
Katie nearly lost her mind, screaming hysterically despite the setting. "No! What about Natalia? She canâtâah!"
James quickly clamped his hand over Katieâs mouth and forced a strained smile at Noah. "Mr. Brown, please donât misunderstand. Katieâs just a little emotionalâshe didnât mean anything by it. Selina, why donât you take Mr. Brown for a site inspection later?"
Selina smiled contentedly. "Of course. Mr. Brown, shall we head to the office?"
With that, she led the way out of the meeting room. The other attendees quickly began to disperse in twos and threes.
Only after the room cleared did James release Katie, shouting furiously, "Have you lost your mind? How could you say that in front of Noah?!"
Katie burst into tears. "James, we canât let this happen! The news is already out that Natalia is leading the collaboration. If Selina takes over, what will happen to Natalia?"
Natalia bit her lip, feigning reluctance. "I donât want to compete with Sister, but Iâm about to marry Ryan. If I lose face, itâll reflect poorly on him too. Iâm worried Sisterâs actions will only make the Carter family resent me even more."
James fell silent, taking a moment to calm down. He knew he couldnât let Selina take all the credit.
Katieâs eyes darted around as she schemed. "James, hereâs an idea. Why donât we let Natalia join Noah on the site visit? Later, we can say the two sisters worked together on the project. That way, Selina gets involved, but Natalia still gets the credit."
James nodded. "That might work. Natalia, there will be reporters at the site. Iâll have the familyâs most expensive luxury car prepared for you. Arriving in style will naturally make people think youâre the one in charge."
Natalia clenched her fists tightly. "Understood, Dad."
Clark Group Office.
Noah reviewed the blueprint for the Clark Group riverside park project and frowned. "This project has some serious issues."
Selina blinked innocently. "Thatâs why I asked for your help. Are you saying Mr. Brown isnât willing to help me?"
Noah shuddered slightly. "Donât talk to me like that! Fine, fine, since Iâve already agreed to help, Iâll go to the site and see if thereâs anything salvageable. Iâll try to make sure the project doesnât completely fail..."
Selina tilted her head in confusion. "Wait. You think Iâm going to help Clark Group improve this project? Do you really think Iâm that kind of person?"
"...Arenât you?"
Selina suddenly smiled slyly. "Then Iâm afraid youâll be disappointed, Mr. Brown. What I meant was, can you find more flaws in the project? Make Clark Group lose every penny."
Noah stared at her in silence before muttering under his breath, "Sheâs exactly like Logan. Unbelievable..."
Selina narrowed her eyes. "What does this have to do with Mr. Reid?"
Noahâs mouth twitched. "Nothing. Letâs go mess them up."
As he spoke, he sent a message to Logan: [Are you sure Selina needs âmy careâ?]
Logan replied: [Yes. She has a gentle personalityâIâm worried the Clark family might bully her.]
Noah stared at Loganâs message, nearly choking on his own disbelief.
Gentle personality? Selina? Is this a joke?
Thirty minutes later.
Noah suggested visiting the site for an inspection.
James had already prepared the luxury car. "Mr. Brown, Natalia will accompany you to the site. Sheâd like to learn from you."
Noah, maintaining a calm expression, agreed.
Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
ï¤Chapter 34: Killing with Praise Apocalypse: The Supporting Actress Made a Comeback ï¤Chapter 739 - 395 Bite back Shadow Slave ï¤Chapter 2468 Home Bitter Home As the group moved to the entrance of the Clark Group building, a luxurious car pulled up. Gasps rippled through the crowd. The car was worth a fortuneâit was the one James had bought at an auction a few years ago for nearly ten million dollars!
James grinned and gestured toward the car. "Mr. Brown, please get in."
Noah took his place in the back seat. The driver and a vice chairman were already in the car, leaving space for just one more passenger.
Everyoneâs gaze shifted between Selina and Natalia. Both sisters were supposed to go to the site, but there was only one seat left.
Katie chuckled. "Natalia, you should take the seat. James was planning to give you this car for your birthday, so youâre already half the owner of it."
If Natalia was already "half the owner," then naturally, the final seat should go to her.
Selina raised an eyebrow. This car cost ten million dollars. Thereâs no way Jamesâs business acumen could generate that much disposable income.
The money for this car must have come from my motherâs inheritance.
If this car was bought with my motherâs money, why should Natalia get to sit in it while I donât?
Noah, sitting in the car, narrowed his eyes. He noticed Selinaâs silence and suddenly remembered Loganâs description of her: "She has a gentle personality."