Chapter 80: No Room for Real Feelings Logan suddenly leaned in. "Mrs. Reid?"
His warm breath brushed against her cheek, and Selinaâs knees almost gave out. "N-no, I wouldnât let anyone bully me."
Loganâs lips curved into a faint smile as he pressed a kiss above her cheek. "Thatâs good."
Thatâs good...?
Selina froze for a moment, instinctively blurting, "My phone..."
He wasnât going to question her about her "lost" phone?
"If your phoneâs lost, itâs lost. I trust you," Logan said with a soft laugh. "And besides, I donât think Mrs. Reid has anything sheâs hiding from me.
Right?"
Selinaâs cheeks suddenly turned an unnatural shade of red. Her words came out stammered. "R-right."
She couldnât meet Loganâs gaze for the rest of the meal.
A phone lost during a short outingâwho would believe that lie?
Did Logan genuinely trust her, or was he sparing her dignity by not calling her out?
Selina felt a surge of guilt. This marriage had been her plan from the start, yet for some reason, she was beginning to feel a strange sense of uncertainty.
The kinder Logan was to her, the more unsettled she felt.
This guilt reached its peak the next day when Logan handed her a brand-new phone.
Selina hesitated for a long time. Should she thank Logan?
But what could she possibly give him as thanks? Logan had everything...
Her mind drifted to the memory of him cooking last time. Almost unconsciously, Selina found herself in the kitchen.
Born into wealth, Logan had every privilege, yet he still cooked so wellâskills heâd apparently picked up while studying abroad.
But considering his resources and status, wouldnât he have had plenty of staff even while abroad? Why would he need to cook for himself?
Was it possible he really hadnât had anyone to cook for him?
Lost in thought, Selina didnât even realize she had already turned on the stove, her face a picture of deep concentration.
...
An hour later.
Logan stepped out of his car.
Jack followed behind, reporting, "Robert was brought to the police station. After his release, the company terminated him. Now he and Evelyn are preparing to confront the Clark Family."
Logan raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Robert claims Katie instigated him to humiliate Selina. He insists everything he did was for Katie. Now that heâs been fired, he believes Katie should take responsibility."
Jack continued, "But Katie, of course, denies it. Sheâs tearfully telling James that Robert is greedy and that none of this has anything to do with her."
"As you predicted, sir, the siblings are starting to turn on each other."
Loganâs tone was calm. "Itâs not enough. The Bryant Family is relying on Katie right now. For them to completely fall apart, weâll need the right opportunity."
Jack nodded in understanding. "Then, sir..."
Before he could finish, Miller Butler rushed out. "Sir, you should come quickly! Mrs. Reid has burned her hand badly!"
Loganâs brow furrowed immediately, and he strode inside without hesitation.
...
Selina couldnât understand how, despite following every step of the instructions, she had failed so miserably.
Not only had she failed, but her hand had been scalded by the hot pan, leaving a red and swollen mark.
When Logan entered, the first thing he saw was Selina sitting on the couch, looking utterly bewildered.
He walked over, took her hand, and his gaze turned sharp. "Come here. Let me treat this."
Selina swallowed nervously. Why did it feel like Logan was in a bad mood? Had she somehow offended him instead of thanking him?
The cool ointment soothed the burn on her hand, easing the pain.
Logan spoke in a flat tone. "You just got burned yesterday, and now youâve made it worse today. Mrs. Reid, is Sapphire Valley Villa starving you so badly that you felt the need to cook yourself?"
For someone who didnât know how to cook, what had possessed her to step into the kitchen?
Selina lowered her head, her voice small and uncertain. "I just wanted to learn."
Logan couldnât understand her fixation on cooking. "If you canât learn, thatâs fine. Cooking isnât a necessary skill."
Selina hesitated for a long moment before softly saying, "But I wanted to thank you."
Loganâs hand froze mid-motion as he applied the ointment, his heart skipping a beat. "What did you say?"
Selina blinked. "You stood up for me yesterday, so I wanted to thank you."
Logan wasnât sure what to feel.
Thank him?
She wanted to cook just to thank him? How ridiculous.
Logan looked at her intently. "Getting yourself hurt as a way to thank me isnât worth it. Donât go into the kitchen again."
Selina bit her lip. "But I donât have any other way to repay you..."
Logan replied coolly, "There are plenty of ways to thank me. Didnât Mrs. Reid give me a coupleâs watch last time?"
Selina opened her mouth to speak but said nothing.
He was rightâthere were many ways to thank him. In the past, she had used the excuse of gratitude to give Logan gifts, all as part of her plan to secure their marriage and gain the Carter Family inheritance.
But those gestures werenât sincere.
She had gifted him the watch to flatter the Carter Family heir, ensuring she could reclaim her inheritance more easily.
Now, she just wanted to genuinely thank the man named Logan. She didnât care about his status or position anymore.
For reasons she couldnât explain, she didnât want to deceive him any longer.
Logan didnât lack money or possessions. What she should give him was her sincerity. But how could there be sincerity in a marriage built on calculation?
...
Ten minutes later, Selina sat alone in the study, staring at the carefully treated burn on her hand, feeling lost.
Did Logan think of her as some naive girl from the countryside who needed his protection? In reality, she navigated City A with ease and was more than capable of defending herself.
Should she tell him the truth about those years she supposedly spent "in the countryside"?
Beep, beep...
Her phone suddenly rang.
Selina frowned at the caller ID, her tone turning serious. "Justin, what is it?"
The caller, Justin Gray, was one of the few people she trusted completely from her years "in the countryside."
"Luna, theyâve found traces of your escape in Country B. Itâs likely theyâll track you to City A soon."
Selinaâs eyes narrowed. "They found me that quickly?"
"Yes. Iâve returned to the country as well."
Justinâs voice remained calm. "You canât afford any weaknesses right now. I heard you got married?"
Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'
ï¤Chapter 79: Mutual Backstabbing Apocalypse: The Supporting Actress Made a Comeback ï¤Chapter 739 - 395 Bite back Shadow Slave ï¤Chapter 2468 Home Bitter Home Selinaâs breath hitched.
After a long silence, she steadied her voice. "Donât worry. Itâs just a marriage of convenience."
Justin sighed. "Luna, I grew up with you. I know youâre someone who gets emotionally attached. When all of this is over, if you want to get married or fall in love, I wonât stop you. But not now."
"For your sakeâand hisâyou canât let yourself develop real feelings."
A lump formed in Selinaâs throat, a sensation sheâd never experienced before. It was as though all the strength had drained from her body.
"...I understand."
After hanging up, Selina sat there in a daze.
The call felt like a cold bucket of water, snapping her back to reality.
She still had a mountain of unresolved problems. Telling Logan the truth would only drag him into her mess.
...
A few days later.
Ethan frowned as he looked at the file Logan handed him. "Are you certain the hacker who stole Reid Groupâs files five years ago was named Luna?"
Loganâs deep eyes lifted slightly. "Why? Is there a problem?"