Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle' novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Killing with Praise

Manager Taylor’s expression improved slightly as he sneered, "Miss Natalia, you have no idea how arrogant Selina is. She keeps calling me an outsider! I’ve been with Clark Group for over twenty years—maybe I haven’t achieved much, but I’ve worked hard!"

Natalia bit her lip, feigning helplessness. "Sister... how could you say something like that? Manager Taylor has dedicated himself to Clark Group. You should apologize to him."

Manager Taylor looked at Selina with smug satisfaction.

Selina let out a cold laugh. "So, Manager Taylor, you remember you’ve been at Clark Group for over twenty years. Do you also remember who your former supervisor was?"

Manager Taylor’s face changed instantly, and he was left speechless.

...His former supervisor had been Victoria, one of Clark Group’s major shareholders.

Selina’s tone turned icy. "Clark Group was founded by my mother, Victoria. I own fifty percent of its shares. Are you saying I don’t have the right to come to my own company?"

Manager Taylor never expected Selina to assert herself so forcefully. His face flushed red as he stammered, "You..."

Selina turned her gaze to Natalia, her voice calm yet sharp. "Sister, you didn’t even bother to ask why I argued with Manager Taylor before placing all the blame on me and demanding that I apologize?"

"Do you also think I’m not part of the Clark family and have no place at Clark Group? You, an illegitimate child, walk freely in and out of this company, yet I, the rightful heir, am being pushed out. What kind of logic is that?"

Her words dropped like a bomb, and everyone around turned to stare.

Previously, they had assumed the eldest Miss Clark wasn’t interested in the company, so Natalia stepping in seemed natural.

But now... could it be that the eldest Miss Clark had been deliberately sidelined?

After all, Natalia had just blindly defended Manager Taylor and tried to force Selina to apologize!

Natalia clenched her teeth in frustration, her eyes flashing with venom before she quickly masked her expression with one of guilt.

"Sister, how could you think that? I really didn’t know Manager Taylor was trying to kick you out. He might have just been worried you’d cause trouble today... I’m sorry. It’s all my fault."

With red-rimmed eyes, Natalia sighed deeply and, like she owned the place, instructed the nearby security guards, "Make sure to remember my sister’s face. Don’t block her from entering again."

The guards immediately nodded. "Understood, Miss Natalia."

Selina nearly laughed out loud. The company my mother built, yet the guards only take orders from Natalia?

Natalia turned to Selina with a warm smile. "Sister, why are you here today?"

Selina replied slowly, "Didn’t you say you’re signing with Noah today? I came to see for myself. Is that a problem?"

"Of course not," Natalia said, pretending to be delighted. "Did you come specifically to wish me luck? I’m so sorry about yesterday—I made you upset. Please, go on upstairs."

Selina stepped into the elevator without another word. Natalia’s fists clenched unconsciously, her face twisting with barely contained rage.

Smug, aren’t you? she thought. When Noah arrives, I’ll make sure you understand the difference between us.

Yesterday, she hadn’t been able to meet Noah and had thought all hope was lost.

But an hour later, Noah himself called Ryan to confirm if the collaboration invitation had come directly from the "Clark Group heiress."

When Ryan assured him it had, Noah agreed, even saying he was granting this favor specifically for the Clark Group heiress.

For years, everyone had known that the "Clark Group heiress" was Natalia. As for Selina, who had grown up in the countryside, no one paid her any attention.

With that thought, Natalia’s expression finally softened.

So what if Selina is the eldest Miss Clark? I’m still the one who brought Noah here.

Upstairs meeting room. _{freeωebnovēl.c૦m}

Selina strolled in casually. Upon seeing her, James and Katie’s expressions instantly darkened, and James looked ready to lash out.

To his surprise, Katie grabbed his arm. "James, Selina rarely shows concern for the family company. Don’t be too hard on her. Selina, please, take a seat."

Selina’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile as she exchanged a brief look with Noah.

Noah nodded slightly before extending his hand toward Natalia. In a clear voice that everyone could hear, he said, "Well then, I look forward to working together."

Natalia was ecstatic, unable to resist glancing at Selina. So what if Selina was the eldest Miss Clark? She was nothing more than a bystander watching Natalia bask in the spotlight.

Selina deserved to be crushed under her feet.

As Natalia eagerly extended her hand to shake Noah’s, just as their hands were about to meet—

Noah’s voice rang out, "Miss Selina."

...Miss Selina?!

The room fell into stunned silence, faces frozen in shock.

Natalia’s expression stiffened as she awkwardly corrected, "Mr. Brown, my name is Natalia."

Assuming Noah had simply mixed up their names, she was caught off guard when he abruptly withdrew his hand.

"Natalia?" Noah scoffed coldly. "Never heard of you. Who are you, and why are you pretending to be Selina?"

The room erupted into murmurs of confusion.

Katie’s mind went blank, and she panicked. "Oh no, Mr. Brown, there must be a mistake! Selina and Natalia are sisters—they’re often mixed up by others."

James quickly followed up, trying to smooth things over. "Mr. Brown, you might not know, but Natalia is my younger daughter. You must have confused my daughters’ names. This project has always been Natalia’s responsibility—"

"Confused?" Noah cut him off with a cold laugh. "This Natalia—isn’t she your illegitimate daughter?"

Gasps echoed throughout the room.

"You mean to tell me that Clark Group is trying to pass off an illegitimate child as someone I should work with? I made it clear—I will only collaborate with Victoria’s daughter. Do you think I don’t know who Victoria’s daughter is?"