Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex's 'Uncle'-Chapter 441: The Hidden Letter

Luke thought Selina didn’t believe him. "Don’t look at me like that—it’s true! The Nelson Family basically admitted it!"

Selina hadn’t expected Riley to pull off such a shameless move. She was speechless. "...Where did you even hear this?"

"Madam Nelson let it slip during a tea party. Said the SL chairman has been chasing Riley for years. Someone asked Riley about it just now, and she didn’t even deny it."

The more Luke talked, the more disgusted he sounded. "What kind of taste does that SL chairman have? He’s not even one ten-thousandth of Logan!"

It was meant to praise Logan, but unexpectedly, both people in front of him looked...weird.

He was confused. "...What? I can’t even compliment Logan now?"

Logan spoke slowly. "The SL chairman wouldn’t even look at Riley."

Luke disagreed. "How would you know that? Some guys are into that whole fake-sweet thing. Maybe the SL chairman is one of those idiots!"

Logan smirked. "Why do you assume it’s true, instead of considering that the Nelson Family and Riley are just latching on?"

Luke blinked. "...No way. Are the Nelsons brain-dead?"

Everyone knew the status of SL Group. Who would dare blatantly fake an association with them? That was suicidal. That’s why Luke—and most people—didn’t even consider it might be fake when they heard the story about the unrequited love.

Selina found it amusing. "Want to guess who the SL chairman is?"

Luke thought hard, then suddenly lit up and turned to Logan, eyes bright. "I know! It’s you! That’s why you’re so sure Riley’s lying—"

"No." Logan gave him a faint, knowing smile. "It’s not me."

Not Logan? Then...

A shocked thought flashed through Luke’s mind. He inhaled sharply, neck stiff as he turned to Selina, voice cracking. "N-no way it’s..."

"Yep." Selina smiled lightly. "It’s me."

Luke: "..."

Luke: "..."

Riley was out of her mind!

Selina was the one she claimed was desperately in love with her? The Nelson Family couldn’t have picked a worse lie if they tried!

...

A few days later, word was out all over City A: SL Group and Reid Group’s CL subsidiary were about to merge.

SL’s front man, Mr. Brooks, hadn’t denied it. Reid Group had confirmed CL was being folded into SL, and the SL chairman had already chosen the person who’d lead the integration.

Inside the company, the vice presidents traded subtle looks.

None of them had gotten the call to take charge. That meant the SL chairman’s pick wasn’t any of them.

Who the hell was it, then? They all had the seniority and experience.

Then a rumor trickled out of the Nelson Family—and suddenly it all clicked for them.

If the SL chairman was so desperately in love with Riley, obviously he’d appoint her. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Wow. Nelson Miss sure was lucky. She had her family behind her, an amazing older brother like Hunter, childhood ties with guys like Logan and Scott, and now this SL chairman who was supposedly lovesick over her.

She was surrounded by top-tier men eager to pave her way.

As the day of the merger announcement neared, the Reid Group and SL Group were set to hold a high-profile press conference.

One VP offered Riley a flattering smile. "I heard the chosen leader will be speaking tomorrow. Let me congratulate you in advance, Miss Nelson!"

Riley’s smile froze for a second.

Another chimed in, not to be outdone. "I never knew you were so connected to SL. Don’t forget us when you’re at the top!"

When those people finally left, Riley’s smile dropped in an instant.

"Miss Nelson, so many people were flattering you just now—why didn’t you say anything?"

Selina strolled over slowly from the side, looking surprised. "I thought you loved being the center of attention?"

Riley bit down on her lip. "Selina, what are you talking about? I don’t understand."

Selina’s tone was loaded with meaning. "You know perfectly well whether you’re the chosen lead or not, Miss Nelson."

That wiped the color from Riley’s face.

She really hadn’t received any official notice... The SL chairman didn’t pick her? Impossible!

Selina had to be jealous—just stirring up trouble on purpose. "Selina, that’s the chairman’s decision. Even if you’re angry or jealous, it won’t change anything."

Angry? Jealous?

Selina suddenly found herself very curious about what Riley’s face would look like once she found out the truth.

"Oh? Well then, good luck, Miss Nelson. Tomorrow night...I’ll be waiting for you to ’amaze everyone.’"

As Selina walked away, Riley bit her lip hard, a wave of unease and fear suddenly welling up in her chest.

What if she really wasn’t the lead...? No! Shoving the thought away, Riley hurried back to the Nelson Family villa.

"Mom! Get me that letter from my brother’s real father—I want to see it again!"

Madam Nelson was rattled by her daughter’s sudden urgency. "What’s wrong?"

"The SL chairman didn’t appoint me as the lead," Riley hissed, snatching up the letter.

The letter had been left by Hunter’s biological father, but the Nelson Family had kept every detail about his real parents from him for years, determined to keep him under their thumb. They never let him see it.

Only the three of them knew exactly what the letter said.

Hunter’s father had written explicitly in it—SL Group was for his child. And since he was Hunter’s father, that meant SL belonged to Hunter. Nothing wrong with that!

Riley was seething. "I want this project authority. I want SL to answer to me. Why won’t my brother help me?"

Madam Nelson was furious too. "He’s been sitting on an entire corporation without telling us? That ungrateful brat!"

But she’d never doubted how much Hunter doted on Riley.

So after a few seconds of thought, her eyes suddenly lit up. "Riley, since Hunter is the SL chairman, why don’t you just take the lead role?"

"Maybe it was always meant for you. Hunter knows what you want—he’d never give it to someone else."

"And even if it wasn’t you, if you seize it, Hunter wouldn’t blame you for it."

Riley’s heart raced.

That’s right...

Her brother had always spoiled her. If she wanted something, how could Hunter say no?

If she were the one up on stage as the lead, while Selina could only sit and watch her soak up the spotlight... Just imagining it sent a delicious shiver through Riley.

Besides, if she wasn’t the lead—then who the hell was?

...

The press conference and SL’s annual gala were scheduled for the same time: 8 p.m. that night.

The gala was held in Reid Group’s grand ballroom. Many SL employees were gathered in little groups chatting.

"Hey, I heard the lead for tonight is Miss Nelson?"

"Yeah, supposedly the chairman hand-picked her. I mean, she’s friends with him, right? Word is, he’s even courting her."

"Speaking of which...has anyone actually seen the chairman?"