Before Selina could respond, James suddenly turned around and slapped Katie hard across the face.
"Selina, I've already disciplined her for you. Stop being stubborn and come back home, okay?"
Katie, still in shock from the slap, widened her eyes. "Why are you letting this little wretch come back home—"
Before she could finish, Selina cut in. "Dad, look at how Aunt Bryant keeps calling me names. She's clearly not happy with me here. Why should I stay? I might as well leave."
"No… no, you can't!" James quickly grabbed Selina's arm and glared at Katie. "What are you standing there for? Apologize!"
Katie was livid, screaming, "You slapped me, and now you want me to apologize to that little brat?!"
"Shut up! Do you want Natalia's marriage into the Carter Family to fall apart?" James snapped.
Selina watched the two of them argue, amused by the chaos. She was ready to enjoy the show a bit longer, but Katie, seemingly realizing what was at stake, forced herself to calm down. Barely able to contain her rage, she reluctantly said, "Selina, you know how you are—always provoking me. If you didn't make me so angry, I wouldn't have tried to kick you out."
James quickly added, "See? Your Bryant Auntie already apologized. We're all family. Don't hold a grudge."
Selina shrugged. "Fine. If Dad says not to hold a grudge, I won't."
James exhaled in relief and immediately scanned behind her. His face dropped. "Wait… where's Noah? He didn't come back with you?!"
Selina tilted her head, feigning confusion, and dragged out her words. "Mr. Brown said he'd come by in two hours. If you don't believe me, you can call him yourself. But… Dad, isn't your reaction a little strange? If Noah's not here, does that mean I can't be here either?"
James gritted his teeth. "No, of course not! This is your home—you're always welcome here!"
Satisfied, Selina returned to the sofa and made herself comfortable.
James shot a warning glance at Katie and Natalia, then softened his tone toward Selina. "Selina, about last time… Your Bryant Auntie and Natalia know they went too far. They just wanted to joke with you but didn't realize you'd take it so seriously."
"Now Noah has the wrong impression about us, which is affecting our family. Could you explain things to him? Say a few good words on our behalf?"
Selina paused, looking bemused.
"Last time? Dad, which time are you talking about? Was it when Aunt Bryant tried to marry me off to Mr. Perez, or when Natalia spread rumors about me at school? Or maybe when you all stole my mom's belongings? There are so many incidents, it's hard to keep track."
James's face darkened further with each word, but he swallowed his anger and lowered his voice.
"Selina, those were all misunderstandings! Noah's accusations that we treated you poorly are groundless. You know how much this family cares for you!"
Selina's expression turned icy.
"Cares for me? Dad, you actually have the nerve to say that?"
But she couldn't deny how much she enjoyed watching James try to suppress his temper while having no choice but to butter her up.
"Well," she said with a mocking tone, "but what Aunt Bryant did is a fact. How exactly do you want me to explain that to Mr. Brown? Should I tell him I willingly offered myself to Mr. Perez?"
She turned to Katie, her voice sharp. "Aunt Bryant, are you really that shameless?"
The servants around them lowered their heads in discomfort.
It was true. Katie had driven the eldest daughter out of her home, ruined her engagement, and nearly forced her into the arms of an old man. And now she expected Selina to swallow all the injustice and defend her in front of Noah.
Katie clenched her fists and trembled with fury, unable to form a response. She felt like Selina would drive her to an early grave.
James couldn't hold back anymore. "Even if Katie did those things, aren't you fine now?!"
Selina was even more astonished. "So I'm supposed to forgive the culprits just because nothing happened to me? Dad, have you ever been to Paris?"
James blinked, not understanding.
Selina continued with heartfelt sincerity, "I thought you graduated from the Notre Dame Cathedral. You're such a saint."
The household staff lowered their heads, stifling laughter: "..."
James felt his blood pressure spike. "Then what do you want before you'll speak up for the family?"
Selina blinked innocently. "Why are you asking me? You should be asking yourself."
"I was never cared for in this house. I didn't even have my own room. I used to live in the attic, and after I left, Aunt Bryant turned it into a storage space. Mr. Brown could see at a glance that I'm not valued here. How can I plead on your behalf?"
"Even if I do speak up, Mr. Brown might just think you forced me to. If that backfires, it won't be my fault."
James felt the words catch in his throat, almost choking on his anger.
He had already swallowed his pride to beg this ungrateful daughter, and now she was rubbing it in his face!
James gritted his teeth. "Selina, letting you live in the attic before was my oversight! Natalia arranged for you to have a much better room, so we turned the attic into a storeroom. Don't get the wrong idea!"
Selina feigned surprise. "Oh, really? Then let my dear sister take me to see it."
Natalia suppressed her seething anger. "Don't worry, sister. I've put a lot of thought into it. You'll love it."
Selina's tone turned sharp. "Oh? And what if I don't?"
Natalia was so furious she nearly lost control and lunged at Selina.
James took a deep breath. "If you don't like it, we'll change it!"
Noah was arriving soon. James couldn't afford any slip-ups now.
Selina's gaze shifted, and she smiled faintly. "Fair enough. Lead the way, sister."
Reid Group Office.
Logan didn't look up from his desk. "Aren't you supposed to go to the Clark Family today?"
Noah nodded. "Yeah, but there's still time."
Logan's eyes narrowed slightly. "Time?"
Noah seemed to realize something and leaned closer. "Originally, I wanted to help because Selina is Victoria's daughter. When I heard the Clark Family was bullying her, I couldn't let it slide. I immediately made sure to cause a few hiccups in their business."
"But now I've realized, Selina doesn't seem to need my help at all. She's turning the entire Clark Family upside down on her own."
Logan squinted slightly. "So?"
Noah clicked his tongue. "Don't act like you can't guess what I'm getting at. I know you're investigating that hacker from five years ago. I've known Selina longer than you have, so I know more about her. Are you really not going to keep digging into her?"
Noah hadn't initially made the connection, but when he learned the hacker had stayed in BW Town for a while, he began to suspect Selina.
If Selina was that person… wouldn't that pit the couple against each other?
As much as he cared for Victoria's daughter, Logan was his closest friend. He couldn't stand by and watch history repeat itself.
That's why Noah brought it up.
Logan's hand paused slightly, his gaze dark and intense. "Selina sees you as a friend. If she really is that person, then what you're doing now is betraying her."
He intended to uncover Selina's secrets himself—not through her friend.
Noah broke out in a cold sweat under Logan's piercing stare. "I'm trying to help you!"
Logan's tone remained calm, yet firm. "In Selina's eyes, you're someone she trusts enough to confide in. You shouldn't betray that trust—not even for me. Noah, I despise betrayal."