CHAPTER 451: YOU’RE THE REAL PIG

Lawsuit? Court summons?!

Riley’s knees buckled.

Her face went pale as she shook her head desperately. "I don’t know—I really don’t know..."

"Selina, I’m going to kill you!" Madam Nelson screamed, eyes bulging in rage.

Her daughter’s carefully planned moment of glory had just been ruined by Selina.

That bitch—such a worthless bitch!

"So what if you’re SL’s chairwoman? It should be your honor that my daughter even wanted to be the project lead! I’ll kill you—!"

It was like something snapped in Madam Nelson’s brain.

She suddenly charged forward like she’d lost her mind—

Selina calmly stepped aside.

Thud.

Madam Nelson slammed onto the floor.

Selina’s voice was cool, casual.

"Yeah, definitely press charges. Get them out of here. Let’s get this press conference started."

Mr. Brooks gave a polite bow.

"Yes, ma’am."

Riley stared at Selina, who stood under the bright lights, and nearly shattered her teeth from clenching them so hard.

Selina hadn’t given her so much as a glance.

She treated her like trash—like a beaten dog not even worth noticing.

Riley was so furious she almost fainted.

She and Madam Nelson were forcibly hauled out by security.

Behind them, they could hear people whispering.

"What the hell is wrong with her? SL’s chairwoman is Selina, and she tried to pass herself off as Selina’s secret crush? Funniest damn thing I’ve heard all year!"

"Riley sure thinks a lot of herself. She just assumed the SL chair would be a man and obviously into her. The nerve."

"The Nelson Family isn’t even poor. But Madam Nelson and Riley act so tacky. Nothing like real society ladies."

Riley bit down on her lip so hard it nearly bled, hissing in total collapse:

"How the hell is SL’s chair not my brother?"

Madam Nelson was frantic too.

"Don’t tell me that damn dead father of his really didn’t leave SL to Hunter? But even if he didn’t, why the hell would he leave it to Selina!"

Riley’s eyes flickered, avoiding Madam Nelson’s gaze.

She quickly sent a text to a certain number.

Some details Madam Nelson didn’t know—but Riley did.

That was why, all these years, she’d worked so hard to play the good little sister for Hunter.

But that reason... no.

She could never reveal it.

Every person who knew was a risk.

Why should Selina get to enjoy that kind of power and wealth?

It should have been hers.

...

The press conference finally wrapped up.

Selina turned down the reporters’ personal interview requests and left the company with Logan.

Logan glanced at the sky, then draped his coat over her shoulders.

"Home?"

Selina shook her head.

"I’m hungry. I want hot pot."

Logan’s lips curved, voice gentle, indulgent.

"Okay. I know just the place—"

"Hot pot? I’m coming too, I’m coming too!"

Luke charged over like an overexcited puppy, practically shoving himself between them.

He immediately started gushing.

"Selina, you were so awesome today! So cool! I admire you so much—how can you be that amazing? Listen—"

"Ahem."

Ethan coughed twice, cutting him off, signaling him to shut up.

These two were sharing a sweet moment, practically surrounded by little pink bubbles—and Luke’s big mouth had popped every last one.

Didn’t he see the death glare Logan was giving him?

Luke looked confused.

"What? You want hot pot too?"

Ethan just sighed.

"...Is there anything in your head besides hot pot?"

Luke blinked, eyes sparkling.

"Selina, you’re my hero now. Let me come with you! I feel like—"

Logan calmly shoved Selina into the car.

Luke kept talking.

"You looked so beautiful up there today! I’m telling you, the whole audience was—"

Logan got in too.

Luke leaned in eagerly.

"Even Mr. Brooks respects you so much! How do you do it? Teach me your secrets. Oh, and by the way..."

The car sped off, leaving dust in its wake.

Luke blinked.

"...Huh?"

Ethan patted his shoulder, looking exasperated.

"Try reading the room next time."

Luke had a sudden moment of realization.

"Oh? Wait—did Logan get jealous just because I was praising Selina? How old is he?!"

...

Twenty minutes later, the car stopped at a mall.

There was a famous hot pot restaurant here—Logan had already reserved a table.

As they walked in, he said,

"Hunter just called to apologize. He said Riley only acted so shamelessly because she assumed he was SL’s chair."

Selina raised an eyebrow.

"Riley’s got something wrong with her head?"

SL had nothing to do with Hunter—no partnership at all.

Was Riley just delusional?

Logan found himself thinking of the CY Club.

When Selina was little, that club had belonged to her grandfather’s estate.

He’d vanished without a trace, so it should have passed to his heirs.

But now, the CY Club was controlled by the Nelson Family.

And SL... the Nelsons had been so sure its chair was Hunter, but SL had always belonged to Selina.

Was that really just a coincidence?

Logan was about to say something when a mocking female voice cut in from not far away:

"Figures. A pig can’t eat fine grain. Surrounded by nice Western places and they choose to slum it in a hot pot joint—how embarrassing."

Selina’s eyes narrowed.

That sounded like Grandma Morris.

She turned, and sure enough, Joe was standing there with Grandma Morris and Hannah, right outside a fancy Western restaurant.

Joe looked like he wanted to approach Selina, face lighting up—

But Grandma Morris got there first.

Joe’s face went bright red.

Grandma Morris deliberately waved her hand in front of her nose.

"Ugh, the smell. Can’t imagine how they let some cheap, classless hot pot place exist in such a high-end mall. Joe, look at your daughter—this is what she likes."

"But then, she didn’t grow up with me around. No wonder she has no manners. The table etiquette I taught all my Morris girls? Not just anyone can learn that."

Joe tried to stop her but couldn’t figure out how, blushing and flustered.

"Selina, your grandma just says things without thinking. She didn’t mean it like that..."

Selina smoothed her hair back, completely unfazed.

"It’s fine. Grandma Morris is right."

She smiled, cold and sharp.

"Pigs really can’t eat fine grain. But I’m not a pig. If the old lady likes eating pig feed, she can help herself. Logan, let’s go."

Logan’s mouth twitched into a grin.

Grandma Morris practically toppled over in fury.

Selina had actually dared to insult her?!

"Pigs eating fine grain" was just a metaphor, did she not get that?!

"Selina! Don’t you dare walk away! Who taught you to speak to your elders like that, you rude little brat—just like your mother!"

Selina froze in place.

Her gaze went icy.

"My mother’s rude? I think she had too much class, considering she actually managed to put up with you."

Even though the area wasn’t crowded, it wasn’t empty either.

Several passersby slowed to listen.

Hearing the exchange, they nodded discreetly to themselves.

...Clearly, it was the old lady who was being impossible.

Who calls someone trashy just for wanting hot pot?

Who’s really got no manners here?

Joe watched, looking painfully embarrassed as his daughter and mother squared off.

He sounded torn, pitiful.

"Selina, can’t you just let this go? Give your grandma a break..."

"Joe. Madam."

Before Joe could finish, Hannah, who had been quietly fading into the background, suddenly spoke up, eyes flickering, voice soft and gentle.