CHAPTER 600: MY HUSBAND ISN’T HERE

Logan held an envelope between his fingers. "She told me a thousand times not to let you know."

Selina took it, raising a brow. "An invitation?"

...

A few minutes earlier.

Logan had just parked when a woman approached.

Ava’s eyes shimmered with tears, her posture fragile yet carrying a stubborn determination. "Mr. Reid, this is an invitation to my art exhibition. I hope you can attend."

Logan didn’t spare her a glance and walked past.

Unwilling to give up, Ava hurried after him. "Mr. Reid, I know you love oil paintings. I’ve been studying oil painting since I was a child, and I’m already a well-known artist. My exhibition won’t disappoint you!"

Logan kept walking, unbothered.

Then Ava, as if possessed by a melodrama heroine, suddenly called out behind him: "Logan, is it because you look down on me? That’s fine—I’ll make sure you regret it!"

Logan: "..."

Next, Ava tossed the invitation into his car. "I know you don’t want to come because you’re worried about my sister’s feelings, since she doesn’t understand art. But this is what you love, isn’t it? Are you really going to give up your passion just for her? She can’t share this with you—but I can!"

Back in the present, Logan went quiet for a moment, then muttered, "Someone really ought to suggest Matt take Ava in for a mental checkup."

Selina couldn’t help but laugh.

...

Two days later, the day of the exhibition.

Ava, dressed to impress, greeted a steady flow of high-profile guests—aristocrats, wealthy patrons, and reporters. But her eyes searched anxiously for Logan.

Biting her lip, she whispered to June, "Mom, what do I do? Logan hasn’t shown up at all!"

June’s eyes darted slyly. "Call him now."

"But Selina’s still around..." Ava hesitated.

"Men always stray," June scoffed. "Just get him to meet you alone, give him a little hint. Trust me, Ava—looking as beautiful as you do, he won’t be able to resist."

Ava’s cheeks flushed. Her aunt and mother’s encouragement made her believe stealing Logan wasn’t her selfish idea—it was their plan, their blessing. And if they supported it, how could it be wrong?

Though one thing puzzled her: her adoptive parents’ marriage had always been "proper," and her adoptive father Philip was meek and never cheated. So why did June sound so sure when she said, men always stray?

But Ava brushed the thought aside and shyly dialed Logan’s number.

...

At that moment, in the Cloud Mountain Villa.

Selina lay sprawled lazily on the bed, soaking in the perfect sunlight, too comfortable to get up.

Logan, wearing his gold-rimmed glasses, sat in a rattan chair across the room, reading.

Suddenly, his phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and was about to hang up. But Selina caught the screen, spotting the bold name: Ava. Her lips curved with amused suspicion. "Well, well. Mr. Reid’s been hiding something from me—saving Ava’s number, hm?"

Logan frowned, trying to recall why her number was even stored in his phone. Perhaps back when they’d been living at the Hill estate...

"Answer it," Selina said coolly before he could figure it out.

Her tone was sly, curious. "Let me hear for myself what my dear little sister has to say to you in private."

Logan chuckled softly, handing her the phone.

Selina wasted no time—she answered and immediately switched it to speaker.

"Hello... is that brother-in-law?"

A soft, feminine voice came through the phone, tinged with a shy sweetness.

Selina nearly choked on the word brother-in-law, utterly dumbfounded.

Ava’s cheeks flushed red. She hadn’t really wanted to say it, but her mother insisted—men liked this sort of thing. A wife couldn’t compare to a concubine, and a concubine couldn’t compare to a stolen love. Calling him by name wasn’t nearly as effective as calling him brother-in-law.

And Ava couldn’t help thinking—yes, Logan was her brother-in-law.

But if she could steal even her sister’s husband, wouldn’t that prove just how much better she was than Selina?

Biting her lip, Ava cooed, "Brother-in-law, my art exhibition is today. Why haven’t you come? I gave you an invitation. Don’t tell me you forgot... If you did, I’ll be really upset~"

Logan’s brow furrowed in disgust. "..."

That coy, sugary whine carried just the right amount of petulance and flirtation—exactly the persona Ava was playing at.

Selina raised a brow, instantly recognizing the act. Ava was going for the sweet, clingy little sister angle. Even if she got caught, she could brush it off with: Oh, I’m just playful, I talk like this to everyone. Sister, why are you overthinking? Don’t you even trust your own husband?

When Logan didn’t respond, Ava doubled down. "Brother-in-law... why aren’t you saying anything? Is it because my sister won’t let you come? She’s so unreasonable. She doesn’t understand oil painting, but she won’t let you... I don’t mean to badmouth her, I just think she’s being unfair. Brother-in-law, do you and my sister even have anything in common?"

Selina covered the phone’s mic, leaned toward Logan, and asked softly, "She’s asking you—do you and I have nothing in common?"

Logan gave her a helpless look.

Ava bit her lip again, feigning tenderness. "But it’s okay. Whatever you want to talk about, I’ll be there for you. I grew up here in City N with the Hill Family. I know everything—music, art, calligraphy, painting. A man like you needs a soulmate. If no one truly understands you, my heart aches for you."

"And... not to be cruel, but my sister, she’s too worldly. All she cares about is power, money, and shares. She’s not gentle, she doesn’t know how to be a good wife, she can’t keep you company. But if you ever need someone... you can always come to me~"

Ava waited expectantly. She had hinted so clearly—surely Logan would be tempted.

After all, she wasn’t wrong. Selina was ignorant of refined culture, crude and unladylike. Did she know wine? Did she understand art? Did she play instruments? They weren’t even from the same world.

But Ava—she was the Hill Family’s daughter. She was the one worthy of Logan.

Yet the silence on the other end dragged on too long. Panic crept in, and Ava tried one more time. "Brother-in-law, whatever you want to do, I’ll—"

"Sorry about that."

A lazy, amused female voice cut her off. Selina’s lips curled as she drawled, "Logan’s not here. I answered the phone."

"Ava dear... are you trying to seduce my husband?"

...

...

Silence.

Ava’s face twisted violently, horror flooding her features. Selina?! How was Selina’s voice on the other end of the line?!

Selina shot Logan a playful look, mouthing silently: Don’t say a word.

Logan’s lips curved faintly. He gave her a small gesture that said: Have fun, Mrs. Reid.

Yes... as long as she was enjoying herself.