Married First, Loved Later : A Flash Marriage with My Ex’s "Uncle" - Chapter 568

Chapter 568: Showing Off What Little Brains She Has

Riley apologized softly. “I’m sorry, Brother. It’s my fault. Mom only worries I might suffer grievances, that’s why she acts like this. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Hunter remained as calm as ever. “Mm, I don’t mind.”

Madam Nelson’s expression shifted again and again. In her mind, Hunter was just an adopted child. Even if the Nelson Family’s so-called adoption had been nothing but careful calculation, wasn’t Hunter, as an adoptee, supposed to be endlessly grateful to them?

Leaning on her status as Hunter’s adoptive mother, she clearly wanted to say more—until Riley suddenly grabbed her wrist. “Mom, we shouldn’t act this way. Brother already works so hard managing the company. You don’t understand business. Please, don’t interfere.”

Madam Nelson’s throat bobbed, and she squeezed out a line: “It’s my fault. Forget the perfume.”

The sales clerk finally let out a long sigh of relief and handed the gift bag with the perfume to Hunter.

Trying to smooth things over, the clerk smiled. “Piper’s perfumes are just too popular. But don’t worry, a new batch will arrive tomorrow.”

Her words gave both Riley and Madam Nelson a way to save face. After all, throwing a scene with Hunter over a single bottle of perfume was humiliating. But if it could be excused as an act of over-enthusiasm, simply because they loved Piper’s perfumes too much, it salvaged a little dignity.

Even so, Madam Nelson grew more and more agitated. Piper, Piper—everything is Piper! She hadn’t come to buy Piper’s perfume because she liked it. She was furious that Piper had stolen Riley’s spotlight!

Riley had her own studio, lauded as a talented young woman, praised for her skills in design, perfumery, and music.

But now? Everywhere, people said—

Piper is the real perfumer.

That Nelson girl who claims to have studied abroad for years but has no actual works?

Those are just Nelson Family’s hollow boasts to pave the way for Riley—you really believe that?

Comparing Riley to Piper? Isn’t that an insult to Piper?

The comments nearly drove Madam Nelson half mad.

And now, seeing Selina also here for Piper, her anger only surged higher. It was all Piper’s fault—stealing Riley’s limelight and subjecting her to ridicule!

With a sneer laced with both scorn and mockery, she said: “Who even cares for Piper’s perfumes? She’s nothing but a pawn propped up by capital. Everyone knows these tricks. Only you silly young women believe all that hype just to sell perfume.”

The sales clerk’s smile froze awkwardly.

“Mom, you can’t say that. Piper really does have talent.” Riley feigned helplessness, then turned to Selina. “Selina, don’t take it personally. Oh—are you here to buy perfume too?”

Hunter’s gaze flickered. Selina could clearly see disappointment in his eyes. But Riley seemed oblivious.

“I only just found out Ronald plagiarized Piper. Now, everyone’s rushing to support her, buying out all her perfumes. Selina, if you came for Piper’s perfume, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed.”

“Every store is sold out. Online it’s all pre-orders. Such marketing tactics… sigh.”

Riley let out a dramatic sigh, as if disapproving yet powerless. “Well, even if they’re using scarcity marketing, the customers don’t seem to care. It’s not my place to say more.”

Selina: “…?”

Is this woman out of her mind?

And clearly, Riley had no idea that Piper was her.

Selina’s eyes shifted, just as she was about to speak—when Logan suddenly lifted his gaze, voice cool.

“Scarcity marketing? Miss Nelson, you certainly seem to know quite a bit.”

Logan was always cold and detached. No matter what he said, his expression remained the same, so Riley didn’t notice the mockery in his tone at all—she even thought he was complimenting her.

Riley smiled shyly. “Well, I’ll be taking over the company in the future, after all. I’ve studied plenty of marketing strategies.”

Her words naturally carried a trace of disdain.

“I know a lot of products might not be as good as they’re hyped up to be, but companies will package them as best they can. Take Piper, for example—she’s just a perfumer. Is she really worth so much admiration?”

Riley gave a helpless smile, as if she were the only one sober while the world was drunk. “It’s just smart marketing. With enough hype and packaging, of course she’d be popular. Add in some scarcity marketing to whet the customers’ appetites, and the sales will naturally look good.”

The sales clerk bit her tongue. “…”

She wanted to say: Piper’s perfumes weren’t using scarcity marketing—it was genuine supply falling short of demand!

Nearby, a few other customers overheard Riley’s remarks and exchanged subtle looks.

Riley herself remained oblivious. Seeing Logan’s apparent interest, she kept going, her tone still feigning helplessness:

“In my view, whether it’s running a business or creating perfumes, one should stick to their duty, do the real work, instead of relying on marketing tricks to inflate themselves and boost their reputation.”

“Honestly, Piper’s perfumes are nothing special. They’re just a product of sales packaging. Selina, if you can’t buy them, then just let it go.”

It sounded like advice to Selina, but in reality, it was a vicious jab at Piper—while slyly elevating herself.

Selina nodded slightly. Brilliant.

Several customers who knew the truth kept glancing back, exchanging looks with each other.

When Riley finished, the store grew noticeably quieter. Convinced Logan would agree with her, she looked at him expectantly.

But—

Logan only curled his lips, the smile never reaching his eyes.

Selina spoke with meaning. “Logan, so in Miss Nelson’s eyes, you’re just that incompetent?”

Riley finally realized, a flash of contempt flickering in her gaze as she feigned helplessness. “Selina, what do you mean by that? I only can’t stand this sort of—”

“But the company behind Piper’s perfumes is the Reid Group’s perfume division.”

Resting her chin on her hand, Selina said innocently, “That division was personally approved by Logan himself. Even the marketing strategy was his. So, Miss Nelson—didn’t you just deny Logan with everything you said?”

…

…

The atmosphere went utterly silent. The customers and the sales clerk all felt secondhand embarrassment for Riley.

Riley’s face shifted slightly, but she covered it quickly, feigning surprise. “What? Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know that. Logan, I just meant…”

“And another thing—the sellout wasn’t due to scarcity marketing. It’s genuine supply shortage.”

Selina’s voice was cool. “Perhaps Miss Nelson should ask how many bottles were sold today?”

If it had truly been scarcity marketing, it should have been limited sales.

The sales clerk swallowed hard. “At this branch alone, we sold nearly ten thousand bottles. We only sold out because there’s no more stock…”

For a luxury perfume line, selling nearly ten thousand bottles in just one ordinary branch said it all. Not only were the shelves empty nationwide, even the online inventory had been completely bought out.