Chapter 105: Christian Confirms: Daddy and Zachery Are Real Father and Son

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Christian Confirms: Daddy and Zachery Are Real Father and Son

Noelle Lockwood’s expression stiffened. What was that? Had she misheard? Before she could react, the guests broke into another flurry of discussion.

"It really has Yara Lockwood’s name on it!"

"Why is Yara’s invitation different from ours? Is it a forgery?"

"Who would dare forge an invitation from the Sloan family? Besides, even if it were a fake, how do you explain why it’s in Noelle’s hands?"

"GASP... You don’t suppose Noelle actually stole it, do you?"

The crowd’s expressions turned strange as they looked at Noelle.

Laura Jennings suddenly snapped back to her senses and screamed, "How is that possible!"

Noelle subconsciously looked down at the invitation. It was different from the others; the entire card was handwritten: ’The Sloan Group... cordially invites... to attend...’

At the end, written stroke by stroke in golden ink, was a name—Yara Lockwood.

Noelle’s face instantly drained of color.

Estelle Lockwood’s lips curled into a faint, nonchalant smile. "I think Miss Lockwood is right."

Before Noelle could fully process this, Estelle continued in a slow, mocking tone, "We definitely need to do things according to the rules. Without an invitation, one cannot enter the banquet. So, Miss Lockwood would rather steal an invitation just to abide by the rules. Ah, how deeply moving."

Those last few words were delivered in a flat, unrippled tone, yet they practically dripped with sarcasm.

"So now, according to the rules," Estelle said leisurely, "shouldn’t you ask Miss Noelle to leave, Mrs. Sloan? After all, when you thought I didn’t have an invitation earlier, you couldn’t stop talking about the rules. We can’t have double standards now, can we?"

Noelle felt a dizzying rush to her head. On the verge of tears, she shook her head desperately. "I-I didn’t know..."

Laura choked back her words for a second before shielding Noelle behind her. "Even if Noelle doesn’t have an invitation, she is still my guest! Who do you think you are, trying to chase her away!"

"So what if she’s your guest? Yara is a guest I personally invited, yet didn’t you try to chase her away, too?!"

Suddenly, an authoritative female voice rang out from the villa, making Laura flinch violently.

Iris Sloan strode over to Estelle’s side before letting out a scoff. "Laura Jennings, this is my banquet today. Are you saying my guests aren’t allowed in?"

Laura’s legs went weak, her face flushing red and then turning pale. "You, you... I am the matriarch of the Sloan family, you can’t..."

"Get out of the way!" Iris couldn’t be bothered with her. She then shot a sharp glare directly at Noelle. "It’s not impossible for Noelle to attend, but please tell me first—why is Yara’s invitation with you?

"Yara’s invitation was lost and ended up in your hands, yet you tried to bar her from entering. All of this makes me suspect that you did it on purpose.

"Could it be that you’re jealous of Yara and wanted to humiliate her, which is why you put on this little show?"

Tears welled up in Noelle’s eyes. "It’s not like that. I didn’t know this was Yara’s invitation..."

Iris interrupted her. "You didn’t know this was Yara’s invitation, so you weren’t targeting her on purpose?"

Noelle nodded tearfully. "Of course. Why would I target Yara?"

Iris hummed in acknowledgement. "Noelle, I informed the Lockwood family that you were not included in today’s banquet. You were present when I said that, and you heard it loud and clear. Since you knew I wouldn’t allow you to attend, you should have also known that I wouldn’t send you an invitation.

"So where did the invitation in your hand come from? Did you steal it?"

Estelle raised an eyebrow slightly. Even after five years, her aunt’s sharp tongue hadn’t dulled one bit. With just a few sentences, she had choked Noelle into silence.

Noelle gritted her teeth. Her gentle, refined features twisted into a hideous grimace because of Iris’s words. That old bitch was forcing her into a corner! She either had to admit she was intentionally targeting Estelle, or confess that she stole the invitation just to sneak into the banquet...! She absolutely could not admit to either of those!

Noelle instinctively looked at Laura. It was Laura who had ordered someone to steal the invitation, yet right now, the older woman was keeping her head down, acting as if none of this had anything to do with her.

She inwardly cursed Laura for being an absolute bitch.

Frantic with rage, Noelle’s small face was covered in tears. She swayed on her feet, looking as though she might faint at any moment.

"Enough, what are you all doing blocking the entrance?" Ethan Sloan walked over.

"Your dear wife said that no one is allowed inside without an invitation," Iris said coolly. "So here I am, planning to kick someone out."

Ethan glared fiercely at Laura before turning back to his sister. "Alright, no matter what, Noelle is still Nathaniel and Christian’s savior. If she wants to come, let her come. Don’t blow this out of proportion."

Knowing there was no stopping it now, Iris reached her hand out to Estelle. "Yara, let’s go."

Estelle gave a soft sound of agreement, nodding as she followed her inside, brushing past Nathaniel Sloan who was just walking out the door.

In front of Ethan and Nathaniel, the guests naturally didn’t dare say anything more aloud, but they couldn’t help gossiping in hushed whispers.

"Looks like Noelle really did steal the invitation, huh?"

"Definitely. Otherwise, why would the Head of the Sloans suddenly step in to interrupt? Isn’t it just because he’s afraid of the situation escalating and Noelle being branded a thief?"

"Noelle stole the invitation, yet Laura is still defending her. What is Laura thinking?"

"Who knows... I heard that last time, Laura even secretly went to get a paternity test done for Mr. Sloan and Young Mr. Sloan. She suspects that the young master isn’t Mr. Sloan’s biological son!"

"Oh my god, when did this happen?"

"About a week ago. When Laura was dining at Glaze Garden, she plucked a few strands of the young master’s hair. I mean, what kind of nonsense is that..."

Christian froze for a moment, then fell deep into thought.

A week ago at that restaurant, they had indeed bumped into his grandmother and Noelle, and the encounter had ended on a sour note. So, his grandmother had plucked his hair during the meal for a paternity test? But that day, he and Zachery had swapped identities! Therefore, the hairs Laura had plucked actually belonged to Zachery.

Which meant...

Christian’s heart pounded like a drum.

Which meant that Zachery and his daddy were undeniably biological father and son!

Back then, everyone claimed that his mommy had committed arson and ruthlessly murdered her two children. But now, if it could be proven that Zachery and his daddy were blood-related, it would prove that the children from back then hadn’t died. His mommy hadn’t killed her own children at all!

Christian’s eyes darted around, and he hurriedly chased after them.

***

Laura followed indignantly behind Ethan, her face full of displeasure. "You’re just going to let Yara in like that? She completely disrespected Noelle just now. If word gets out that our Sloan family mistreats our savior, how will the family ever save face!"

Beside her, Noelle wept softly.

Ethan furrowed his brows. "Then what do you suggest we do? You insisted on blocking a guest Iris personally invited at the door and yelling at the top of your lungs. Does that give the Sloan family face?"

Laura looked embarrassed and muttered awkwardly, "I was only doing it for the sake of the family... Besides, I told you before that Yara might actually be Estelle. Did you even listen to me?"

Ethan’s face darkened. Of course he had listened, but...

***

The banquet was about to begin.

Nathaniel’s brows were tightly knitted as he scanned the milling crowds at the banquet. Where was Estelle?

He hadn’t known that Noelle would actually steal her invitation. This was his fault; he had given Noelle and Laura the opportunity to cause a scene.

Suddenly, Nathaniel spotted Estelle being cornered by several people. He quickly strode forward.

However, someone else beat him to it—