Chapter 110: Isn’t It Obvious Who’s Lying?

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Isn’t It Obvious Who’s Lying?

Estelle Lockwood choked on her words. Just as she was about to speak, Liam Sloan’s expression suddenly changed.

"I-I-I didn’t mean it like that, Nathaniel! I’m not saying you’re inadequate, but this is way too fast. No, I’m not saying you’re quick, I just mean... uh... oh! Oh! Estelle even changed her clothes. Nathaniel, you’re a beast!"

Estelle was completely at a loss for words.

Nathaniel Sloan shot him a half-smile and asked casually, "How long have you been abroad?"

Liam answered, dumbfounded, "Ah, I came back once two years ago and went abroad again after that, so I guess it’s been two years."

Nathaniel nodded faintly. "I see. It’s been two years since I last beat you up."

Liam was baffled, wondering what his brother meant. He was obviously complimenting him!

Estelle took a deep breath, pushed Nathaniel away, and quickly walked out. Although her footsteps were steady and her back was straight, her retreating figure still betrayed a hint of someone fleeing in a panic.

The young master who had come to the lounge earlier had long since slipped away. In an instant, only Nathaniel and Liam were left at the door.

Liam said sympathetically, "Nathaniel, why do I get the feeling Estelle isn’t very happy? Do you really have a problem with your technique...

"Men still need to pay attention to that sort of thing. Don’t think you can keep a woman’s heart just because you’re rich, handsome, tall, and have an eight-pack. In reality... Hey, I’m not done talking! Don’t you want to hear the rest of my dating playbook, Nathaniel!"

Back at the banquet, Iris Sloan came over and asked a few questions. Estelle didn’t tell her that her gown had been tampered with; she only said that she had accidentally torn it. Her gaze swept across the room and landed on Noelle Lockwood.

The figure in the surveillance footage clearly didn’t resemble Noelle. Estelle was slightly taller than Noelle, and the figure in the video was almost a perfect match for her own, as if someone had deliberately disguised themselves to mimic her physique.

Estelle mentally ran through everyone she knew, but couldn’t think of any woman who fit that description. It was strange. A woman with a silhouette so similar to hers had appeared out of thin air, yet she had absolutely no idea who it could be. It was as if this person was hiding in the shadows, observing her every move. She wondered who it could be.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending the Sloan Group’s banquet."

Suddenly, the stage lights flared to life. Old Mr. Sloan slowly walked to the center and picked up the microphone, evidently overjoyed by Iris’s return to the country.

"From now on, Iris will be developing her career here in the country. Today is not only a welcome party for her, but also her birthday. As her father, I want to thank you all on her behalf."

Iris was in her forties, but in Old Mr. Sloan’s eyes, she was still his most beloved youngest daughter.

Iris’s return signified a shift in the Sloan family’s power dynamics. Ethan Sloan, the current Family Head, already held less actual power than his son; now, half of what he had left would be taken by his sister.

Laura Jennings’s face twisted with rage, but there was nothing she could do. She thought, "That damn Iris! She went abroad five years ago, so why did she have to come back?"

Five years ago, Iris had been utterly heartbroken over Estelle’s death and chose to go abroad. Laura had reveled in her own arrogance ever since. Now that Iris was back, Laura was naturally the one who hated it the most!

Since it was Iris’s birthday, the guests naturally presented their gifts. At this moment, the butler walked in carrying a long gift that looked like a scroll. It had likely been left behind earlier, which was why it was only being brought in now.

Iris immediately spotted the name on the gift. When giving gifts, the sender would write their name on it to avoid confusion.

Iris broke into a smile. "Is this from Yara?"

Estelle was momentarily stunned before she nodded. "Yes."

Wanting to pave the way for Estelle, Iris played along and said, "Is it the Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting? Yara, you’re so thoughtful!"

Estelle knew that Iris loved calligraphy and paintings. This Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting was from Old Mr. Kendrick’s collection; he had given it to her two years ago. "I’m glad you like it."

"I love it, of course I do."

Seeing Iris praising Estelle so highly, the more perceptive guests naturally caught on. Miss Sloan was clearly very satisfied with this Yara. Thus, they chimed in with flattering remarks to give her face:

"I recall that this Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting was auctioned off to a wealthy tycoon for an astronomical price a few years ago. It couldn’t have been easy for Ms. Yara to acquire it. How truly thoughtful!"

"I didn’t expect Ms. Yara to be interested in calligraphy and paintings as well."

When Nathaniel returned to the banquet hall, this was the scene that greeted him. Estelle was surrounded by people. He clicked his tongue, a sudden wave of inexplicable jealousy churning in his chest once again.

Iris was very pleased. However, right at that moment, a gasp of surprise rang out.

"Isn’t this the gift I brought? How did it become Yara’s?"

The banquet hall instantly fell silent.

Everyone turned to look. Noelle’s eyes were wide with apparent confusion as she delicately bit her lower lip. "I’m sorry, I don’t mean to say that Yara took my gift... I just think, perhaps the butler made a mistake?"

Laura also snapped to attention. She was eager to see Iris and Yara humiliated. "That’s right! Noelle’s gift is also the Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting. This clearly belongs to Noelle!"

Sometimes, it was entirely possible for the name tags attached to the gifts to fall off by accident and get mixed up by the butler. Moreover, the Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting wasn’t some commonplace item you could find anywhere; it was the only one of its kind in the entire world.

Since Noelle claimed she was the one who gifted the Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting... could it be that the butler had made a mistake, and Yara just played along with it to save face?

Iris furrowed her brows. "You think I wouldn’t know what Yara gave me?"

Tears welled up in Noelle’s eyes, and she shook her head desperately. "Aunt Sloan, I didn’t mean it like that. But I bought the Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting from Jade Pavilion just last week. Many people saw me buy it. There might just be a misunderstanding. I’m really not blaming Yara, and I don’t want to blow things out of proportion..."

Jade Pavilion was a professional antique and calligraphy shop founded by industry experts. In its twenty years of operation, it had never made a single mistake.

Someone recalled, "I think I did see Miss Noelle at Jade Pavilion last week."

Laura couldn’t wait to seize the opportunity. "Hah! If you ask me, this is Noelle’s gift! I mean, how shameless can some people be? Trying to claim Noelle’s things as their own! Are they addicted to stealing?"

Laura wondered what Yara was feeling so smug about. All that praise and flattery should have clearly belonged to Noelle!

Iris’s face abruptly darkened. "Laura Jennings—"

"Miss Noelle Lockwood, are you absolutely certain that your gift is the Purple Sun Mountain Residence Painting?" Estelle suddenly asked in a calm tone.

Noelle’s delicate face was streaked with tears as she replied weakly, "Of course."

"Then let’s bring Miss Lockwood’s gift up here as well," Estelle said, her lips curving into a slight smile. "Won’t it be obvious who’s lying then?"

Laura put her hands on her hips and yelled, "We already said the name tags got mixed up—"

"Ms. Jennings," Estelle interrupted slowly. "My name isn’t written on a tag. It’s written directly on the outer packaging of the scroll.

"Therefore, the original owner of this painting can only be me. Do you understand?"

Estelle had written her name on the packaging. If Noelle still insisted the painting was hers, did that mean Estelle had stolen the painting first, found matching packaging, and then written her own name on it? There simply wasn’t enough time for all of that!

The butler acknowledged the order and went down to fetch the other gift.

Noelle gritted her teeth.