Chapter 126: Nathaniel Sloan Opens the Car Door for Her, "My Heart Aches Only for You.

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Nathaniel Sloan Opens the Car Door for Her, "My Heart Aches Only for You.

The opinions of high society? Of course Laura Jennings had heard some of them, and none of them were good. Even the socialites she usually hung out with had started avoiding her. "I don’t want to know!"

Estelle Lockwood acted as if she hadn’t heard her resistance. "They all say that even though you are the matriarch of the Sloan family and Nathaniel Sloan’s biological mother, your true identity is actually Noelle Lockwood’s—" She paused. "Dog."

It took a moment for Laura to process the words, but when she did, she flew into a violent rage. "What did you just say?!"

Estelle lifted her chin slightly. Nathaniel stopped the furious Laura, leaving her flailing wildly a meter away from the hospital bed.

"Be reasonable, Ms. Jennings. I’m not spouting nonsense. Who told you to act without any regard for the Sloan family’s dignity or Nathaniel’s reputation, only caring about Noelle?

"Noelle said I started that fire, and you just believed her. You brought her fans and reporters here to corner a patient like me. When the truth finally comes to light, Ms. Jennings, have you considered the consequences?" Estelle said.

Laura inexplicably shivered. She was actually frightened by Estelle!

"Y-You’re just making excuses! You were the one who started the fire. Noelle would never lie to me!"

Estelle smoothed her hair. "Why don’t we make a bet? If I started the fire, I’ll kneel and apologize to Noelle. If this fire has nothing to do with me, Ms. Jennings, you will kneel and apologize to me. Do you dare?"

Still fuming and trusting Noelle completely, Laura immediately puffed out her chest. "Why wouldn’t I dare?!"

Estelle nodded and looked at the man beside her. "Did you hear that?"

Nathaniel, Zane Grant who was outside the door, and the group of doctors all fell silent for a long moment.

They wondered what was going on inside Laura’s head. Estelle was clearly prepared when she proposed the bet, yet Laura actually accepted such terms all for Noelle’s sake.

Nathaniel’s expression remained calm as he coldly raised his eyes. The next moment, Laura’s phone rang. Ethan Sloan furiously ordered her to get back to the Sloan family home and to cut all ties with those fans.

Although Laura was reluctant, her mood improved at the thought that it wouldn’t be long before Yara Lockwood would have to kneel and apologize to Noelle.

After Laura left, the fans outside the door were dispersed by the police. The trending topics online quickly exploded once again.

Noelle’s fans had gone to cause trouble for Yara. While some netizens felt the fans had crossed the line, within the fandom itself, they believed those dozens of fans who rushed to the hospital were carrying out justice.

Seeing Estelle scrolling through Weibo again, Nathaniel felt a slight tightness in his chest. "...Do you really want to read that?"

Estelle read the insults directed at her, looking completely unfazed. "Is that all you’re going to ask me?"

Nathaniel lowered his eyes. "What else does Miss Lockwood think I should ask?"

Estelle drawled, "For example, reprimanding me for being too harsh on your mother. Telling me I should respect my elders, that I shouldn’t have proposed that bet. And asking where the Sloan family would put their pride if I really made your mother kneel and apologize."

Nathaniel looked at her intently. After a long while, the man finally spoke in a hoarse voice. "I won’t."

Estelle didn’t catch on right away. "You won’t what?"

"Do whatever you want to do. I won’t stop you, much less have any objections." Nathaniel glanced at Estelle’s phone. "If you release the recording and ruin Laura’s reputation, the Sloan family will naturally worry about it. It has nothing to do with me."

Estelle blinked.

Nathaniel’s bond with Laura as mother and son was clearly different from what she had imagined. She remembered her aunt vaguely mentioning that the relationship between Laura and Nathaniel wasn’t like that of an ordinary mother and son.

But why did Nathaniel always side with Laura and Noelle in the past, no matter what happened? It was because of this that she, as Mrs. Sloan, had been disappointed time and time again.

Just as she was lost in thought, Zane suddenly burst in without knocking, his face looking grim. "Nathaniel! The Lockwood Group has decided to hold a press conference tomorrow!"

Nathaniel’s gaze darkened sharply. If the Lockwood Group held a press conference before the police had even identified the arsonist, everyone’s attention would be on them. Speculation regarding the culprit’s identity could be entirely manipulated by the Lockwood Group! Nathaniel knew exactly what their goal was in holding a press conference at this time. A surge of hostility suddenly rose within him.

Estelle, however, wasn’t surprised in the least. It would be a miracle if Noelle didn’t use this opportunity to viciously trample her. "What time is the press conference set for?"

Zane answered instinctively, "Huh? Two o’clock tomorrow afternoon..."

Estelle nodded. "Did the Lockwood family invite me?"

Zane was astonished. "You knew about that too?"

This was the exact reason why Zane had rushed in so frantically! The Lockwood Group’s Weibo account had posted the time of the press conference and even included a specific line: ’We cordially invite Ms. Yara Lockwood to attend.’ Wasn’t this making it obvious that they wanted to pin all the blame on Yara?! Moreover, Noelle’s fans were bound to be at the venue. If the fans acted impulsively and ended up hurting Yara, who would take responsibility?

Estelle curled her lips in a sneer. "Truly their usual tactics."

Zane didn’t catch that clearly, but Nathaniel’s fingertips curled inward. He knew that the ’usual tactics’ she referred to meant what happened five years ago.

Estelle didn’t care at all. "It’s fine. I’ll be there tomorrow."

"But..." Zane wanted to say more.

Nathaniel stood up, his gaze calm. "I’ll go with you."

Zane was shocked. "No, with the current situation..." With Yara being treated as the culprit and having no way to prove her innocence, what was the point of going? To be someone’s punching bag?

At the Lockwood family home, Rose Lowell grumbled, "Why invite that bitch Yara over? She’s the one who started the fire and caused Noelle to lose hearing in her right ear. Oh, my poor daughter!"

"Mom, Yara looks so much like my sister, after all, and Nathaniel and Christian are also protecting her... We can’t push things to the absolute limit," Noelle gently consoled her. She sighed, acting as if she were swallowing an immense grievance all by herself. "Tomorrow, as long as Yara admits her mistake, I’ll forgive her and urge my fans not to give her trouble..."

Rose hugged Noelle, weeping bitterly. "Noelle, you’re far too kind!"

Austin Lockwood, on the other hand, hesitated for a long moment before asking seriously, "Noelle, are you absolutely sure that Yara was the one who started the fire?"

A trace of malicious resentment flashed through Noelle’s eyes, accompanied by a guilty conscience, though she maintained her pitiful facade. "Dad, of course it was Yara. I saw it very clearly. Do you not believe me?"

Before Austin could reply, Rose interrupted, "What do you mean by that? Our daughter has suffered such a great injustice, and you’re still questioning her!"

Austin looked at Noelle’s tearful expression and felt he was overthinking things. "Alright, Dad will help you tomorrow too. I’ll make sure Yara apologizes to you."

Noelle curled her lips. Apologize? How could that be enough! What she wanted was for Yara to lose her reputation entirely and die in utter despair!

The next day, at 1:50 PM. The press conference was scheduled to begin at two o’clock. By 1:50, the venue was already packed with a sea of people, with reporters and fans surrounding the area three layers deep.

Nathaniel parked the car in a hidden corner. Estelle stared calmly straight ahead. When Noelle appeared on stage, escorted by bodyguards, she slowly smiled.

"Mr. Sloan, arson is no small matter... Since Noelle dared to do this, I won’t hold back. You won’t feel sorry for her, will you?"

Nathaniel opened the car door for her. "I only feel sorry for you."

Estelle curved her lips and narrowed her eyes, watching the three people looking like a happy family on the stage. It was time for revenge.