Chapter 138: Noelle Lockwood Is Hospitalized, Why Should You Go Visit?

Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Noelle Lockwood Is Hospitalized, Why Should You Go Visit?

Estelle Lockwood was just marveling at how comfortable the giant hot water bottle in her dream was. Then, someone wrapped their arms around her waist. A man, who felt exactly like the hot water bottle from her dream, pressed against her back. "Awake so early?"

Estelle was speechless. Damn it, what hot water bottle? That was Nathaniel Sloan!

"Sleep a little longer," Nathaniel said, leaving no room for argument.

Estelle couldn’t quite fall back asleep. She felt conflicted, torn between resistance and anticipation. However, the tranquil atmosphere of the night and the shallow breathing behind her were just too soothing. Before she knew it, she drifted off again.

Her godmother had told her about some investigations she had made. The situation from five years ago might not have been what Estelle thought. She also mentioned that during Estelle’s third year of treatment with the Kendrick family—the year Zachery got into a fight with another child—Nathaniel had visited the USA. He had told his business partners then that he was in the USA looking for his wife.

If that was true...

BEEP BEEP BEEP! RING RING RING!

An urgent ringtone suddenly echoed through the room. Estelle was just wondering who could be calling when Nathaniel answered the phone. His eyes turned cold. "What did you say?"

Rose Lowell was crying on the other end of the line. "Nathaniel, please come see Noelle! You two grew up together, after all. Even if there’s no love, isn’t there at least friendship? Noelle keeps calling your name. Just come and see her!"

Estelle jolted completely awake, her throat tightening. Without even realizing it, her fingers gripped the blanket so hard that her knuckles turned white. Rose Lowell... Noelle Lockwood... heart disease... Every single word brought back the nightmare from five years ago.

Through the phone, Noelle’s faint voice could almost be heard. "Nathaniel, Nathaniel... Where are you, Nathaniel... I’m so scared..."

Rose’s cries were deafening. "Nathaniel, is Yara Lockwood stopping you from coming? I know I did wrong, and I made Yara unhappy, but Noelle is innocent!

"This is a matter of life and death. How can Yara be so selfish!"

As soon as she finished speaking, some unknown commotion erupted on the other end. The panicked voices of doctors and nurses rang out.

"Miss Noelle!"

"Quick, get the ventilator!"

"Miss Lockwood’s condition is very serious, and the patient’s will to live is weak. Mrs. Lockwood, you need to hurry and get Mr. Sloan here!"

"Mr. Sloan, a life is at stake! Whatever grudges or troubles you have, please put them aside for now!"

Rose sobbed, "Did you hear that, Nathaniel? If Noelle dies, I won’t live either!"

Nathaniel frowned deeply.

"Nathaniel, I’m begging you. Noelle has been by your side for so many years. Even if you don’t appreciate her contributions, at least acknowledge her hard work!"

Rose grew more and more agitated as she spoke. A nurse beside her offered comfort and even brought up Yara.

"Is Mr. Sloan refusing to visit Miss Noelle because of that woman named Yara?"

"Miss Noelle gave him a son, for goodness’ sake. This is going too far..."

"I really don’t know what kind of seductress that Yara is. Miss Noelle is in critical condition, yet she’s disregarding another person’s life just to fight for favor. How despicable!"

Rose deliberately let the nurses speak loudly enough to be heard. Once they finished, she hypocritically spoke into the phone. "Nathaniel, they didn’t mean to say that. They’re just upset for my poor Noelle. Boo-hoo..."

Nathaniel’s eyes grew cold as he cut her off. "Address."

Overjoyed, Rose quickly rattled off the name of a hospital.

Nathaniel hung up the phone, glanced at the sky outside, and got out of bed. "I have something to attend to and need to head out. It’s still early, so get some more rest."

After speaking, he turned to head to the washroom but was stopped when Estelle grabbed his wrist.

She had heard Rose’s voice clearly just now, so she knew that his "something to attend to" actually meant visiting Noelle.

Heh, it was Noelle again.

Estelle pressed her lips tightly together. After a long moment, she finally spoke. "Noelle was hospitalized for a heart attack, but why should you be the one to visit her? Are you a doctor, Mr. Sloan? Or does your mere presence magically cure her heart disease?"

Besides, it was highly debatable whether Noelle even had "heart disease" at all!

Nathaniel leaned over slightly, offering no further explanation. "I’m just going to take a look. I’ll be back soon."

Estelle instinctively opened her mouth to say something, but she snapped it shut a second later. There seemed to be nothing left to say. Everything that needed to be said had already been said five years ago.

Noelle always loved calling in the middle of the night, calling her husband away from her—the actual Mrs. Sloan—just to flaunt how special she was to Nathaniel. Estelle had suffered this grievance time and time again. Noelle always promised there wouldn’t be a next time, yet there always was, and each time she grew more vicious and arrogant. And every single time, this man would pat Estelle’s cheek and intimately say, "I’ll be back soon."

Whose husband was Nathaniel, anyway?! When Noelle was sick, he stayed by her side. When Noelle was pregnant, he stayed by her side...

Estelle couldn’t help but laugh self-deprecatingly. She had overthought things last night, actually believing she might have misunderstood him.

"Fine, go ahead." She lay back down and closed her eyes. "Remember to close the door on your way out. Thanks."

Nathaniel felt she had misunderstood and wanted to explain, but the woman had already slowed her breathing, seemingly asleep. Whatever, he would explain when he got back.

The sound of footsteps retreated, and the bedroom door clicked shut softly. Only then did Estelle open her emotionless eyes. It felt as if a basin of freezing water had been poured over her head as she buried her face deeply into the blankets. Even the gentle morning breeze seemed to have turned hostile.

Two hours later.

Estelle got up as usual. Last night had just been a moment of impulse. She had been blinded by Nathaniel’s gentle facade. Now that she had calmed down and thought about it, did it even matter? So what if he was biased toward Noelle? Nathaniel had always been like that. She was only back for revenge and wasn’t going to end up with this man in the future anyway. So whether he was good or bad had absolutely nothing to do with her.

"Dr. Yara."

Estelle was just about to eat breakfast when Chapman walked over. He let out a sigh. "I know Mr. Sloan went to the hospital to visit Miss Noelle this morning."

Estelle’s hand paused, but she quickly replied, "Yes, what about it?"

Chapman advised her, "Miss Lockwood, it isn’t my place as a butler to meddle, but... in short, please don’t be too heartbroken. There is nothing going on between Mr. Sloan and Miss Noelle. It’s just that the Lockwood family and the Sloan family are on good terms, so he can’t just stand by and watch something happen to Miss Noelle.

"She grew up with Mr. Sloan. If something really happened to her, I’m afraid he would bear the blame. So please be a little more tolerant. Otherwise, you’ll only be the one suffering in the end.

"Besides, Miss Noelle and Mr. Sloan share a son. Because of that alone, Mr. Sloan can’t just watch her die. Wouldn’t you agree?"

Estelle smiled. Chapman had given her this exact same advice countless times five years ago. Everyone was always telling her to give way to Noelle.

When talking about status: "Noelle is an adopted daughter. It’s not easy for her in this family. You’re already the true daughter of the Lockwood family now, so can’t you just let Noelle have her way?"

When attending banquets: "Although Noelle is an adopted daughter, she is well-bred. Taking you—the eldest daughter—out will only embarrass the Lockwood family and Nathaniel. Can’t you just let Noelle have her way?"

After getting married: "Noelle has loved Nathaniel for so many years, but you stole him away. Noelle is already heartbroken enough, so can’t you just let her have her way?"

No matter what was said or from what angle it was viewed, Noelle was always the one being protected. How could things be so convenient?

Besides, Chapman was right... No matter what, Noelle was Christian’s biological mother. Based on that alone, it was impossible for Nathaniel to just leave her be.

Zachery happened to be walking past the dining room. As he listened to Chapman’s words, his frown deepened.

Damn it... They were over here trying their hardest to play matchmaker for Mommy and Daddy, yet Daddy was sneaking off to see Noelle Lockwood?!