Chapter 143: The Misunderstanding Resolved, Estelle and Christian Acknowledge Each Other as Mother and Son

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: The Misunderstanding Resolved, Estelle and Christian Acknowledge Each Other as Mother and Son

Estelle’s head snapped up!

Noelle... wasn’t Christian’s biological mother? Then who did Nathaniel have Christian with?!

Considering Christian’s age, along with the almost uncontrollable affection she felt when she first laid eyes on him, the answer was practically screaming at her. But Estelle didn’t dare to guess, didn’t dare to gamble. She was afraid that the greater the hope, the more devastating the disappointment.

As Nathaniel’s words fell, everyone was shocked and instantly perked up their ears. High-society gossip was always a crowd-pleaser, especially when it involved a top-tier powerhouse like the Sloan Group. Relying on her status as Nathaniel’s fiancée and Young Mr. Sloan’s biological mother, Noelle had been throwing her weight around and acting like a tyrant in the entertainment industry all these years. Even when she stole someone else’s resources, her fans would jump out in her defense. "Our Noelle has a prestigious status. What could she possibly want that she doesn’t already have? Why would she need to steal from you?"

But Nathaniel had just proven that the fiancée claim was a total fabrication. And now... even the title of Young Mr. Sloan’s biological mother was fake?!

A chill ran down Noelle’s spine, her body stiffening. She let out an awkward laugh, still deceiving herself. "Nathaniel, what are you talking about? How could I not be Christian’s mother? I know you’re mad at me, but you can’t do this. Besides, a lot of people knew I was pregnant back then."

Dr. Walsh, always soft on the ladies, spoke up with righteous indignation, utterly convinced of his own reasoning.

"That’s right, Mr. Sloan. Miss Noelle was pregnant and even came to our hospital for checkups. Mrs. Sloan accompanied her the whole time!

"If the child Miss Noelle was carrying wasn’t the Sloan family’s, then why would Mrs. Sloan be so concerned?

"Mr. Sloan, you’re actually trying to separate Miss Noelle and Young Mr. Sloan for the sake of some shady woman!"

The bystanders also remembered. Back when Noelle was pregnant, Mrs. Sloan, Laura Jennings, had accompanied her to several events. Whenever she had a hospital checkup, Mrs. Sloan was there the entire time, showing the utmost concern for her well-being. When people guessed that Noelle was pregnant with Nathaniel’s child, she had merely smiled shyly in tacit agreement.

The Sloan family placed so much importance on the child in Noelle’s womb... how could Christian not be her son? If he wasn’t, then where did he come from? The pregnant woman the Sloan family cared about most back then was Noelle; no one had heard of them caring for anyone else!

Noelle slowly breathed a sigh of relief, putting on a gentle smile.

"Nathaniel, Christian is still in the hospital. Let’s not talk about this in front of the child, okay?

"I know that over the years, I haven’t been very attentive to him because I was busy with my career. Yara was more responsible than I was. But blood ties can’t be severed. I’m Christian’s biological..."

Nathaniel lifted his cold eyelids slightly, his voice indifferent. "Six years ago, you and Laura Jennings went on an overseas trip for two months."

Noelle’s expression instantly froze, the words catching in her throat. She didn’t even have time to process Nathaniel calling Laura Jennings by her full name. A bad premonition surged up. Six years ago... six years ago, she...

She thought, "No, I can’t let Nathaniel say it!"

But it was too late to stop him. Nathaniel continued in a mild tone. "Christian wasn’t born premature. His mother carried him for a full ten months, and his birthday is in April."

In other words, when Christian’s mother conceived him, it was June. But... hadn’t Noelle also claimed to be pregnant in June?

Only Noelle and Rose Lowell turned deathly pale, shaking their heads frantically. Noelle’s face underwent a drastic change. Realizing what Nathaniel was about to say, she turned as white as a sheet. Throwing all care for her image to the wind, she lunged forward. "No, Nathaniel, no!!"

But it was too late.

Nathaniel’s tone remained calm. "That June, you and Laura Jennings were still in the USA. And I..." The man turned his head. At an angle unseen by the others, his light gray eyes paused on Estelle for a second. "...was holding an acquisition ceremony for an entertainment company." He nonchalantly added, "Which is a fact known to everyone."

The people around them nodded. Indeed, the acquisition ceremony was broadcast live. Back then, quite a few fans claimed it was proof of Nathaniel’s love for Noelle. But the two of them weren’t even together at the time. They were separated by the Pacific Ocean... Under those circumstances, how could the child Noelle was carrying be Nathaniel’s!

Estelle’s gaze flickered, as if weighing the truth of Nathaniel’s words.

"That’s not true, Nathaniel!!" Noelle sobbed, tears raining down her face as she stammered. "I came back to the country to see you! I... how could I have stayed abroad for two months? It was when I came back that I got pregnant with your child..."

Nathaniel’s expression was icy. "That would indeed be a good excuse, but unfortunately, you had absolutely no way of returning to the country at that time."

Noelle’s small face was covered in tears. She shook her head helplessly. "Nathaniel, what are you saying? I don’t understand..."

"Then I’ll make it clearer." Nathaniel had lost his patience.

He had once given Noelle the utmost respect and promised to keep her secret out of consideration for the fact that she had saved his life. After all, if this matter were made public, her reputation would be utterly destroyed. However, it was precisely because he had agreed to Noelle’s request that Estelle spent the past five years believing her child was dead, suffering immensely under the assumption that her husband had cheated on her.

Nathaniel’s voice was cold. He no longer hesitated.

"While abroad, you committed a theft that caused a luxury goods company in the USA to lose seven hundred million. Because the amount was so astronomical, you couldn’t pay it back immediately. Therefore...

"Therefore, before Laura Jennings embezzled public funds from the Sloan Group to pay off your debt, you were detained in the USA.

"Noelle, under those circumstances, you’re claiming you made a special trip back to the country and got pregnant with my child?"

The color drained from Noelle’s face at a visible rate. She stumbled two steps backward. Everyone was dumbfounded. For a moment, they didn’t know which was more shocking: Noelle stealing seven hundred million worth of goods, or Laura Jennings embezzling public funds. But one thing was for certain. With a seven hundred million bill yet to be paid, there was no way Noelle could have returned to the country! And if she couldn’t return, how could she possibly have gotten pregnant with Nathaniel’s child?

Estelle pressed her lips tightly together, a stormy sea of emotions raging in her chest. Back then, Laura Jennings had been smug, and Noelle had been arrogant. Everyone had told her, "So what if you married Nathaniel? Your child is destined to be unwelcome. Look at Noelle—the child she’s carrying is the true heir of the Sloan family, the only child the Sloan family will ever acknowledge!"

It had caused her agonizing pain, self-doubt, and absolute despair. But as it turned out... as it turned out...

Nathaniel’s firm voice echoed in her ears. "Christian’s biological mother is my wife, and it can only be her!"

With that said, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he extended his hand toward Estelle.

Noelle trembled all over, swaying unsteadily as waves of dizziness washed over her. "Nathaniel!!"

Estelle was stunned for two seconds. Before she could react, Nathaniel pulled her aside.

"Estelle." Nathaniel didn’t hesitate to cut to the chase, calling her name and tearing down the final layer of pretense. He called her Estelle, not Yara. Nathaniel knew exactly who the woman in front of him was.

Estelle’s eyes abruptly darted up. She was just about to speak when she caught sight of Christian out of the corner of her eye. She immediately tried to pull her hand back, but Nathaniel gripped it even tighter.

She felt a bit dazed, yet also worried. She thought, "Was Christian here the whole time? Did he hear what Noelle said? How much did he hear? Will he be heartbroken?"

"Mommy!"

None of her fears materialized, however. The next moment, the little boy happily threw himself into her arms. "Mommy, this is wonderful!"