Chapter 159: Nathaniel Sloan Teaches Her How to Screw Himself Over

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Nathaniel Sloan Teaches Her How to Screw Himself Over

Back then, her physical health had just recovered. Mrs. Kendrick encouraged her to pursue something she enjoyed, so Estelle Lockwood returned to developing perfumes.

She was a stranger in the USA, and her original business partnership had been maliciously snatched away. Fortunately, a certain Mr. Lynch learned she was also from Innerland; he casually asked about her situation and ended up doing her a massive favor by stepping in to help.

After that, they exchanged contact information.

Upon learning she was a single mother raising two children, Mr. Lynch even reached out to ask if she needed any further assistance.

The night before she returned to her home country, she texted Mr. Lynch to tell him she was heading back.

Mr. Lynch replied with a simple message: [Wishing you all the best.]

After that, the two never contacted each other again.

Now that she had taken her revenge and the truth was finally out, she felt she should let Mr. Lynch know so the older gentleman wouldn’t worry about her.

Thus, Estelle opened her laptop, logged into her email, and earnestly typed out a message.

[Mr. Lynch, I have some good news to share. I’ve accomplished what I set out to do.]

[From now on, I can live in my own country without hiding my identity.]

[Thank you for all your help over the years. If you ever need anything, please feel free to reach out. As long as it is within my power, I will definitely help you. Wishing you a happy life.]

After hitting send, a heavy stone lifted from Estelle’s heart.

She had the strange illusion of reporting her academic progress to a strict elder.

It was probably because Mr. Lynch had always seemed so stern and upright over the years. A single glance from him was enough to make his subordinates tremble in fear and ensure no one dared to bully her as an Innerlander ever again. He was undoubtedly a man of high status and immense power.

Logically speaking, people in such powerful positions were rarely young. Furthermore, he had occasionally let slip remarks about his wife having passed away and his life being mundane. He also frequently checked in on Estelle to see if her life was going smoothly or if she needed help. Her first instinct told her that this person was absolutely an elder.

Even if he wasn’t quite her grandfather’s age, he had to be at least in the generation of her uncles.

Facing an elder, Estelle typed with a trace of deep respect. Since Mr. Lynch rarely replied to her messages in the past, she didn’t pay the email much mind after sending it.

To her utter surprise, he replied instantly this time!

[Lynch: Glad to hear it’s handled.]

[Lynch: You’re in the country?]

Estelle was shocked!

This was the first time Mr. Lynch had ever asked about her personal information. However, this elder had helped her so much that she harbored no suspicions.

[Yes, I’ve decided to settle down domestically for now. Is there something you need, Mr. Lynch?] she replied.

Meanwhile, Nathaniel Sloan’s lips tightened into a thin line.

He had met this "Miss Kendrick" whom he was messaging in the USA. He knew she was a single mother raising two children who desperately wanted to divorce her scumbag ex-husband but hadn’t been able to. Thus, she had fled abroad and lived incognito, terrified her ex-husband would find her and snatch the children away.

Nathaniel pondered over this heavily.

Looking back now, his separation from Estelle was Laura Jennings’ fault, Rose Lowell’s fault, and Noelle Lockwood’s fault.

But Nathaniel knew deep down that it was also because he just hadn’t been good enough.

If he had never let Estelle suffer any grievances, if he had recognized his own heart sooner, perhaps he and Estelle wouldn’t be in this situation today.

Since that was the case, he had to change himself.

However, as the saying goes, the observer sees clearly while the participant is blind. Being caught in the middle of it all, he might not be able to spot his own flaws, so he could ask someone else.

Since this Miss Kendrick was doing everything in her power to divorce her ex-husband, her ex-husband must have done a lot of things wrong.

Nathaniel could ask her what she disliked about her ex, compare those traits to his own to find common ground, and then correct them.

With this in mind, Nathaniel typed out a question.

[Last year you said you always wanted a divorce. Since you’ve chosen to settle back home now, have you finally divorced him?]

Staring at the screen, Estelle fell silent for quite a while.

Wait, since when did Mr. Lynch start caring about her marital status?

[Not yet,] Estelle typed back.

[Lynch: But I recall you always wanted to get away from your ex-husband.]

Estelle clicked her tongue and typed away furiously.

[That’s true, but I can’t let all my years of suffering go to waste, can I? My ex-husband feels incredibly guilty towards me right now and agrees to whatever I say. Back then, he and his mother ordered me around like a servant. Now, I’m going to order him around just the same to get my revenge.]

Right after sending it, Estelle suddenly realized that the person on the other end was a respected elder!

Was it inappropriate to say such petty things to him?

She hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

[I-I mean, even though there are no feelings left, we still have to maintain some decency.]

In the study, Nathaniel muttered to himself, "Ordering her ex-husband around, so she stayed..."

Surprisingly, Nathaniel felt this was a highly viable approach.

If Estelle was willing to order him around, that wouldn’t be so bad.

His lips pressed together again.

[Miss Kendrick, if possible, could you trouble yourself to tell me about your ex-husband’s flaws?]

Estelle was completely taken aback when she saw this message. Since when had Mr. Lynch become such a gossip?

Sitting in front of her laptop, she rolled up her sleeves, ready to unleash a comprehensive tirade detailing all of Nathaniel Sloan’s shortcomings.

However, her fingertips hovered over the keyboard for several seconds without pressing a single key. Estelle suddenly blanked out; she actually couldn’t pinpoint his flaws right at this moment.

Just then, Ms. Riddle knocked on the door. "Sir, Miss Lockwood, dinner is ready."

Snapping back to reality, Estelle closed her laptop, opened her email on her phone, and continued to reply to Mr. Lynch.

[Flaws? Actually...]

Before she could finish typing her sentence, the study door opened.

Nathaniel walked out and instinctively supported her waist. "Don’t look at your phone while walking."

Estelle’s eyes lit up as if she had finally grasped something. She quickly typed on her phone.

[For instance, he really loves poking his nose into other people’s business.]

[Lynch: You don’t like others keeping you in check?]

[Of course not,] Estelle replied immediately.

[Lynch: ...Is that so? But I quite like it when my wife manages me. It’s just a pity she doesn’t seem to want to.]

Estelle was stunned. Her eyes widened sharply as she stared at the word "wife" in Mr. Lynch’s reply, her brain practically short-circuiting.

Hold on a minute. Hadn’t Mr. Lynch’s wife passed away?

Was this... had he married another one?

In her shock, Estelle accidentally dropped her chopsticks. Nathaniel looked over and raised an eyebrow. "What did Miss Lockwood do today to be so agitated?"

Estelle was too lazy to bother with Nathaniel. Right now, she just wanted to eat up the gossip.

[Didn’t you say before that your wife had passed away...]

[Lynch: Yes, a quack doctor misdiagnosed her. She’s alive.]

Estelle gulped, finding this quite miraculous. She immediately guessed the real reason for his messages.

[So, the reason you reached out to me today, Mr. Lynch, is related to your wife?]

Having chatted for so long, they had finally gotten to the main point. Mr. Lynch’s replies came swiftly.

[Yes. I apologize for bothering you. I thought about it over and over, and perhaps only you could help.]

[Before my wife left, she would coordinate my outfits and care about my three daily meals. But now, it seems she doesn’t care about me at all.]

[I wanted to ask, what should I do now?]

[Right now, she and I are having dinner, but she keeps staring at her phone and won’t even spare me a single glance.]