Chapter 170: This Tea Flavor Is Really Overflowing

Chapter 170: Chapter 170: This Tea Flavor Is Really Overflowing

"Nathaniel, what is the meaning of this? Why are you kicking us out?" Julian frowned. "Don’t tell me you’re throwing out friends you’ve known for years just because I took this woman’s seat!?

"You can’t be serious, Nathaniel. It’s just a seat. So what if she doesn’t sit next to you? Thea and I are sitting beside you now. Does she not trust Thea? Does she really have to hog you all to herself to be satisfied?"

His tone grew increasingly mocking. "Miss Lockwood, please don’t be jealous over nothing. Thea is Nathaniel’s best friend. She isn’t going to steal your man!

"If anything were going to happen between Thea and Nathaniel, they would’ve been together ages ago. You’d never even have a shot at being Mrs. Sloan! Thea, sit down. Just ignore her!"

Estelle crossed her arms and leaned against the sofa. She finally understood why Julian—a "friend" who hadn’t shown his face in a decade—had suddenly visited Imperial Crest today.

So he and Thea York were playing good cop, bad cop.

Julian was the one who stole her seat. His behavior was completely unreasonable, yet he still found a way to pin the blame on Estelle.

"Best friends... So this is what he calls a best friend?" she mused.

Julian hadn’t expected Nathaniel to make such a big deal out of something so trivial. "No wonder Thea told me not to come today. She said your wife would be upset if I did."

He shot Estelle a meaningful look. "Nathaniel, you aren’t seriously going to throw away our years of friendship over a woman, are you?"

The living room fell silent for half a minute.

Liam was baffled. He wondered how this guy could be so incredibly tone-deaf.

Zane Grant’s expression also cooled. Julian was an illegitimate son of the Keaton family and was known for his underhanded tactics, but Zane hadn’t expected him to make such a scene here of all places!

Nathaniel remained calm. "Julian, who gave you the confidence to think you are more important than Estelle?"

He turned to Estelle. "Do you welcome them here?"

Estelle blinked. Meeting Thea’s gaze, she caught a fleeting glimmer of malice in the other woman’s eyes. "Although Young Mr. Jacobs isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, he did get one thing right.

"I really don’t welcome you here."

Thea’s breath hitched.

Julian flew into a sudden rage. SLAM! He threw his chopsticks onto the table. "Estelle, you really don’t know what’s good for you, do you?! I’m a guest in Nathaniel’s home! What right do you have to say I’m not welcome—"

"She has the right because she is my wife, my spouse, and the lady of Imperial Crest."

Nathaniel looked at him indifferently. "Her word is my word."

"You, you..." Julian was at a loss for words.

Thea suddenly set down her chopsticks and stood up. Taking a deep breath, she forced a strained smile. "Excuse me. I... I suddenly don’t feel well. I’m going to step outside for a bit. Please don’t argue over me. Julian, apologize to them right now..."

With that, she stumbled out of the room.

Nathaniel didn’t even bat an eyelid. "Do as you wish."

Julian was in utter disbelief. "Nathaniel Sloan! Thea isn’t feeling well, and you aren’t even going to check on her? Miss Lockwood is truly quite the manipulator. Just a few words and she’s managed to drive a wedge into our friendship of over ten years. I’m impressed!"

Unfazed, Nathaniel had Ms. Riddle replace the tableware, then placed some food into Estelle’s bowl. "Mrs. Kendrick mentioned you haven’t eaten much tonight. I made these dishes specifically for you, so at least have a few bites."

Estelle’s eyes sparkled with a half-smile. "Mr. Sloan, he is your friend, after all. Is it really a good idea to just kick him out like this? What if word gets out and people start calling me a femme fatale?"

Nathaniel replied unhurriedly, "They will be back."

Estelle blinked.

Zane chuckled as well. "True. It’s better to clear things up. Liam, when Thea comes back, ask her about her fiancé.

"I recall the York family wanting an arranged marriage between Thea and Nathaniel, which he rejected countless times. The biggest reason he was eventually able to be friends with her was because she got engaged.

"Since she was engaged, there was no longer any possibility of an arranged marriage. Thea also told Nathaniel that she had long since gotten over him, which was the only reason they could become ’friends’."

Though Zane was explaining the situation for Estelle’s benefit, he directed his next words at Liam. "Later, you should ask her why her fiancé didn’t return to the country with her."

Liam sensed that something was off, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. He wasn’t stupid; Julian’s remarks had been far too blatantly targeted.

Outside the door.

Julian chased after her. "Thea, are you okay? Nathaniel has gone too far! To think he’d disregard your friendship over some woman! What kind of woman could possibly be that important?"

Thea’s small face was streaked with tears as she shook her head helplessly.

"Thea, please don’t cry!" Julian panicked, his hatred for Estelle deepening even further.

Thea hurriedly wiped away her tears, putting on a brave front. "Julian, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Everything is fine..."

Hearing Thea still speaking up for them sent a surge of anger rushing through Julian. "Then why are you crying? Did Estelle bully you?! You helped her out when she was being scammed, yet she repays your kindness with hostility! What a vicious bitch!"

Tearfully, Thea pleaded, "It’s fine, Julian. Please don’t offend her for my sake... Miss Lockwood’s manipulative tactics are brilliant, and I could never replicate them. Look how much Nathaniel cares for her. Just promise me you won’t fight with her, okay?

"Right now, I only want to quietly stay by Nathaniel’s side, regardless of what title I hold... Julian, let’s just go back. Let’s not make an ugly scene."

Thea’s words carried a hidden meaning. "If my parents or Uncle Sloan were to find out, they would definitely reprimand Miss Lockwood, and her reputation would be tarnished. We can’t let that happen..."

Julian calmed down, his eyes darting thoughtfully.

This was actually a great idea! Estelle had crossed the line, and everyone needed to know about it!

Dropping a hint, Thea continued, "Actually, it seemed like Miss Lockwood took a disliking to me the moment she saw me. I actually feel quite sorry for her. Perhaps because of Noelle Lockwood, she doesn’t have much confidence in her relationship with Nathaniel. Because of that, whenever she sees another woman around him, she immediately assumes they’re trying to steal him away.

"But Julian, you know me. Although I have feelings for Nathaniel, I’ve never had any intention of becoming the mistress. Nathaniel and I are purely just best friends.

"If Miss Lockwood can’t even tolerate his best friend, what will outsiders think of her?"

A plan began to form in Julian’s mind.

"That’s right!" he thought.

Thea had helped Estelle, yet Estelle despised her with a passion.

Why should a woman like that get to monopolize the position of Mrs. Sloan? He was going to spread the word and force Estelle to step down as soon as possible!

"Thea, you head inside first. I need to make a phone call."

Thea’s eyes flickered, and she gave a faint smile. "Alright."

At the dining table.

Estelle was finding the shrimp a bit of a hassle to peel. Seeing this, Nathaniel peeled one for her and placed it in her bowl.

This was the exact scene Thea walked in on. Her breath hitched, and she quickly stepped forward.

"Estelle, how could you make Nathaniel peel shrimp for you? What are you doing? Don’t you know that Nathaniel is a germaphobe?"