Chapter 176: Estelle Lockwood: I’m Very Understanding

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Estelle Lockwood: I’m Very Understanding

Christian looked shocked. "Aunt York, what did you just say?"

Before Thea York could open her mouth, he continued with utmost seriousness. "I’m sorry, Aunt York. Even though I’m still little, I know we shouldn’t be too quick to claim kinship. We only have one Mommy."

Thea was furious. She could barely maintain her expression but still forced a look of someone endeared by a child. "Alright, alright, I won’t say it. But Nathaniel, we’re such good friends. What’s wrong with having your son call me godmother?"

Christian replied earnestly, "Aunt York, it’s really not that I don’t want you to be my godmother. It’s just that all the women who called themselves my godmother in the past actually wanted to replace my Mommy and marry my Daddy. So, I’m a little scared."

After finishing in a voice full of innocence, the little boy tilted his head. "But I believe Aunt York isn’t that kind of person, right? You and Daddy are ’good buddies,’ and good buddies don’t try to be home-wreckers, right?"

Thea took a deep breath before squeezing out a smile. "Of course not. I’m Nathaniel’s good buddy. I would never stoop so low as to be a home-wrecker."

Christian nodded. "Really? Then it’s a promise. You can’t lie to a kid, Aunt York. I’ve recorded this conversation, by the way!"

Thea’s smile nearly cracked.

She forced herself to calm down. "Nathaniel, I came over to discuss the York Group’s collaboration project with you. I was wondering when you might be free?" In that instant, she reverted to her persona of an elegant, capable businesswoman.

Nathaniel, however, didn’t even look up. "Stella York has already liaised with Luke White on that."

This time, Thea couldn’t keep up the act. She clenched her fists tightly. "S-Stella? But this collaboration..."

Luke stepped forward. "Here is the situation, Miss York. The person who originally finalized the collaboration with Evernight Group was Chairman York’s late first wife. Now that she has passed away, it’s only natural for her daughter to take over the project. Does Miss York have a problem with this, or are you trying to steal the late Mrs. York’s credit?"

Thea almost cursed out loud, her face contorting in a brief moment of rage!

Stella? The collaboration had been given to Stella?

"That’s not what I meant... It’s just that my father said the collaboration wasn’t finalized yet and asked me to come over to check. I didn’t expect Stella to have secured it without telling the family, which caused my father to misunderstand."

Christian pursed his lips. This two-faced woman was quite skilled. With just a few simple words, she had painted Stella as a petty person who hogged all the credit for herself. If he hadn’t already gossiped with Uncle Henry Kendrick about this, he probably would have believed Thea’s nonsense.

Nathaniel, however, showed no extra reaction. He simply gave a faint hum. "This collaboration indeed doesn’t need to go through the York Group. Luke will hand full authority over to Stella. If there’s nothing else, you may leave."

Thea forced a stiff smile. "Alright, Nathaniel. I’ll take my leave, then. I’m relieved that the collaboration is in my sister’s hands. Even though Stella didn’t understand much before and needed our father’s help with everything, and this is her first time handling a major project, I believe she’ll definitely do a good job."

Nathaniel didn’t even look at her. He turned and picked up Mia. "Where is Grandma Kendrick? Do you want to stay and have dinner with Daddy?"

"Grandma Kendrick just texted Mia to say she already left! So we’re staying here to eat with you, Daddy."

"Alright. Daddy will take you upstairs. Let me know what you want to eat."

"Okay!"

As the sweet, childish voices faded away, Thea clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

Damn it... Damn it, damn it, damn it! With that lingering ghost Estelle Lockwood constantly hanging around Nathaniel, when would she ever get to be Mrs. Sloan?! And Stella—why couldn’t she just die along with her mother?!

After the three little ones finished dinner, Mrs. Kendrick came to pick them up.

Nathaniel reviewed a few more documents when his phone suddenly pinged. His eyes darkened, and he dialed Estelle’s number.

Estelle’s voice was languid. "What is it, Mr. Sloan? Is something wrong?"

Nathaniel nodded. "Nothing major. The Lockwood family wants to bring you back home."

Estelle had been leaning against the sofa with her eyes closed, resting. Hearing this, her eyes snapped open. "Bring me back home? Isn’t it a little too late to put on an act now?"

"Not too late. If you don’t go back, the Lockwoods will never be able to clear their name, and Noelle Lockwood will remain a universal pariah wherever she goes. But if you, their biological daughter, forgive them, things will become very different."

Estelle tapped her fingertips lightly against the table. "Alright. I’ll play along with the Lockwoods."

It was the perfect opportunity; there were things she wanted to investigate at the Lockwood residence anyway. For instance, why did the grandpa who adopted her after she was abandoned by the Lockwoods also share the surname Lockwood? And how was Grandpa able to find and adopt her on the exact same day she was thrown away?

What was Grandpa’s relationship with the Lockwoods? If he was a member of the Lockwood family, why couldn’t he go home? For so many years, Grandpa had never mentioned them, yet right before he passed away, he told her that if she ever couldn’t hold on anymore, she should go back to the Lockwoods—that someone there might be waiting for her.

Yet, when Estelle returned to the Lockwood family with hopeful expectations for familial love, she never found the person Grandpa said would care for her.

But Grandpa had treated her so well; he couldn’t have lied to her or intentionally pushed her into a fiery pit. Estelle felt certain that there was some hidden truth she and Grandpa were unaware of.

She stood up. "Where are the Lockwoods right now?"

"They are already on their way to Star and should be arriving soon," Nathaniel said flatly. "They want to take advantage of the crowd and make a scene at your company. If things blow up and enough people gather to watch, they figure you’ll be too embarrassed and will agree to go home."

Estelle gave a half-smile. "Got it."

"Mrs. Sloan," Nathaniel suddenly curled his lips into a smirk. "Take it easy. Don’t play them to death."

Estelle curled her lip. "Nathaniel Sloan, what kind of person do you take me for? I’m just a poor, pitiful girl abandoned by the Lockwoods who yearns for family affection. Would I ever do something like that to my biological parents?"

Listening from the side, Luke breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness the madam was still reasonable.

Then, he heard Estelle add: "I have always acknowledged biodiversity and I am very considerate, alright?"

Nathaniel was speechless.

Luke was speechless. Oh, so her version of being "considerate" was mocking the Lockwoods for not even being the same species as her?

Keeping an eye on the time, Estelle walked out of Star Tower. From a distance, she spotted the Lockwood family’s car.

Inside the car, Rose Lowell was a million times unwilling. "Austin, that little bastard is our daughter. If we tell her to come home, how can she refuse? Why do we have to come and apologize? I am not apologizing to her!"

Austin frowned. "Then tell me, what other way is there to control public opinion?"

Rose choked on her words.

"Mom, Dad, stop fighting." Noelle’s weak and gentle voice chimed in from the side. "I don’t think it’s a bad thing to bring Estelle back. She is your biological daughter, after all. It’s definitely not good for her to be wandering outside..."

Estelle’s lips curled into a smirk. *Here they come.*