Chapter 224: Old Mrs Sloan: I Never Said Which Daughter-in-Law

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Old Mrs Sloan: I Never Said Which Daughter-in-Law

Old Mrs. Sloan’s words were correct. In a family like the Sloans, shares were not so easily held. If given to an ordinary person who knew nothing, no matter how many shares they had, they would be divided up and devoured. Worse still, it might invite a fatal disaster—just like a child carrying a massive treasure, who wouldn’t be envious?

Miranda Lancaster had been very thoughtful. She had given them to her friend. According to her, this friend possessed extraordinary talent and exceptional brilliance. Coming from a wealthy family as well, he had the means, the knowledge, and medical expertise. Ethan Sloan was nothing in front of him. Moreover, that person was over twenty years older than Ethan. Leaving the shares to someone so shrewd and capable put Miranda at ease.

But she never expected that these shares would ultimately be left to Estelle Lockwood. Had Miranda even heard of Estelle back then?

Estelle thought deeply for a moment. "The friend you mentioned might be my grandfather."

"That old geezer from the Lockwood family?" Old Mrs. Sloan frowned sharply.

Estelle choked back her words. Old Mrs. Sloan was truly a person of fiery temperament. She shook her head. "Not the one from the Lockwood family. It’s the grandfather who adopted me. After I was abandoned by Rose Lowell, my grandfather took me in and raised me. He’s also the one who named me."

She wondered if her grandfather really came from a wealthy family, instantly thinking of the Lockwoods. It seemed her grandfather was indeed connected to them; at least Miranda knew this back then.

Old Mrs. Sloan finally nodded. "So that’s how it is. That makes perfect sense. Miranda always had a mind of her own."

Old Mrs. Sloan kept the two for a meal. As they were leaving, the elderly lady said slowly, "Nathaniel, when you have time, bring Christian and the others over for me to see. Oh, and also, host a banquet for me."

Nathaniel was not surprised by the first request. He felt his grandmother had changed a lot, as if she had finally figured things out. As for the second request, he had a momentary doubt but quickly understood her intention.

Old Mrs. Sloan sighed inwardly. Whatever she said, Nathaniel could understand. But her own son... Sigh, how did she end up with a son like Ethan?!

Old Mrs. Sloan had always claimed to the public that she was in a coma and recovering from an illness. Now, the moment she appeared at the Sloan Group, she took on everyone in a verbal spar, scolding Ethan and Old Mr. Lancaster until they were utterly humiliated.

Consequently, all the high-society families in Crestfall learned one thing: Old Mrs. Sloan had woken up.

The elderly lady sent out numerous invitations, inviting everyone to her manor as guests. She claimed that since she had just woken up, she wanted to gather people at the estate to dispel the lingering sickroom atmosphere. In her youth, Old Mrs. Sloan had been a formidable businesswoman, and many families knew she was not someone to be trifled with. Furthermore, the invitations were sent in Nathaniel’s name, so everyone naturally had to show respect.

Two days later.

The originally quiet manor became bustling with activity. Estelle walked through the main gates with her three children, spotting quite a few acquaintances from afar. Aside from Thea York, Laura Jennings was unexpectedly there as well.

Nathaniel frowned. "I didn’t invite the York family." And it was even more impossible that he had invited Laura.

Estelle’s gaze flickered. Old Mrs. Sloan’s return was a major event. It was only normal that some people grew anxious and found ways to sneak in. But Laura... The Sloan Group was in such a mess right now; did she really still have the mood to attend a banquet?

The manor was massive. Even the guests from wealthy families couldn’t help but click their tongues in awe.

"I heard this manor was a gift from the old lady’s daughter-in-law. How generous," someone remarked.

Upon hearing this, Laura suddenly lowered her head, looking bashful. Estelle was speechless. She wondered if Laura was going to try and steal the credit again.

Sure enough, in the next moment, someone asked curiously, "Mrs. Sloan, did you gift this manor?"

Even though a major incident had occurred at the Sloan Group a few days ago, causing its stock to plummet to the daily limit, Nathaniel remained completely unaffected. In everyone’s minds, Laura was Nathaniel’s biological mother, and since she had appeared at the banquet, quite a few people wanted to curry favor with her.

Laura feigned modesty at the praise. "This is all just what I ought to do. Mother’s health hasn’t been good. As the younger generation, it’s only right that we show our filial piety."

Although she didn’t explicitly say she gifted the manor, her response acted as a tacit admission—yes, she was the one who gave it.

The bystanders praised her. "Mrs. Sloan is truly thoughtful."

"The value of this manor is inestimable. To think Mrs. Sloan gave it away just like that; I am truly ashamed of my own inadequacy in comparison."

Laura accepted the compliments, unable to suppress her inward smugness. After all, the dead couldn’t speak. In the end, wasn’t she the one who seized all the benefits?

But on her face, she looked even more bashful. "Alright, alright, say no more. This is all just my duty. There’s nothing worth praising—"

"Indeed, there is nothing worth praising!"

A cold, stern, elderly female voice rang out from behind. Old Mrs. Sloan wore a dark expression, her icy gaze looking as if it could bore a hole straight through Laura.

Laura trembled all over. She gritted her teeth secretly, cursing this damned old hag in her heart.

The bystanders were stunned. "Old Mrs. Sloan, this is still your daughter-in-law’s filial piety, after all..."

Old Mrs. Sloan sneered. "How do you know the manor was gifted by my daughter-in-law?"

The crowd exchanged glances. "This isn’t exactly a secret. Chairman Sloan has mentioned it many times." Besides, didn’t Chairman Sloan imply that Laura was the one who gifted the manor? Laura hadn’t denied it, either.

"Oh, so it was my useless son who mentioned it. However, the statement itself isn’t wrong. The manor was gifted by my daughter-in-law." Old Mrs. Sloan nodded. Immediately after, a cold, mocking look surfaced in her eyes. "But I never specified which daughter-in-law."

The surroundings instantly fell dead silent. The people who had been speaking looked as if they had been choked by the neck, immediately becoming as quiet as mice.

What did that mean? Old Mrs. Sloan’s daughter-in-law... That’s right! Old Mrs. Sloan had another daughter-in-law, her proper, rightful daughter-in-law—Ethan’s first wife, Miranda Lancaster!

Old Mrs. Sloan scoffed mockingly, "You’re quite good at stealing credit, Laura. Why didn’t I know? When did Miranda’s manor become yours?"

The crowd looked at Laura in astonishment.

Laura’s face grew burning hot as fury surged within her. She wished she could rush up and viciously slap Old Mrs. Sloan twice across the face, but she didn’t dare. She could only stand rooted to the spot in impotent rage. She cursed the old hag for running her mouth. Miranda was dead, so what was wrong with using her credit for a bit? Why did she have to meddle? Even the Lancaster family had tacitly agreed to it! The dead were nothing, and the living were the most important—had she never heard of that?!

Old Mrs. Sloan said faintly, "I really don’t know what Old Mr. Lancaster is thinking. Someone like you wished Miranda would die early, yet he didn’t avenge his daughter and instead gets along harmoniously with you. Tsk, I might even start to suspect that he was the one who bought you off to murder his daughter. Otherwise, how could you still be sitting securely in your position as Mrs. Sloan today?"

Laura was furious, feeling that the gazes of everyone around her had completely changed. She wanted to scream and throw a tantrum, but in the next moment, security guards firmly pinned her shoulders down.

Old Mrs. Sloan sounded as though she was merely asking a casual question. "If you’re willing to steal the credit for a manor, what else of Miranda’s have you stolen? Nathaniel, what do you say?"

Cold sweat instantly poured down Laura’s face.