Chapter 272: Christian Was Surprised: "Aunt York, What Are You Talking About?

Chapter 272: Chapter 272: Christian Was Surprised: "Aunt York, What Are You Talking About?

Thea York ran to Scott York’s side, apologizing profusely. "I’m so sorry, I really apologize. This child of ours, he... Scott, come back here right now!"

The other parents looked at Thea, their expressions souring for a moment. Although the York family had been going downhill in recent years and was plagued by scandals, a dying titan still cast a long shadow; they were still not a family the others could afford to cross. But the York family was going too far! They didn’t discipline their child properly, letting a kid from the York family bully others in public!

Thea sighed helplessly. "Mia, are you alright? Scott, apologize to Mia this instant."

Scott maintained his cold, disgusted expression.

Thea looked as if she wanted to hit or scold him but couldn’t bring herself to do it. "Sigh... you child, you really are..."

"Mommy!" Mia suddenly called out.

Thea’s eyes darted around before she turned her head, flashing an overly affectionate smile. "Estelle, you’re here. I was just about to apologize to Mia."

Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow slightly, bending down to pick up Mia. "What happened?"

Mia wanted to say it was nothing. She didn’t want to bicker with a brat like Scott, who clearly had psychological issues. But before she could speak, Thea chimed in. It was as if she was trying to tell everyone that Scott was mentally ill and a bad child.

"Estelle, I’m so sorry. Scott is usually so spoiled, and he just bullied Mia... Sigh, Scott, aren’t you going to apologize?"

Scott completely ignored Thea.

Thea helplessly tried to smooth things over. "Estelle, I’m so sorry, I truly apologize. Scott is used to acting like he owns the world. If things at home don’t go his way, he throws a massive tantrum, crying and screaming until he gets what he wants. Our family really has no choice but to spoil him..."

One of the parents sneered, "How your York family spoils him is your own business, but letting him out to bully others is just wrong! We aren’t his parents. Are we supposed to spoil your child too?"

"No, it’s not that, I’m sorry." Thea looked as if she had suffered a great grievance but was silently enduring it. "This is my eldest brother’s child. After all, my brother... Sigh. My parents feel like they owe him, so they dote on him unconditionally. But who knew..."

As she spoke, Thea began apologizing again. "Estelle, Mia, I’m really sorry. After all, Scott lost his parents when he was little. As his aunt, I might have indulged him a bit too much in daily life. Sigh..."

The crowd froze slightly, subconsciously exchanging glances.

Thea’s eldest brother?

Indeed... Thea did have an older brother, the son of the York family’s first wife, but he had died in an accident long ago. Rumors previously circulated that this "accidental death" was orchestrated by Mrs. York—the mistress who had managed to marry into the family. However, if the York family felt guilty enough to spoil Young Mr. York’s son, surely they wouldn’t have gone as far as driving Young Mr. York to his death...

But then again, Young Mr. York and Thea didn’t share the same mother. Now that Young Mr. York’s son made a mistake, it was actually Thea who had to step up, apologize, and clean up the mess. This...

Thea curled her lips into a faint smile. Her mother was right. Scott was an idiot who had long been raised into a useless brat by her. And since the York family’s reputation was currently poor, they could use Scott to whitewash their image!

Thea swept her peripheral vision over the crowd, unable to help feeling smug. Just then, a tall, slender figure entered her line of sight. "Nathaniel..."

Nathaniel Sloan took Mia from Estelle’s arms, not even sparing Thea a glance. "Come, let Daddy hold you."

Thea gritted her teeth, but immediately replaced her expression with a gentle, demure look. There was still plenty of time, anyway. As for the village side of things... she had already made all the arrangements.

Soon, the kindergarten buses departed. Two hours later, they arrived at their autumn trip destination.

Agritourism had become very popular in the city over the years, with many people wanting to experience authentic village life. As a result, the hotels here existed in the form of bed-and-breakfasts. However, one B&B couldn’t possibly accommodate so many children and parents, so the kindergarten had booked several, assigning them randomly.

Estelle was in no rush. Watching the three little ones walking ahead, seemingly fascinated by everything in the village, she raised an eyebrow slightly. "Mr. Sloan, do you have so much free time that you’re here to kill time?"

A smile played on Nathaniel’s lips. "Since Mrs. Sloan is here, how could I not come?"

Besides, he had spent far too little time with Mia and Zachery. Those two little ones called Henry Kendrick "Uncle" with such sweet voices and joyful expressions. But when they saw him, it was just an emotionless "Daddy."

Nathaniel felt a deep sense of crisis. He believed it was necessary to take action, and this parent-child activity was the perfect opportunity.

Estelle stopped in her tracks and suddenly laughed again. She simply wanted to take the three kids out to play. They were always so sensible that it made her heart ache.

Up ahead, the three little ones had set their sights on a particular B&B. It was quite small, with only four rooms. One family had already checked in, leaving just three rooms available. The three kids, along with Estelle and Nathaniel, would definitely need two rooms, leaving one spare.

Estelle had no objections. She was just about to go register when she suddenly heard a woman’s voice.

"Scott, this is Christian’s room. How could you just barge into someone else’s room? Scott, apologize to Christian right now!"

Many people looked over. Estelle and Nathaniel put down the sign-in pens and walked into the crowd. There, they saw Thea looking deeply disappointed, earnestly trying to persuade Scott.

"There are still plenty of rooms here. Scott, can’t you just pick any other room?" Then, Thea turned to apologize. "Christian, I’m so sorry. It’s all Scott’s fault. You can hit him or scold him if you want. It’s my fault for not raising him right, allowing him to turn out like this. Scott, aren’t you going to admit your mistake?"

Scott remained silent, his whole body exuding defiance.

Estelle suddenly felt that something was wrong. She had specialized in child psychology abroad. With a single glance, she could tell that Scott’s psychological state was abnormal. Yet Thea, who supposedly "cared about him," couldn’t see it?

"Scott? Scott? You child, are you still not going to apologize?" Thea’s voice grew louder and louder, as if she were trying to draw everyone’s attention.

And indeed, many parents with their children were now looking their way.

"Is it this Scott York again?"

"What did he do this time?"

"He’s trying to snatch little Christian’s room... This is a B&B, so the rooms are first-come, first-served. Christian’s parents already went to register and put their luggage inside, but this Scott insists on stealing it. Miss York told him to apologize, and he refuses."

"Goodness, he’s really been spoiled rotten by the York family, hasn’t he?"

"The York family is helpless too. After all, Scott’s father, Young Mr. York, passed away... And Young Mr. York was the son of the first wife. Now, no matter how the current Mrs. York treats Young Mr. York’s son, she can’t win. She can’t hit or scold him; she can only cater to his every whim."

"Yeah, if they actually disciplined Scott, they’d probably be accused of abusing the first wife’s biological grandson. They really have no choice..."

"But this Scott is really going too far!"

Thea’s lips curled up slightly, hiding the flash of contempt in her eyes. "Scott, are you still not going to apologize?"

It was perfect if he didn’t apologize. Let everyone see just how unreasonable the first wife’s grandson was!

"Aunt York," a soft yet resolute voice suddenly spoke up.

Christian looked utterly surprised. "Aunt York, what are you talking about?"

A sudden sense of foreboding washed over Thea.