Chapter 51: Just Waiting to Fall into Nathaniel’s Arms

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Just Waiting to Fall into Nathaniel’s Arms

Noelle tacitly accepted the title of ’Mrs. Sloan’ and put on a considerate front. "Nathaniel, don’t blame the manager of Rosalind Garden. He only let me in because of these documents."

Rosalind Garden was closed to all visitors; without Nathaniel Sloan’s permission, no one was allowed inside. Yet, here Noelle Lockwood was, respectfully addressed as Mrs. Sloan and carefully catered to. The manager was deeply moved by her words. Mrs. Sloan was such a kind person!

After speaking, Noelle Lockwood bit her lower lip and looked at Nathaniel Sloan with expectant eyes. She thought, "He wouldn’t embarrass me in front of so many people, right? As long as he doesn’t contradict me..."

To her surprise, Nathaniel Sloan suddenly lifted his gaze, his eyes icy. "What kind of Mrs. Sloan are you? Did you appoint yourself?"

Noelle Lockwood’s face instantly drained of color.

A heavy silence fell over the surroundings. Mr. Foster, the manager who had just been sucking up to Noelle Lockwood, exchanged glances with the other staff members. A cold sweat broke out on their backs. They wondered, "What does President Sloan mean? Is Noelle Lockwood not Mrs. Sloan?"

Noelle Lockwood’s hands suddenly clenched into fists, but she maintained her gentle facade and hurriedly explained, "I’m sorry, Nathaniel. When your mother introduced me to them, she called me Mrs. Sloan. I just didn’t want to embarrass her, so I didn’t correct them." Turning to the manager, she added, "Mr. Foster, I’m not Mrs. Sloan just yet. You can simply call me by my name."

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes darkened further. He was about to interrupt when he suddenly thought of something and looked over at Estelle Lockwood. Seeing her completely indifferent expression, his lips gradually pressed into a tight line.

Estelle Lockwood was already feeling unwell. Between her carsickness and her churning stomach, hearing Noelle Lockwood’s manipulative, two-faced drivel only made her want to throw up even more. She thought, "Not Mrs. Sloan just yet? Noelle Lockwood truly has mastered the art of manipulation."

"Miss Yara Lockwood, what’s wrong?" Noelle Lockwood acted as if she had only just noticed Estelle Lockwood. She stepped forward anxiously and said, "Are you carsick? Hurry inside and rest. I’ll have someone bring you some medicine."

Estelle Lockwood’s eyes remained completely cold.

Noelle Lockwood turned her head to playfully reproach Nathaniel, putting on an air of extreme intimacy with Nathaniel Sloan. "Nathaniel, if I had known, I would have come with you. At least with me around, I could have taken care of Miss Yara Lockwood." Looking at Estelle Lockwood with feigned helplessness, she continued, "Miss Yara Lockwood, Nathaniel has no idea how to take care of people. You must have suffered on this trip. He doesn’t even care about his own health, let alone anyone else’s."

Every word Noelle Lockwood spoke dripped with an ostentatious display of her familiarity with Nathaniel Sloan. Estelle Lockwood had heard similar remarks plenty of times. In the past, Noelle Lockwood had always relied on the fact that she had grown up with Nathaniel Sloan to flaunt her status in front of the actual Mrs. Sloan. She used to say, "Sister, you don’t understand Nathaniel. When he starts working, he never stops and completely neglects his health. I’m the only one who can talk any sense into him."

Estelle Lockwood let out a sneer. Without bothering to acknowledge her, she cast a mild glance at Nathaniel Sloan. "President Sloan, you should handle your ’family matters’ first. I’ll head inside."

Nathaniel Sloan shifted his gaze to her, his tone calm. "The meeting is delayed by half an hour. Take some time to recover your energy." Estelle Lockwood didn’t refuse.

As the two conversed, there seemed to be a natural barrier around them, isolating everyone else. Nathaniel Sloan didn’t even seem to realize that the way he looked at Estelle Lockwood was entirely different from how he looked at anyone else.

A sudden wave of crisis washed over Noelle Lockwood. She wished she could tear this woman to shreds and ruin her reputation! She thought, "No... I have to do something. Otherwise, this Yara Lockwood will end up walking all over me!"

"Miss Lockwood, I know this place well. Let me take you to rest!" Noelle Lockwood quickly stepped forward, maintaining her gentle facade. However, just as she reached Estelle Lockwood’s side, she suddenly let out a yelp. Her entire body tilted backward, on the verge of falling right into Nathaniel Sloan’s arms—

THUD.

In the nick of time, someone caught Noelle Lockwood. She rejoiced inwardly. She thought, "I fell toward Nathaniel Sloan on purpose, so the person catching me must be Nathaniel!" Emboldened by this thought, Noelle Lockwood bit her lower lip and cast several deliberate glances at Estelle Lockwood. "Miss Yara Lockwood, did you lose your balance because you were feeling unwell? It’s my fault, I should have been supporting you. I’m fine, though. Please, everyone, don’t blame Miss Yara Lockwood."

Not a single word outright accused Estelle Lockwood of pushing her, yet every syllable was designed to tell the onlookers that it was entirely Estelle Lockwood’s fault.

Estelle Lockwood coolly lifted her eyes, but when she saw who had actually caught Noelle Lockwood, she froze in astonishment.

Her face flushed with feigned shyness, Noelle Lockwood thanked the person holding her from behind. "Nathaniel, thank you for saving me. But you should hurry inside. Don’t worry about me."

The expressions of everyone around them stiffened. Even the manager who had just been kissing up to Noelle Lockwood looked incredibly awkward. Completely oblivious, Noelle Lockwood deliberately continued to show off her supposed intimacy with Nathaniel Sloan. "Nathaniel, let me go, I’m really fine. Miss Yara Lockwood is the one who looks unwell. You should go take care of her..."

"Noelle Lockwood, it seems you’re thanking the wrong person." A teasing male voice interrupted Noelle Lockwood’s coy act, carrying a meaningful undertone. "Miss Lockwood, why don’t you turn around and take a look? Are you really so certain that Nathaniel Sloan is the one who saved you?"

She thought, "This voice..."

Noelle Lockwood’s face underwent a drastic change. Stiffly, inch by inch, she turned her head. Henry Kendrick was standing directly in front of Nathaniel Sloan, completely blocking him from view. He smiled innocently. "Miss Lockwood, I’m sorry to disappoint you."

He had just parked his car when he heard Noelle Lockwood’s remarks. Henry Kendrick’s fiery temper instantly flared up. He thought, "What is she babbling about with her passive-aggressive insinuations? Five years ago, I didn’t know Estelle Lockwood, so I couldn’t help her teach this two-faced snake a lesson. But you think I can’t do it five years later?"

So, the moment he saw Noelle Lockwood repeating her old trick and pretending to fall, Henry Kendrick tapped into an astonishing burst of speed. He sprinted over as fast as he could, shoved Nathaniel Sloan out of the way, and caught Noelle Lockwood himself. Henry Kendrick gave a half-smile. "Come on, Miss Lockwood. I’m waiting for my thank you."

Noelle Lockwood’s face turned ashen! She gritted her teeth furiously, having absolutely no idea where Henry Kendrick had just popped out from! In her perfect scenario, Nathaniel was supposed to catch her, and the bystanders would praise them as a match made in heaven. But now, Henry Kendrick had completely derailed her plan!

Noelle Lockwood’s complexion shifted from pale to green. She could barely suppress the hideous scowl threatening to overtake her features and couldn’t utter a single word for a long time.

Henry Kendrick clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction. "What? Is President Sloan the only one worthy of Miss Lockwood’s gratitude? Someone else helps you and saves you from a fall, and you won’t even show a shred of appreciation? Just a moment ago, when you thought President Sloan saved you, you couldn’t stop thanking him. But now that you realize I’m the one who caught you, you’re looking at me like an enemy..."

Henry Kendrick continued in a hauntingly casual tone, "Miss Lockwood, you didn’t trip on purpose just to fall into Nathaniel Sloan’s arms, did you? Were you hoping everyone would spin a romantic tale of the hero saving the beauty for you and President Sloan?"

In the crowd, a few people subtly nodded in agreement. They thought, "Young Mr. Kendrick actually has a point. Otherwise, why would Noelle Lockwood look so incredibly disappointed?"

Henry Kendrick’s tone turned chilling. "With one strategic fall, not only do you get to stir up gossip between you and President Sloan, but you also manage to sling mud at our Yara. You’re quite the schemer, Noelle Lockwood. You reek of hypocrisy—are you worried people won’t be able to smell it on you?"

He rambled on, not giving anyone a chance to chime in, before suddenly speaking up again as if he had just had an epiphany. "Oh, wait, there really is someone who can’t smell it. Someone who treats a two-faced, manipulative little lotus flower like an absolute treasure. Wouldn’t you agree, President Sloan?"

The crowd remained utterly silent. They thought, "Who would dare to respond to that? Young Mr. Kendrick’s sarcasm couldn’t be any more obvious!"