Chapter 165: Confronting Ethan Sloan: Father, You’re Wrong
Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Confronting Ethan Sloan: Father, You’re Wrong
The moment Mia spoke, the room fell deathly silent.
Laura Jennings’s heart skipped a beat. Realizing what Mia had just said, her expression changed drastically, twisting into something savage and terrifying. "You’re spouting non—"
Before she could finish the word, Ethan Sloan sharply cut her off!
"Mia, how could that be?"
After speaking, he turned and shot Laura Jennings a look. "Laura Jennings! I know you favor your brother’s grandson, but you need to be clear about one thing: Mia and Zachery are your real granddaughter and grandson! How dare you make them defer to Keith Jennings? This is the Sloan residence, not the Jennings’s! Apologize already!"
Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow. ’Why did Ethan Sloan rush to cut Laura Jennings off? Could it be... that what Mia said just now was right?’
Unfortunately, Laura Jennings clearly didn’t get Ethan Sloan’s hint. Her face filled with resentment, she said, "I was just thinking that since Mia and Zachery grew up in... that kind of environment, they wouldn’t know any manners. I just wanted to teach them..."
"Shut up! You have the nerve to say that!" Ethan Sloan seethed. "Mia and Zachery have finally come home, and you’re talking about manners?!"
Laura Jennings averted her gaze, her heart filled with resentment.
’What did I say wrong?’ she thought. ’Isn’t a grandson of the Jennings family more distinguished than Estelle Lockwood’s son?’
But since both Ethan and Iris Sloan were demanding she apologize, she could only do so begrudgingly. "Fine, fine! It was all my fault, happy now?!"
Ethan Sloan took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Zachery, Mia, I’ve had the staff prepare rooms for you. You can come back and visit whenever you have time. Miss Lockwood..."
He looked at Estelle Lockwood. "Now that Zachery and Mia’s identities are public, it’s time for them to be officially acknowledged by the family. Let’s go discuss this."
Estelle Lockwood narrowed her eyes. "Of course."
Ethan Sloan led Estelle Lockwood to another sitting room and ordered a servant to bring them tea.
As soon as Estelle Lockwood caught the aroma of the tea, she knew what Ethan Sloan was planning.
Sure enough, Ethan Sloan lifted his chin slightly, his expression betraying an unconscious air of superiority—a habit from being in a position of power for so long.
In other words, he held Estelle Lockwood in complete contempt.
"Miss Lockwood, how is the tea?"
Estelle Lockwood replied casually, "It’s not bad."
"Then do you know the value of this tea, Miss Lockwood?"
Estelle Lockwood toyed with her teacup. "I’ve heard a thing or two. It’s a Da Hong Pao that goes for 350,000 a pound, right? I saw it at an auction last month. Why?"
Ethan Sloan’s brow furrowed. ’How does she know how much this tea costs? I thought a hick like her would be clueless about tea appreciation.’
But it didn’t matter; that wasn’t his main point anyway.
Ethan Sloan looked meaningfully at the woman who had once been his daughter-in-law. Whether five years ago or today, he had never approved of Estelle Lockwood.
’So what if she’s the true heiress of the Lockwood Family? She wasn’t raised in our circles. How could she ever be worthy of the Sloan Family!’
"Tea that costs 350,000 a pound is an astronomical price to the outside world. An ordinary person could work their entire life and never afford a single sip. But here, in the Sloan Family, this is merely our most ordinary tea. We wouldn’t even think of serving it to guests."
Ethan Sloan’s contempt was palpable. The tea he claimed wasn’t even good enough for guests was what he was serving Estelle Lockwood, and with the air of someone bestowing charity.
Estelle Lockwood laughed softly. "Chairman Sloan, whatever it is you want to say, you might as well be direct."
"You truly are a clever woman, Miss Lockwood. In that case, I’ll be blunt. You are not good enough for Nathaniel, and you are even less worthy of being the mother of my grandchildren!"
"For someone like you, Miss Lockwood, tea like this is a rare delicacy. But for the Sloan Family, it’s no different than mouthwash. My grandchildren are entitled to all of the Sloan Family’s resources; they shouldn’t have a mother as unsophisticated as you."
"Your very existence will only hold them back!"
Estelle Lockwood took another sip of tea.
’Tea that costs 350,000 a pound really isn’t a big deal for a truly wealthy family,’ she thought. ’So where exactly is Ethan Sloan’s sense of superiority coming from?’
"That’s quite a statement, Chairman Sloan."
Estelle Lockwood smiled coolly, her eyes completely devoid of the fear one might expect when facing a man of his stature. "I can find them a new father, and I could even find them a new grandfather. But a mother can never be replaced. Wouldn’t you agree?"
As her words landed, Ethan Sloan’s expression flickered. "Miss Lockwood, are you insisting on doing this the hard way?"
Estelle Lockwood rested her chin on her hand, a fearless, beaming smile on her face. "Oh, and by the way, Chairman Sloan, you may not know this, but I actually learned that line from Ms. Jennings."
"Everyone says Ms. Jennings got where she is by being the mistress, but you, Chairman Sloan, remained true to your heart and married her. The reason you gave the public was that you didn’t want your child to be without a mother."
Estelle Lockwood’s smile grew brighter. "So, after Ms. Jennings successfully climbed her way up from being the mistress, the blame for driving the original wife to her death was pinned right on Nathaniel Sloan’s head..."
"Following your own logic, regardless of a mother’s status or the methods she used to secure her position, she must remain by her child’s side for their well-being. That’s why you ignored all the opposition and insisted on bringing Laura Jennings into the family."
Estelle Lockwood said meaningfully, "Since that’s the case... Chairman Sloan, why ever do you find me so unacceptable?"
Ethan Sloan’s expression was rigid, the muscles in his jaw twitching. He glared at Estelle Lockwood, wishing his gaze could burn a hole right through her.
’No, I can’t let her lead me astray!’
Ethan Sloan took a deep breath, his smile not reaching his eyes. "Miss Lockwood, to be perfectly honest, considering your sophistication and character, I can only rest easy if the children are raised away from you. Just look at Zachery and Mia! Look at what your ’upbringing’ has done to my grandchildren!"
"However, I’m willing to offer you an opportunity. If you agree to leave Nathaniel of your own free will, I can ensure you’re taken care of for the rest of your life. And, Miss Lockwood, I will give you ten million."
As Ethan Sloan spoke, his tone dripped with contempt.
"You may not be aware, Miss Lockwood, but Nathaniel’s childhood sweetheart, Miss York, has returned. The heiress of the York Family grew up alongside Nathaniel, and he will grant her any request without question."
"Now the Yorks are back, and they’ve proposed a marriage alliance. What do you suppose, Miss Lockwood? Do you think Nathaniel will agree?"
Ethan Sloan’s tone was heavy with implication. "If you leave now, you might at least leave Nathaniel with the impression that you’re a sensible woman. Then, in the future, when he remembers you or speaks of you to the children, he’ll say that Miss Lockwood was magnanimous."
"But if you insist on fighting over this, what do you think you will become in Nathaniel’s eyes?"
"Miss Lockwood, you must understand. Even the most cherished memory can sour over time, turning from a treasure into an annoyance. It’s best to quit while you’re ahead. Do you understand?"
After speaking, he fixed Estelle Lockwood with a profound, inscrutable gaze—an expression that communicated: if you don’t agree, you’re a fool, you’re unsophisticated, and you’ll be the one losing out.
Estelle Lockwood’s fingertips tapped lightly on the tabletop.
’So, Ethan Sloan’s plan was to play mind games.’
Seconds ticked by. Ethan Sloan, feeling victory was within his grasp, continued, "Getting married only to be abandoned again... that would be quite humiliating. I think..."
"Father, you’re mistaken."
Suddenly, the doors to the sitting room flew open, and a crisp, masculine voice sliced through the tension!