Chapter 167: Miss Lockwood, I’m Sorry, I Didn’t Know Nathaniel Was Married
Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Miss Lockwood, I’m Sorry, I Didn’t Know Nathaniel Was Married
Estelle Lockwood heard the voice and instinctively looked up.
The woman wore an elegant, V-neck long dress and was holding up her phone. Sensing Estelle’s gaze, she smiled. "Don’t be afraid."
The old man trying to pull the scam immediately panicked. With a look of anger and frustration, he scrambled up from the ground. "You—why are you recording? Just my luck! I’m not wasting my time on you!"
With that, he scurried off.
How could the onlookers not understand what had just happened?
"So it was a scam!"
"And I just felt sorry for him a moment ago."
"Thank goodness this young lady helped. She’s a true good Samaritan!"
Estelle nodded in thanks, but the woman just gave a gentle shake of her head. "It was nothing. I just happened to be recording a video when I saw what was happening, so I lent a hand. Please, don’t think anything of it."
Estelle handed her a business card. "Thank you so much. If you ever need help with anything, feel free to contact me."
The woman’s face lit up in a pleasant surprise. "Really? Actually, I do have a problem right now. I’ve been abroad for many years and only just returned. Crestfall has changed so much I hardly recognize it. Do you know how to get to the Aethelgard Villa District?"
The Aethelgard Villa District was a famous, exclusive residential area in Crestfall that spanned two enormous plots of land. Imperial Crest was situated in the very best location within it.
’I can’t believe she lives there too.’
Not suspecting a thing, Estelle said, "You could download a navigation app."
The woman looked surprised. "Oh, is that so? I’ve been abroad for so long, I don’t know about these things."
Estelle didn’t think too much of it. ’It’s true that many foreign apps don’t work here. Still, shouldn’t someone living in the Aethelgard Villa District have a driver?’
As if sensing what was on Estelle’s mind, the woman blushed faintly. "My friend found out I was back and insisted I visit him. He offered to pick me up, but I didn’t want to be a bother, so I told him I’d find my own way. I didn’t expect to get so lost..."
’So that’s how it is.’
Estelle had no intention of prying into the woman’s private affairs. Once she saw the woman get into a car, she left.
She didn’t notice the car window slowly lowering, revealing the woman inside watching her retreating figure. The gentle smile from before had vanished completely.
*
Mrs. Kendrick missed Zachery and Mia, and since Christian was also curious about the Kendrick family, Estelle sent the three little ones to stay with them for a few days.
By the time she returned to Imperial Crest, it was already past eight in the evening.
Imperial Crest was usually dead quiet at this hour, but today it was bustling with activity. Standing at the courtyard gate, Estelle could hear laughter and playful banter from inside, mixed with the fragrant aroma of a home-cooked meal.
"Liam, are you asking for it? Nathaniel’s in the kitchen preparing dinner, so what are you doing out here?"
"I’m just checking on my brother... Don’t you find it a little terrifying that he’s actually cooking?"
Estelle heard Zane Grant’s voice. "Then don’t eat any if you’ve got the guts."
"I don’t, I don’t! Everyone knows that even though my brother rarely cooks, his skills are second to none."
Zane sighed in agreement. "A man as busy as Nathaniel, and he actually knows how to cook. It’s a shame he never steps into the kitchen. If we weren’t blessed by Thea’s presence today, I’m afraid we’d never get to taste it."
It took Estelle a moment to realize that ’Thea’ was a person’s name.
Then came a woman’s light laugh. "What are you two talking about? Hurry up and help bring out the dishes. I made sure Ms. Riddle didn’t have to help today."
Estelle froze. That voice sounded so familiar.
She opened the door, her mind still trying to place the voice.
"Nathaniel, it’s just the four of us tonight. You’ve cooked so much food, I’m almost not used to—"
Her words trailed off as the door opened, and the cheerful laughter seemed to hit a pause button.
Liam’s eyes lit up when he saw Estelle, but before he could speak, the woman said hesitantly, "It’s you..."
Hearing that the four of them were having dinner together, Estelle felt she’d returned at an awkward time. But a moment later, she too was stunned. "It’s you? What a coincidence."
The words on the tip of Liam’s tongue died before they could be spoken. He looked from one woman to the other. "You two know each other?"
Estelle nodded and was about to explain, but the other woman was already smiling.
"Yes, what a coincidence! I saw this young lady dealing with a scammer on the street earlier, so I lent her a hand. I never expected we’d meet again here at Nathaniel’s house."
Estelle was equally surprised by the coincidence and opened her mouth to speak, only to be interrupted again.
The woman made herself comfortable on the sofa at Imperial Crest as if she owned the place, and teased, "Liam, is this your girlfriend? Well, now, you rascal. Hiding such a beautiful girlfriend from me."
Then, playing the part of the hostess, she beckoned to Estelle. "Miss, please, come in. The slippers are by the door. Help yourself to whatever you’d like to drink. Any friend of Liam’s is a friend of mine."
Estelle: "..."
Having been cut off twice, Estelle felt that something was off, though she couldn’t quite put her finger on what was wrong.
Zane choked. Liam’s eyes went wide, and he scrambled forward, looking like he was about to drop to his knees.
"No, no! Thea, my dear, don’t say such things! Are you trying to get me killed?"
Liam hurriedly made the introductions. "Thea, this is my sister-in-law, Estelle Lockwood! Sister-in-law, this is Thea York, the eldest daughter of the York family. She grew up with us; she’s one of the guys!"
Estelle instantly understood who this woman was.
Thea York. The eldest daughter of the York family whom Ethan Sloan had mentioned countless times—the one who was supposed to marry into the Sloan family.
Thea gasped. "Your sister-in-law? But didn’t Nathaniel and his wife divorce a long time ago... Oh, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, my tongue slipped."
Thea smiled and playfully tapped her own lips, then hurriedly explained, "Miss Lockwood, my apologies. I just didn’t realize Nathaniel had gotten married again. The thought never even crossed my mind."
With that, she gave Liam a reproachful tap on the arm and complained in a low voice, "When did Nathaniel get married again? You didn’t tell me, and now I’ve made a fool of myself!"
Zane furrowed his brows, sensing the strange turn the atmosphere had taken.
Liam, that naive puppy, actually thought it was his fault. "No, Thea, this *is* my sister-in-law. My brother only has one wife. What are you talking about?"
Only then did Thea seem to ’cluelessly’ understand. A blush crept up her cheeks. "Oh... you... so you’re Nathaniel’s ex-wife... No, wait, his wife! I’m so embarrassed. I’ve been abroad for too long and haven’t kept up with things. Nathaniel so rarely mentioned you, so I just got confused. I’m truly sorry."
The apology sounded sincere, and her words seemed innocent enough. Paired with her embarrassed expression and flushed cheeks, it was hard to find any fault in her behavior.
But if one were to carefully parse her words, they were quite telling.
A knowing smile played on Estelle’s lips.
’Her words seemed to be hinting at something.’
’For instance, that Nathaniel had been in frequent contact with her all these years, yet never once mentioned his wife. Which led her to believe he was either long divorced or simply didn’t care about his spouse.’
’If she had said that to anyone else, it would have been one thing.’
’But for Thea York to say it right to her face—to ’Mrs. Sloan’ herself...’
"It’s all right. Let’s reintroduce ourselves properly. Hello, Miss Lockwood. I’m Nathaniel’s childhood friend—practically one of the guys."