Chapter 170: This Tea Flavor Is Really Overflowing
Chapter 170: Chapter 170: This Tea Flavor Is Really Overflowing
"Nathaniel, what’s the meaning of this? Why are you suddenly kicking people out?" Julian Jacobs frowned. "Are you really going to kick out a friend of so many years just because I sat in this woman’s seat!?"
"Seriously, Nathaniel? It’s just a seat. So what if she’s not sitting next to you? You have me and Thea next to you now. Is she that insecure about Thea that she has to monopolize you to be happy?"
Julian’s tone grew more mocking. "Miss Lockwood, please don’t get needlessly jealous. Thea is Nathaniel’s best bud. She’s not going to steal your man!"
"If anything were going to happen between Thea and Nathaniel, it would have happened long ago. The title of Mrs. Sloan would never have been yours! Thea, sit down. Ignore her!"
Estelle Lockwood crossed her arms, leaning back against the sofa. She finally understood why this ’friend,’ Julian, who hadn’t shown his face in ten years, had suddenly appeared at Imperial Crest today.
’So he and Thea York are playing good cop, bad cop.’
Julian was the one who had snatched the seat, an indefensible act, yet he was skillfully pinning the blame on Estelle.
’Best bud... so this is what a ’best bud’ is?’
Julian hadn’t expected Nathaniel Sloan to make such a big deal out of this trivial matter. "No wonder Thea told me not to come before I got here. She said your wife would be unhappy if I did."
Julian shot Estelle a meaningful look. "Nathaniel, you’re not really going to throw away our years of friendship for a woman, are you?"
The living room fell silent for a good thirty seconds.
Liam Sloan was confused. ’How can this guy be so clueless?’
Zane Grant’s expression also turned cold. Julian was the illegitimate son of the Keaton Family, and his actions were always shady. Still, he hadn’t expected him to cause a scene here!
Nathaniel Sloan was calm. "Julian, who gave you the confidence to think you’re more important than Estelle?"
He asked Estelle, "Are they welcome here?"
Estelle blinked, her gaze meeting Thea York’s and catching the fleeting malice in them. "Young Mr. Jacobs might not be the brightest, but he was right about one thing."
"You are here, and you are not welcome."
Thea York’s breath hitched.
Julian flew into a rage, slamming his chopsticks down. SLAM! "Estelle Lockwood, you’re shameless, aren’t you! I’m a guest in Nathaniel’s home. What right do you have to not welcome me—"
"On the grounds that she is my lady, my wife, and the mistress of Imperial Crest."
Nathaniel Sloan looked at him coolly. "Her meaning is my meaning."
"You... you..." Julian was speechless.
Thea York suddenly put down her chopsticks, stood up, and took a deep breath. She forced a pained smile. "I’m so sorry, I... I suddenly don’t feel well. I’m going to step outside. Please don’t fight because of me. Julian, hurry up and apologize..."
With that, she stumbled out of the room.
Nathaniel Sloan didn’t even lift an eyelid. "Suit yourself."
Julian was incredulous. "Nathaniel Sloan! Thea’s not feeling well, and you don’t even care? Miss Lockwood’s skills are truly impressive. She can sow discord in our decade-plus friendship with just a few words. I’m impressed!"
Nathaniel Sloan remained perfectly unruffled. He had Ms. Riddle replace the utensils and served Estelle some food. "Mrs. Kendrick said you didn’t eat much tonight. I made these dishes especially for you. Have a few bites."
Estelle’s eyes glinted with a half-smile. "Mr. Sloan, they are your friends, after all. Isn’t it a bit much to kick them out like this? What if people start talking and call me a femme fatale?"
Nathaniel Sloan said languidly, "They’ll be back."
Estelle blinked.
Zane Grant also chuckled. "Indeed. It’s better to get some things out in the open. Liam, when Thea comes back, ask her about her fiancé."
"I recall the York Family wanted to arrange a marriage between Thea and Nathaniel. Nathaniel refused many times. The main reason he was finally able to become friends with her was that Thea got engaged."
"Since she was engaged, a marriage alliance was impossible. Thea also told Nathaniel that she was long over him, which is why they could be ’friends’."
Zane was explaining this for Estelle’s benefit, but he directed his words to Liam Sloan. "When she gets back, ask her why her fiancé didn’t return to the country with her."
Liam Sloan sensed something was off, and a strange feeling stirred within him. He wasn’t an idiot; Julian’s tirade had been far too pointed.
...
「Outside.」
Julian chased after her. "Thea, are you okay? Nathaniel is going too far! To disregard his friendship with you for some woman! What woman could be so important?"
Tears streamed down Thea York’s face as she shook her head helplessly.
"Thea, don’t cry!" Julian panicked, his hatred for Estelle Lockwood deepening.
Thea York hastily wiped away her tears, feigning strength. "Julian, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. It’s okay..."
Hearing Thea still speaking up for them, a surge of rage washed over Julian. "Why are you crying? Did Estelle Lockwood bully you? You helped her when someone was trying to frame her, but she repays your kindness with enmity! What a despicable bitch!"
Thea persuaded him through her tears, "It’s alright, Julian. Don’t antagonize her for my sake... Miss Lockwood is very clever with her tactics, in ways I could never learn. You see how much Nathaniel cares about her. Please don’t fight with her, okay...?"
"Right now, I just want to quietly stay by Nathaniel’s side, in any capacity... Julian, let’s go back. Let’s not make this too ugly."
Thea’s words were laden with hidden meaning. "If my parents or Uncle Sloan find out about this, they’ll surely reprimand Miss Lockwood. Her reputation would suffer, and that wouldn’t be good..."
Julian calmed down, his eyes shifting as he considered this.
’That’s actually a great idea. Estelle Lockwood is being so unreasonable; everyone needs to know about it!’
Thea hinted, "Actually, Miss Lockwood seemed to dislike me the moment she saw me. I feel sorry for her, really. It’s probably because of Noelle Lockwood. She must not have much confidence in her relationship with Nathaniel, so whenever she sees another woman near him, she assumes someone is trying to steal him away."
"But Julian, you know me. Even though I like Nathaniel, I never had any intention of being the mistress. Nathaniel and I are just purely good friends."
"If Miss Lockwood can’t even tolerate a good friend like me, what will other people think of her?"
A plan formed in Julian’s mind.
’That’s right!’
’Thea helped Estelle Lockwood, but Estelle despises her.’
’What right does a woman like that have to be Mrs. Sloan? He had to spread the word and make Estelle Lockwood give up her position sooner rather than later!’
"Thea, you go on ahead. I need to make a call."
A glint appeared in Thea York’s eyes as she smiled faintly. "Okay."
...
「At the dinner table.」
Estelle Lockwood found the shrimp a bit difficult to peel. Seeing this, Nathaniel Sloan peeled one for her and placed it in her bowl.
The first thing Thea York saw upon re-entering was this very scene. Her breath caught, and she hurried forward.
"Estelle, how could you let Nathaniel peel shrimp for you? What are you doing? Don’t you know he’s a germaphobe?"