Chapter 171: After All, There’s a Distinction Between Miss York and Me
Chapter 171: Chapter 171: After All, There’s a Distinction Between Miss York and Me
Estelle Lockwood paused mid-bite, raising an eyebrow meaningfully.
Thea York hurried over, her expression full of concern. "Nathaniel, put that down! I’ll get you a wet wipe for your hands."
As she went to get a wet wipe, she lectured Estelle with a helpless air. "Estelle, I know you two haven’t been married long and have spent a lot of time apart, but you really should get to know Nathaniel better. How could you ask him to do something like this?"
"He’d have a hard time refusing you, but he’s a germaphobe. You’re putting him in a difficult position. As his wife, you should be more..."
Before she could finish, Nathaniel Sloan had already picked up another shrimp and was methodically peeling it.
The man was wearing disposable gloves. While most people would make a mess peeling shrimp, looking rather uncivilized, Nathaniel remained graceful, his long, strong fingers moving with ease.
Thea York’s words caught in her throat.
Estelle rested her chin on her hand. "This isn’t the first time Nathaniel has peeled shrimp for me. Why the surprise, Miss York?"
Thea York’s expression stiffened. Her hands, clenched into tight fists, began to tremble faintly.
’How could this be... For Nathaniel to lower himself like this for that woman!’
’She’d only been abroad for a few years. How did things end up like this?’
’It’s not fair!’
Julian Jacobs returned just then and frowned. "Nathaniel, what’s the point of this? Thea used to ask you to peel shrimp for her and you wouldn’t even give her the time of day. What are you doing now? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass her?"
"Not deliberately, no."
Nathaniel Sloan replied coolly, "But surely you both understand the difference between who’s close and who’s not?"
Thea York’s face went deathly pale, and she swayed on her feet.
’The difference between who’s close and who’s not... Does that mean *I’m* the one who’s not close?!’
’But *she* was the one who grew up with Nathaniel! She was the one with the matching family background, the one he was supposed to marry! What does that make Estelle Lockwood? Nothing but a damn homewrecker!’
’But...’ Thea York suppressed the malice in her eyes.
’She wasn’t a fool like Noelle Lockwood. She wouldn’t wear her heart on her sleeve. Look at Noelle—after all those years of fighting, what did she end up with?’
’The title of ’fake heiress’? The reputation of a mistress?’
’Noelle’s mistake was being too impatient, too eager to crush Estelle under her heel. That’s why she lost!’
Thea York forced a smile. "Julian, Nathaniel has a point. They’re a married couple, after all. We shouldn’t get involved."
Estelle glanced at her with a wry, knowing smile.
Zane Grant shot Liam Sloan a look, and Liam, feigning curiosity, asked:
"By the way, Thea, where’s your fiancé? Didn’t he come back with you?"
Thea’s hand froze for a second before she feigned a bashful look. "Oh, him? He’s just so busy overseas. He couldn’t get away to come back with me this time."
’That’s right, she has a fiancé. If Estelle were to act ’jealous’ now, it would just make her look petty and insecure!’
’She has a fiancé, so her relationship with Nathaniel is purely platonic—they’re just good friends. Surely Estelle wouldn’t demand that Nathaniel cut off all his friends, would she?’
Liam Sloan visibly relaxed. ’Thea has a fiancé, so she can’t be interested in my brother. Family crisis averted!’
He muttered under his breath, "What kind of fiancé is that? His fiancée comes all the way home, and he just stays overseas?"
Thea put on a gentle expression. "Yes, I worry about that too. I wonder if he’s eating or sleeping properly without me. After all, I’m usually the one who handles all his meals."
"He’s such a picky eater. He won’t even touch his food unless I’m the one putting it on his plate."
At this, Thea seemed to have a sudden thought. "Oh, by the way, Estelle, how come you aren’t getting any food for Nathaniel? A marriage can’t be one-sided. Nathaniel is peeling shrimp for you, so you should reciprocate. That’s how a relationship lasts."
Nathaniel’s expression darkened.
Estelle, however, simply raised an eyebrow and casually picked up a piece of fish.
Thea quickly interjected, "Estelle, Nathaniel doesn’t eat fish! Pick something else. Honestly, you can’t even take care of him properly. No wonder Uncle Sloan is so worried..."
Thea then took it upon herself to use the serving chopsticks and place some food on Nathaniel’s plate.
"As I recall, Nathaniel has always preferred plainer flavors... Oh, dear. I’m just so used to taking care of everyone, I can’t help but fuss. Don’t mind me, Estelle."
The table fell silent once more.
Estelle’s lips curled into a smirk. She asked Nathaniel slowly, "You don’t eat fish?"
Nathaniel calmly swallowed the piece of fish before lifting his gaze. "I’m just learning today, apparently, that I don’t eat fish."
Estelle shrugged. "Well, Miss York seems to know you so well, and she’s clearly so good at taking care of people. I just assumed she was right."
Thea felt her throat tighten. ’Is Estelle Lockwood actually mocking me?!’
Viciously suppressing her rage and impulse, she looked up again, once more the picture of the gentle and proper heiress of the York Family.
"Oh, it seems Nathaniel’s tastes have changed. My apologies, Estelle. I didn’t mean to. I just assumed... well, it’s been so many years. It’s only natural for one’s palate to change."
"Please don’t mind me, Estelle. Back then, I was the only girl in our group of friends. They’re all like brothers to me, so I always tried to look after them. For a moment, I completely forgot he was married now. How embarrassing."
With that, Thea quickly finished her food, as if trying to hide her disappointment. "I’m finished. It’s getting late, so, Nathaniel... I’ll be going now."
She stood, her head bowed, forcing a brave smile. She looked as if she had suffered some terrible injustice at Imperial Crest but was choosing not to make a fuss for the sake of her "good friend," Nathaniel.
As she was leaving, she added with feigned magnanimity, "Oh, Nathaniel, I didn’t know you were married, so I didn’t prepare a gift. I’ll be sure to make it up to you both in a few days."
Having said her piece, tears welled up in the corners of Thea’s eyes, and she walked away looking utterly wronged.
Julian’s heart ached for her. He raised his voice instinctively, "Nathaniel, you’re just going to let Thea walk out like that?! She just got back to the country, she has nothing arranged! She doesn’t even have a place to stay tonight, and you’re just letting her leave?"
Estelle tapped her fingers on the table, finding the whole situation rather amusing.
’This Julian Jacobs... he knows exactly what Thea is up to, yet he’s still trying to push her and Nathaniel together.’
’Is it because he’s an illegitimate son himself that he’s so eager to facilitate an affair? Hoping to create more bastards in high society?’
Without even glancing at Julian, Nathaniel replied coolly, "The heiress of the York Family has returned. Are you telling me the Yorks don’t have a room for her?"
Julian visibly struggled to contain his anger. "You know what the situation at the York family is like! She can barely survive in that house! There’s no way Thea would go back there to live!"
Nathaniel just looked at Julian quietly. "How so?"
Julian’s voice rose. "Nathaniel, don’t play dumb! Why do you think Thea went abroad in the first place? It was because that woman showed up and forced Uncle York to kick Thea out! The only reason she can even come back now is because that woman is finally dead!"
"She may be dead, but the York family’s mansion is still full of her people, and she left a daughter behind! If Thea goes back there, she’ll just be bullied!"