Chapter 172: Warped Morals Are an Illness That Must Be Cured
Chapter 172: Chapter 172: Warped Morals Are an Illness That Must Be Cured
Estelle Lockwood stood to the side, enjoying the drama.
In truth, she had never paid attention to the York Family’s affairs, so she didn’t know what Julian Jacobs meant by "the woman."
But the more Julian Jacobs spoke, the more he seemed to feel sorry for Thea York. "Thea lived in the York residence since she was born, the rightful Heiress of the Yorks. To suddenly be driven away when some woman showed up with her child—how wronged Thea must feel!"
"Now that woman is dead, and Uncle York despises her child. That should be a good thing, but people outside are saying Thea stole someone else’s identity and status. Isn’t that just nonsense? Don’t they understand the principle of first come, first served?"
"If you ask me, Uncle York should have kicked that woman’s daughter out too and left the York Family clean for Thea! And look at this now—Thea has a home she can’t return to. That bitch, causing trouble for Thea even in death!"
The more Estelle Lockwood listened, the more something felt off.
She glanced at Zane Grant and saw him frowning. Liam Sloan looked completely incredulous, as if his entire worldview was collapsing.
A coldness like the dead of winter settled in Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes. "Julian, are you saying that to welcome Thea York, the illegitimate daughter, back to the country, and to celebrate Chairman York’s mistress of over twenty years finally securing her position, Chairman York should kick out the legitimate daughter born to his original wife?"
Julian Jacobs stated it as if it were obvious. "That’s exactly how it should be! That woman refused to divorce him, hogging the title of Mrs. York. She was just making things difficult for Thea. She should have died long ago!"
Estelle Lockwood understood now and sneered inwardly.
’I knew Julian Jacobs had a twisted sense of morality, but I never imagined it was this warped!’
Thea York is the illegitimate daughter, yet she enjoyed the best the York Family had to offer from the day she was born. Meanwhile, the actual original wife and her legitimate daughter, the true heiress, were left to fend for themselves. When they returned to the York Family, Chairman York was forced to take his wife back, and suddenly, Thea was the one playing the victim.
The original wife wasn’t even cold in her grave before Chairman York eagerly brought his mistress and illegitimate daughter home—an act that was already chilling.
And what was Julian Jacobs saying? He was saying the original wife and legitimate daughter should have just died, and died sooner. If they had, Thea York would have long been the proper young miss of the York Family.
What a joke!
Nathaniel Sloan’s expression was indifferent, his eyes sharp. "Is this what both you and Thea York think?"
Julian didn’t notice that Nathaniel had used Thea York’s full name. He saw nothing wrong with his own line of thinking. "Yeah, Thea told me about it when she was abroad. It’s so unfair. That damn woman and her daughter get to stay and enjoy the luxuries of the York Family while Thea was forced to go overseas..."
"I see." Nathaniel Sloan’s lips slowly curled into a smirk. "So what Thea York tells me is completely different from what she actually thinks."
Julian froze. "Nathaniel, what do you mean?"
"Chairman York built his fortune with the help of his original wife. But after his father-in-law passed away, he started cheating frequently and had Thea York with his mistress. Everything the York Family owns should, by right, belong to Stella York."
Nathaniel’s tone was calm, his expression flat. "He built his fortune on the back of Mrs. York, so leaving the family assets to Mrs. York’s daughter is perfectly reasonable. What right do a mistress and an illegitimate daughter have to a piece of the pie?"
Julian Jacobs was utterly shocked!
Julian Jacobs was also an illegitimate son. For his entire life, he had believed that everything the Keaton Family owned should be his. After all, his father loved his mother so much; he only married that worthless creature, his original wife, for her money!
The one who isn’t loved is the real third wheel. That’s why Julian felt he was naturally a cut above Young Mr. Keaton—whose mother, after all, wasn’t the favored one?
Julian felt he and Thea York were kindred spirits. They were the ones who should be the rightful heirs, but they were constrained by convention, something these common people could never understand.
But Nathaniel Sloan, of all people, should have understood!
Julian was furious. "Nathaniel Sloan, what are you trying to say? The York Family should have belonged to Thea from the start. What did I say that was wrong? Those original wives and legitimate children... they aren’t loved! People like that have no value in this world!"
"On the other hand, people like me and Thea, we were born of love! We were born to be fortunate! Besides, Nathaniel Sloan, aren’t you an illegitimate son, just like us?!"
Having said his piece, Julian felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
But Nathaniel Sloan just scoffed, his gaze turning cold. "True, I am an illegitimate son. That’s why I have never asked for a single cent from the Sloan Family. And you?"
Julian’s expression suddenly stiffened, and his bravado deflated by half. "But... but without Aunt Jennings, you... you..."
Liam Sloan couldn’t take it anymore. He was utterly shocked, his fists itching for a fight.
’How did I not realize what an absolute scumbag Julian was before?’ he thought. ’You’d have to be brain-dead to say something like that!’
"Laura Jennings?" Nathaniel Sloan studied Julian coolly, as if he’d suddenly figured out the real purpose of his visit. Besides pleading Thea York’s case, there was probably another reason.
Nathaniel’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Go back and tell Laura Jennings to stop having such pipe dreams. She should use her free time to read a book or two. Don’t be so uncultured after climbing the ladder for over twenty years, unable to answer a single question and embarrassing the Sloan Family she’s so desperate to be a part of."
"You... you—" Julian seemed to have something caught in his throat. "You’re heartless! Aunt Jennings is so good to you, how could you..."
"Brother, we should find some time to get Julian and our parents to do a DNA test."
Liam Sloan suggested this with a friendly, innocent look on his face. "Maybe he’s my mom’s long-lost illegitimate son. Otherwise, how would he know things that even I don’t?"
Liam asked in mock surprise, "When was Mom ever good to you? Does Dad know about this?"
Estelle Lockwood: "..."
Estelle Lockwood tried not to laugh, but Liam Sloan’s words were just too savage! Julian’s entire face was contorted with rage.
Seemingly unable to win the argument against Nathaniel, Julian panted, gritting his teeth. "Nathaniel, I mean well! Even if it’s despicable that Aunt Jennings got her position by being the mistress, you’re her son! You’ve enjoyed so many benefits because of her, you can’t just mistreat her!"
Nathaniel’s lips curled into a slow smile. That was indeed true.
’If Laura Jennings really were his biological mother, he truly couldn’t mistreat her. Or rather, anyone else could condemn her, but he, as her son, could not.’
’But what if... he wasn’t?’
The thought spun in his mind for a few seconds before Nathaniel coolly averted his gaze. "Show him out."
"Nathaniel Sloan, you—" Julian acted as if he had suffered a grave insult. "You don’t have to kick me out, I’ll leave myself!"
Nathaniel nodded. "Then get lost."
"You—"
Julian finally left the villa, muttering curses under his breath. The moment he got in his car, he eagerly called Thea York. "Thea, Nathaniel doesn’t care about you at all! He actually thinks the York Family’s assets should go to Stella York. He’s changed... What? You’re saying you don’t want to fight for it, and you want to be friends with Estelle Lockwood?"
Thea York’s helpless voice came through the phone, "Don’t be so hostile toward Estelle. She’s not a bad person..."
...
Back in her room, Estelle Lockwood looked up the situation with the York Family and let out a "tsk."
It was obvious that the person Ethan Sloan wanted Nathaniel Sloan to form a marriage alliance with was Thea York, not the true heiress of the York Family, Stella York.
Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Penelope Sullivan: [You’re trending. What’s going on? How did you get involved with the York Family?]
Estelle Lockwood raised a curious eyebrow and clicked on the trending topics.