Chapter 174: Christian Comes to Find Daddy
Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Christian Comes to Find Daddy
Nathaniel Sloan narrowed his eyes, his gaze icy as he studied Ethan Sloan.
’How strange.’
His father was obsessed with ’propriety.’ Even when Laura Jennings was taken to the police station, Ethan Sloan had never looked so ferocious.
But now, simply because he had rejected the plan to acquire Stella York’s shares, Ethan Sloan could no longer contain himself.
"Uncle Sloan, let me. Please wait a moment, I’ll go make some tea now."
Thea York said with a smile, her tone playfully chiding. It sounded like she was teasing Estelle Lockwood, but in reality, she was subtly trying to make her look bad.
"It’s so early—only eight o’clock. Estelle probably isn’t even up yet. You know how young people like to sleep in. I picked up the habit of jogging in the morning when I was abroad, so I get up early. I’m sure Estelle doesn’t, so we should just let her sleep. In any case, I know my way around Imperial Crest. I can just make the tea."
Ethan Sloan sighed in satisfaction. "Thea, you’re such a good kid."
Then he couldn’t help but frown. "Nathaniel, if you’re not going to divorce her, you at least need to teach her some manners. She loves to sleep in, but how can she keep sleeping when an elder like me is visiting? I’m your father, so I won’t hold it against her. But what will people think if they find out she has no upbringing!"
Thea York’s lips curved into a faint smile.
But Nathaniel Sloan set his teacup down, his eyes turning glacial. Before he could speak, a woman’s voice, teasing and nonchalant, drifted down from the stairs.
"Nathaniel, why didn’t you tell me last night that Chairman Sloan and Miss York were coming today?"
Nathaniel’s fingers paused. "It was a last-minute decision. I didn’t know beforehand."
Estelle feigned a pout. "Well, you could have woken me up. How could you let our guests wait? And even make them prepare their own tea? That’s so rude."
Nathaniel hummed in agreement. "They only arrived two minutes ago. There wasn’t time to wake you."
"Oh, so Chairman Sloan didn’t give any notice yesterday, and he only just arrived two minutes ago?"
Estelle feigned surprise. "I thought Chairman Sloan had announced to the whole world last night that he was coming to Imperial Crest today and that he’d arrived bright and early. That’s why I was worried I’d been a poor hostess."
Estelle sighed, looking troubled. "But Chairman Sloan didn’t give any advance notice, and he just walked through the door, yet he expects me to have hot tea ready and waiting to serve you."
"I would’ve loved to, but I’m just an ordinary person. I can’t read your mind. It’s truly my failure as a daughter-in-law for not serving you well."
...
The air fell silent.
Ethan Sloan immediately realized Estelle was mocking him, and his expression darkened. "Such a sharp tongue!"
Estelle smoothed her hair. "Thank you for the compliment."
Ethan Sloan looked at Nathaniel Sloan and threw out a cold command. "In any case, handle this matter with the York family! Thea was your childhood friend. If she can’t inherit the York Group, it’ll be an embarrassment for you, too. Thea, let’s go."
Thea York gave Nathaniel a helpless nod. "I’m sorry, Nathaniel. My sister Stella has been putting on a lot of pressure lately, and Uncle Sloan is just anxious... Please don’t take it to heart. Estelle, I’m so sorry. You should go back upstairs and get some more rest."
Estelle watched Thea York’s retreating back and said languidly, "Mr. Sloan, I suggest you get a DNA test when you have a moment."
Nathaniel retracted his gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Before, I thought Laura Jennings seemed more like Noelle Lockwood’s real mother. Now, I’m starting to think Ethan Sloan is Thea York’s real father. In short, neither of them seems to treat you like their son."
As Estelle spoke, she gave Nathaniel a meaningful look. "Are you really their biological child?"
Nathaniel’s eyes glinted with amusement, a hidden meaning in his tone. "It certainly doesn’t seem like it."
Just as Estelle was about to nod, she heard Nathaniel continue:
"Two fools like them couldn’t have produced me."
Estelle: "..."
’How are you managing to praise yourself right now?!’
’Then again, he’s not wrong.’
’Forget Ethan Sloan. Could a woman with Laura Jennings’s personality, her brain, and her habit of screaming herself hoarse really give birth to a son like Nathaniel?’
’But if Nathaniel isn’t Laura Jennings’s biological son, then who is his real mother?’
...
「Several hours later, at Evernight International.」
Nathaniel Sloan finished signing a document. Luke White knocked on the door. "Sir, Miss Thea York is here to see you."
Without looking up, Nathaniel said, "Send her away."
Luke White nodded. Just as he was about to relay the order, he turned and his expression changed. "Miss York, how did you get up here?"
Thea York acted perfectly natural and familiar. "What’s wrong? Am I not allowed? Everyone here knows me, so of course I came right up. Luke, it’s been a while. You can head out first. I just want to have a quick word with Nathaniel."
Luke White instinctively tried to stop her. "Miss York..."
"Go inspect the twentieth floor. Luke, get ready," Nathaniel suddenly said.
"Yes, sir!" Luke White replied immediately. After answering, he turned to Thea York with an apologetic smile. "Miss York, the president is busy with other matters. Perhaps you could wait in the lounge, or I can have someone escort you back to the York Group?"
Thea maintained her carefree demeanor. "I can just go with Nathaniel. It’s not like I haven’t accompanied him on inspections before. We’re old pals, it’s fine."
Nathaniel’s voice was cold. "Go back."
Thea acted as if she didn’t understand and followed him into the elevator. "Nathaniel, why are you being so formal with me all of a sudden? We’ve been such good friends for so many years, there’s nothing I haven’t seen you do. By the way, isn’t Estelle coming to the office with you?"
The elevator arrived on the twentieth floor. The department head was already waiting, and he was stunned to see Thea York in the elevator as well.
Soon, the news that Thea York had come to the company and was acting very intimately with Mr. Sloan spread like wildfire.
The three little ones, wearing adorable little backpacks, heard the news the moment they walked into the company.
Christian’s brow furrowed slightly.
Mia leaned in and whispered, "Young Master, what’s going on? Who is that Miss York?"
Christian had corrected them many times that he was their older brother, not the "Young Master," but the other two couldn’t break the habit. Now, the title had become an exclusive nickname used only by Zachery and Mia.
He hadn’t heard the name Thea York before, but he knew of the York family’s illegitimate daughter. His "bad grandpa" had mentioned her time and again and had even called her. Christian had secretly overheard a few snippets, and her green-tea act was on par with Noelle Lockwood’s.
So, Christian found a fitting description: "She’s even more of a green-tea type than I am."
Mia immediately grew serious and sat up straight. ’More of a green-tea type than the Young Master? Just how much of a green-tea type is she?’
Christian said to the receptionist, "Where’s our daddy? We want to see him."
The receptionist already knew these three were Mr. Sloan’s children and nodded at once. "President Sloan is on the twentieth floor. I’ll take you there right now."
...
「Twentieth Floor.」
After the department head finished his report, Nathaniel Sloan looked around. Evernight International was massive, and there had been a past incident where a manager had embezzled funds, claiming employee benefits from the break rooms and pantries for themselves. That’s why Nathaniel would take the time to conduct spot checks.
Once the inspection was over, Thea York said with a smile, "Nathaniel, why do you have to handle such a minor thing yourself? If your assistants and secretaries can’t do it, then I say you should have Estelle come. If the boss’s wife is doing the inspection, who would dare to slack off?"