Chapter 176: Estelle Lockwood: I’m Very Understanding
Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Estelle Lockwood: I’m Very Understanding
Christian was shocked. "Aunt York, what did you just say?"
Before Thea York could speak, he said very seriously, "I’m sorry, Aunt York. I may be little, but I know you can’t just claim to be family with anyone. We only have one mommy."
Thea York was about to die from anger, her expression almost cracking, but she still feigned a look of someone charmed by a cute child. "Alright, alright, I won’t say any more. But Nathaniel, we’re such good friends. What’s wrong with having your son call me his godmother?"
Christian said earnestly, "Aunt York, it’s not that I don’t want you as my godmother. It’s just that all the other women who called themselves my godmother wanted to take my mommy’s place and marry my daddy. So, I’m a little scared."
The little boy finished in a voice full of innocence, then tilted his head. "But I’m sure Aunt York isn’t that kind of person, right? Aunt York and Daddy are ’good friends,’ and good friends don’t try to steal each other’s partners, do they?"
Thea York took a deep breath before forcing a smile. "Of course not. I’m Nathaniel’s good friend. Stealing someone’s partner? I wouldn’t stoop to something like that."
Christian nodded. "Really? Then it’s a deal. You can’t lie to a child. Aunt York, I recorded that, you know."
Thea York almost couldn’t maintain her smile.
She forced herself to calm down. "Nathaniel, I came over to discuss the collaboration project with the York Group. I was wondering when you might be free?"
In that moment, she slipped back into her persona of a poised, powerful businesswoman.
But Nathaniel Sloan didn’t even look up. "Stella York has already been in contact with Luke White."
This time, Thea York couldn’t keep up the act. She clenched her fists tightly. "St-Stella? But this project..."
Luke White stepped forward. "It’s like this, Miss York. The person who originally established this partnership with Evernight Group was Chairman York’s late first wife. Now that she has passed away, it’s only natural for her daughter to take over the project. Does Miss York have an objection, or are you trying to steal the credit from the deceased?"
Thea York almost burst out cursing, her face twisting into a hideous expression for a moment!
’Stella York? They gave the project to Stella York?’
"That’s not what I meant... It’s just, my father said the partnership wasn’t finalized and asked me to come inquire about it. I didn’t realize Stella had already secured it without telling the family, causing my father to misunderstand."
’This green-tea bitch is a real pro,’ Christian pouted. ’With just a few simple words, she’s painted Aunt Stella as a petty person who’s taking all the credit for herself.’
If Christian hadn’t already gotten the gossip from his Uncle Henry Kendrick, he might have actually believed Thea York’s nonsense.
Nathaniel Sloan, however, showed no reaction beyond a simple "Mm." "This project doesn’t need to go through the York Group. Luke White will give Stella York full authority. If there’s nothing else, you can leave."
Thea York managed a strained smile. "Alright, Nathaniel. I’ll be going then. I feel at ease with the project in my sister’s hands. Before, Stella didn’t really understand much, and Father had to help her with everything. This is her first time handling a major project, but I’m sure she’ll do a great job."
Nathaniel didn’t look at her. He turned and picked up Mia. "Where’s your Grandma Kendrick? Do you want to stay and have dinner with Daddy?"
"Grandma Kendrick just sent Mia a message saying she already left~ So we’ll stay here and eat with Daddy."
"Okay, Daddy will take you upstairs. Tell Daddy what you want to eat."
"Okay!"
As their soft voices faded into the distance, Thea York clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms.
’Damn it... Damn it, damn it, damn it!’
’With that lingering ghost Estelle Lockwood now hanging around Nathaniel, when will I ever get to become Mrs. Sloan!’
’And Stella York, why didn’t she just die with her mother!’
...
After the three little ones finished dinner, Mrs. Kendrick came to pick them up.
Nathaniel Sloan reviewed a few more documents when his phone pinged. His eyes darkened as he dialed Estelle Lockwood’s number.
Estelle Lockwood’s voice was languid. "What is it, Mr. Sloan? Is something wrong?"
"It’s nothing major," Nathaniel replied. "The Lockwood family wants to take you back."
Estelle Lockwood was resting on the sofa with her eyes closed. Hearing this, she snapped them open. "Take me back? Isn’t it a little late for them to be putting on a show?"
"Not at all. If you don’t go back, the Lockwoods will never be able to clear their name, and Noelle Lockwood will be a public pariah wherever she goes. But if you, their biological daughter, forgive them, things will be very different."
Estelle Lockwood tapped her fingers lightly on the table.
"Alright then. I’ll play along with the Lockwoods for a while."
’Besides, there are some things I want to investigate at the Lockwood estate anyway.’
’For example, why the grandfather who adopted me after the Lockwoods abandoned me also had the surname Lockwood. And why he was able to find and adopt me on the very day I was thrown away.’
’Grandpa... what was his connection to the Lockwood family? If he was a Lockwood, why couldn’t he return to the family home? For so many years, Grandpa never mentioned the Lockwoods, yet just before he passed, he told me that if I couldn’t hold on anymore, I should go back and see. That maybe someone was waiting for me there.’
’But when I returned to the Lockwood home full of hope for some familial affection, I never found the person Grandpa said would care for me.’
’But Grandpa was so good to me. He would never lie to me or push me into a pit of fire.’
Estelle Lockwood felt that there had to be something going on that neither she nor her grandfather knew about.
She stood up. "Where are the Lockwoods now?"
Nathaniel Sloan said calmly, "They’re already on their way to Star Tower and should be arriving soon. They plan to cause a scene at your company where there are lots of people. Once things blow up and a crowd gathers, they’re counting on you being too thin-skinned to refuse and agreeing to go home with them."
Estelle Lockwood gave a half-smile. "Fine."
"Mrs. Sloan," Nathaniel Sloan said suddenly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Take it easy. Don’t play them to death."
Estelle Lockwood pouted. "Nathaniel Sloan, what kind of person do you take me for? I’m just a poor, pitiful girl who was abandoned by the Lockwoods and craves familial love. Would I ever do something like that to my own birth parents?"
Listening from the side, Luke White breathed a sigh of relief. ’Good, Mrs. Sloan is still being reasonable.’
Then, he heard Estelle Lockwood say:
"I’ve always acknowledged biodiversity. I’m very understanding, okay?"
Nathaniel Sloan: "..."
Luke White: "..."
’Oh, so your ’understanding’ is just you mocking the Lockwoods for not being the same species as you?’
...
Estelle Lockwood timed it perfectly, walking out of Star Tower just in time to see the Lockwoods’ car in the distance.
In the car, Rose Lowell was completely against the idea. "Austin, that little mutt is our daughter. We’re telling her to come home. How could she refuse? Why do we have to come here and apologize? I won’t apologize to her!"
Austin Lockwood frowned. "Then you tell me, what’s your plan to control public opinion?"
Rose Lowell was at a loss for words.
"Dad, Mom, please don’t fight."
Noelle Lockwood’s soft, frail voice chimed in from the side. "I don’t think it’s a bad thing to bring Estelle back. She is your biological daughter, after all. It must be hard for her, living on the outside..."
Estelle Lockwood’s lips curled into a smirk. ’Here we go.’