Chapter 196: "Hah, Immediate Misfortune.

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: "Hah, Immediate Misfortune.

Estelle Lockwood’s attention was drawn over.

Mr. Linton had just mentioned the "Lancaster family." She thought for a moment, then it suddenly clicked—Ethan Sloan’s original wife’s surname was Lancaster, and she came from the prestigious Lancaster Group.

’This Lancaster family... it couldn’t be *the* Lancaster Group, could it?’

Back then, Laura Jennings was the mistress who used her "illegitimate son" to climb the ladder. After the original wife, Miss Lancaster, died under mysterious circumstances, everyone expected the Lancaster family to make a move on Ethan Sloan. They were all waiting for them to teach Laura Jennings, the mistress, a harsh lesson.

But instead, the Lancaster family moved away, turning a blind eye to Miss Lancaster’s death.

More than twenty years had passed. Laura Jennings had long since solidified her position as Mrs. Sloan, and Miss Lancaster’s name was gradually forgotten, rarely ever mentioned.

And now, the Lancaster family was back...

Nathaniel Sloan nodded to show he understood, then asked, "What is Ethan Sloan doing?"

"Chairman Sloan and Ms. Lowell went to the airport in high spirits," Luke White said. "They should have met with the Lancasters by now."

Estelle Lockwood suddenly narrowed her eyes. ’Ethan Sloan and Rose Lowell went to the airport in high spirits... to welcome the Lancasters?’

Although everyone on the outside said the original Miss Lancaster died of illness, everyone knew deep down whether that was the real cause of death or not.

’And the culprits who caused her death—the scumbag Ethan Sloan and the mistress Rose Lowell—are actually welcoming Miss Lancaster’s family, and in high spirits? And the Lancaster family doesn’t mind at all?’

Adding that to the fact that the Lancaster family didn’t seem to care about Miss Lancaster’s death more than two decades ago... Estelle Lockwood couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. ’The waters of high society certainly run deep.’

Nathaniel Sloan scoffed. "How deeply affectionate and loyal of them."

His tone was laced with utter sarcasm.

Luke White inquired, "Sir, do you need me to make any arrangements in advance?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression was unchanged, his tone nonchalant. "That won’t be necessary. Just let the auction proceed as scheduled."

Luke White bowed and excused himself.

Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are the Lancasters here to cause trouble for you, the ’illegitimate son’?"

Nathaniel Sloan gave a noncommittal response. "That’s likely the case."

Estelle Lockwood was curious. "How old were you when Miss Lancaster passed away? Five at the most. How come the Lancaster family is all smiles and friendliness with the scumbag and the mistress, but they want to settle a score with you?"

A faint smile touched Nathaniel Sloan’s lips. "Who knows? Perhaps someone has a guilty conscience."

A sudden theory popped into Estelle Lockwood’s mind. Laura Jennings was exceptionally cruel to Nathaniel, and that cruelty had even extended to Christian. ’Could it be... that Nathaniel isn’t actually Laura Jennings’s son?’

’But if Nathaniel isn’t Laura Jennings’s son, then where did he come from? Why would Ethan Sloan raise an outsider? Unless...’

’Back then, both Miss Lancaster and the mistress, Laura Jennings, were pregnant at the same time. But Miss Lancaster never gave birth to her child, while Laura Jennings gained status through her son, using the illegitimate child to secure her position. Ethan Sloan used the excuse that Miss Lancaster had no children to bring Laura Jennings and ’his son’ home.’

’But was Laura Jennings’s child really her own? And did Miss Lancaster’s son really die?’

Nathaniel Sloan didn’t say more. "Go on back. Mr. Kendrick is still waiting for you."

Estelle Lockwood returned to the private room and had a meal with Enzo Kendrick, mentioning the matter of the Lancaster family midway through.

Enzo Kendrick said, "I just spoke with Nathaniel Sloan. I told him he’d have trouble now that the Lancaster family is back, but he said he isn’t concerned."

Estelle Lockwood asked curiously, "How much do you know about the Lancaster family?"

Enzo Kendrick answered honestly, "I’ve always stayed at the Taoist temple, so I don’t know much about these wealthy, powerful families. But my sister-in-law said that Miss Lancaster was actually quite pitiful. She had no one to rely on in the Lancaster family."

Enzo Kendrick’s sister-in-law was Mrs. Kendrick, Eleanor Vance. Estelle Lockwood nodded, planning to ask her about it later.

After the meal was finished, Nathaniel Sloan’s acquisition of Celestine Pavilion was also complete. Enzo Kendrick coughed softly. "Estelle, I came into a little money recently. Come on, I’ll take you to buy some clothes. I won’t feel at ease until I spend this money."

Enzo Kendrick had left the Kendrick family because his destiny and money were cosmically incompatible. Any money that came into his hands would slip away in some unexpected fashion, so he usually spent it as soon as he got it. Estelle Lockwood was curious. "Who did you do a divination for?"

Enzo Kendrick clucked his tongue. "Yep, a big client. Someone sent over a person’s birth details and eagerly asked me if the person with this chart was their family’s Lucky Star. I took one look and... forget a Lucky Star, this person was practically a Jinx that would bring ruin to their family."

"I told them the truth, and they got angry, cursing at me and saying I was spouting nonsense. But I didn’t refund the fee. Speaking of which, they were quite generous. Five hundred thousand for one reading."

Estelle Lockwood knew that many people in wealthy circles believed in this sort of thing: fortune-telling, feng shui, divination, seeking out masters—they did it all.

’But Lucky Star and Jinx... why does that sound so familiar?’

Nathaniel Sloan acted as their chauffeur, driving them to a shopping mall. After they arrived, Nathaniel went to park the car while Enzo Kendrick led Estelle Lockwood into a store, declaring extravagantly, "Pick whatever you want!"

Estelle Lockwood didn’t plan on spending Enzo Kendrick’s money, but she looked at the clothes anyway.

Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind them.

"Sigh, let’s not talk about it. At the end of the day, we were in the wrong. Our intentions were good, but we didn’t consider the child’s feelings, or Estelle’s. It was all our fault!"

Hearing her name mentioned, Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow.

Then, a fawning middle-aged woman’s voice chimed in, "Mrs. York, you mustn’t say that. In these wealthy families, which child isn’t groomed to take over the family business and learn about the wickedness of the human heart from an early age? You were just doing it for Christian’s own good. As the eldest young master of the Sloan family, how is he supposed to establish himself in the future with that non-confrontational personality of his!"

Mrs. York sighed. "Isn’t that the truth? That’s what Thea and I were thinking, which is why we told him the little lie—that he’d have other brothers in the future who would compete with him for the family inheritance. It was to light a fire under him, but... but..."

"Sigh! Forget it, forget it. It’s someone else’s family matter. No good deed goes unpunished. I’m washing my hands of it!"

The fawning voice sighed along with her. "Young Mr. Christian is still little, so it’s understandable if he doesn’t get it. But for Mrs. Sloan to not understand your and Thea’s good intentions... how tactless! It’s not my place to say, but no wonder the Lockwood family disliked her before. There was a reason for it. If it were me, I wouldn’t like her either!"

"Mrs. Keaton, it’s alright. As one of Nathaniel’s closest friends, all I want is for him and his children to be well. Even if Estelle misunderstands me, I don’t mind."

Estelle Lockwood let out a soft, cold laugh.

Enzo Kendrick: "...?"

Enzo Kendrick’s brows furrowed. ’Have I been living on a mountain for too long? Is this kind of two-faced act what’s popular now?’

’She’s laying it on way too thick! Acting all shy while calling herself his ’bro’... who does she think she’s fooling!’

Besides, they were gossiping behind Estelle’s back, speaking ill of her. Enzo Kendrick immediately turned to look at the group, reading their faces before stating impassively, "Well now. They’re about to have some bad luck."

He didn’t lower his voice, so Mrs. York and Thea York, who were about ten paces away, heard him clearly.

Thea York turned around, feigning surprise. "Estelle?"

Mrs. York frowned and shot a look at Mrs. Keaton. Mrs. Keaton immediately played the part of the pawn, snapping, "Who are you saying is about to have bad luck? Stop cursing people!"