Chapter 198: Nathaniel, Miss York Says She’s Your ’Good Brother

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Nathaniel, Miss York Says She’s Your ’Good Brother

Mrs. York also laughed. "It’s not good to lie. Just as I’d expect from someone raised in the countryside—you’ll do anything to save face."

Estelle Lockwood looked up calmly. "Doesn’t Mrs. York know the manager? You could just ask and find out."

Mrs. York and Thea York exchanged a look, their expressions turning ugly.

’Why is Estelle Lockwood so confident? Could this shop really be hers?!’

Mrs. York reluctantly did a search. When she saw Estelle Lockwood’s name was indeed on the list of shareholders, her expression became one of resentful anger.

Thea York composed herself, putting on a surprised and concerned expression. "Estelle... I remember you weren’t the owner of this shop before. Did you just buy it?"

Estelle Lockwood offered a faint, unreadable smile.

Seeing more and more customers arriving, Thea York bit her lip gently. "A shop like this must cost tens of millions to acquire. Estelle, how could you come up with that much money all at once? Or... did you use Nathaniel’s money...?"

All eyes turned to Thea York.

Thea York maintained a look of pure concern. "Estelle, everyone was just trying to be kind earlier, to remind you that this man is nothing but a con artist."

"But I never thought that not only would you be ungrateful, you’d even spend Nathaniel’s money just to get even on this man’s behalf... How could you do this to Nathaniel?"

Mrs. Keaton snapped back to reality and immediately raised her voice, pointing accusingly. "Estelle Lockwood, does your husband know you’re using his money to keep another man?!"

Mori’s head snapped up.

Mrs. Keaton acted as if she was on the moral high ground. "The Sloan Family already looks down on you. If you ask me, how is someone like you fit to be married to Nathaniel!"

Thea York said with feigned concern, "Estelle, we can pretend we didn’t see anything this time, but you can’t keep going on like this..."

"As your husband’s good bro, I can’t tolerate you cheating on him. How about this: you break up with this man right now, and I’ll pretend I never saw a thing."

"Estelle, don’t blame me for being blunt, but the truth is, a lot of people feel you aren’t good enough for Nathaniel. Even the Sloan Family is intent on you two getting a divorce... If a scandal about you breaks out now, what are you going to do?"

Enzo Kendrick was dumbfounded.

’He’d already told these women that there would be serious consequences if they kept running their mouths, but they just wouldn’t listen!’

’Now he’d even been branded as Estelle’s ’lover’!’

Estelle Lockwood looked up, her eyes cold as her lips curved into a smirk.

’They pretend they’re trying to help me, but every single word is designed to say I’m unworthy, that I’m happy to debase myself.’

"If you know you’re being harsh, then shut up." Estelle Lockwood suddenly spotted a figure outside the door and slowly raised her eyes. "Or is it, Miss York, that you think no one knows what you’re really up to?"

The rims of Thea York’s eyes turned red.

Mrs. Keaton, desperate to curry favor with the Yorks, immediately started railing at Estelle Lockwood. "Thea was just giving you some kind advice! What’s with this attitude?! You’re not ashamed, are you? Fine! Then I’ll tell everyone you’ve been unfaithful, that you’re cheating on Mr. Sloan!"

"Everyone, come look! This woman is spending her husband’s money on a lover! She’s shameless, unrepentant! Let’s make her famous—"

"And is it not shameful for the lot of you to corner my wife here?"

Suddenly, a frigid male voice cut through the air.

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression was indifferent, his presence imposing without any outward sign of anger. His icy gaze swept over Thea York before he looked away, not bothering to spare her a second glance.

Thea York subconsciously clenched her fists, her heart sinking.

But she was the Heiress of the Yorks, after all, and fancied herself Nathaniel Sloan’s ’good bro.’ So, she immediately put on a chummy facade and stepped forward, reaching out to pat his shoulder.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Nathaniel Sloan sidestepped. The move was so blatant that everyone noticed.

Thea York’s hand met with empty air. Her expression froze for a moment, but then, as if nothing had happened, she put on a playful pout and laughed.

"Nathaniel, are you here for Estelle? Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to, I just couldn’t stand by and watch what Estelle was doing. You’re not going to blame me for being a busybody, are you?"

Nathaniel Sloan was completely blunt. "If you know you’re being a busybody, Miss York, then please shut your mouth next time."

Thea York’s expression stiffened, her smile faltering.

Nathaniel Sloan ignored Thea York and walked to Estelle Lockwood’s side. "Were they bullying you?"

Enzo Kendrick was still trying to figure out what to say. ’These women are unbelievable! They keep calling themselves Nathaniel Sloan’s ’good bros,’ but then they use that as an excuse to bully Estelle. What kind of twisted logic is that?!’

’Besides,’ Enzo thought, ’Estelle is the type who calls a spade a spade. She’ll definitely tell him the truth straight up!’

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Estelle Lockwood suddenly lower her head, completely dropping her usual directness. "No, Nathaniel. How could Miss York ever bully me?"

As she spoke, Estelle Lockwood glanced at Thea York.

A sense of foreboding suddenly washed over Thea York.

Estelle Lockwood sighed, perfectly emulating the innocent, aggrieved act. "Miss York said she’s your good bro, so she has the right to teach me a lesson on your behalf. She said it’s for my own good."

"If I said they were bullying me, what would that make me? I know Miss York is your *gooood brooo*, and if I just complained without thinking, wouldn’t that just be driving a wedge between you and Miss York’s ’brotherly’ bond?"

Enzo Kendrick: "..."

Enzo Kendrick was floored. ’Is this really Estelle??’

Thea York choked, her expression turning utterly foul.

’Those words were as good as pointing right at her and calling her a manipulative bitch!’

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes darkened as he murmured the two words, "Good bro?"

Thea York felt all eyes on her and gave an awkward laugh. "Yeah, Nathaniel, haven’t we always been like bros since we were kids..."

Before she could finish, Luke White stepped forward. "Miss York, Mr. Sloan has only one brother, and his name is Liam Sloan. You share no blood relation with Mr. Sloan, and more importantly, you are not the correct gender. So how could you possibly be Mr. Sloan’s ’bro’?"

"I hope that in the future, Miss York will refrain from spreading rumors about her relationship with Mr. Sloan. Besides, as an outsider, what gives you the right to discipline Mrs. Sloan on his behalf? Even his actual brother, Mr. Liam, wouldn’t have that right. Do you understand, Miss York?"

Thea York clenched her fists, gritting her teeth in humiliation.

’What was this? How could Nathaniel humiliate her in public for Estelle Lockwood!’

’Did their years of friendship mean less than Estelle Lockwood?!’

’What did she say that was so wrong? They grew up together, so weren’t they good bros? Julian Jacobs and the other guys all doted on her. Even after they started dating or got married, they still put her first, because she was their good bro. Wasn’t Nathaniel the same?’

’How could Estelle Lockwood be so shameless, secretly tattling on her to Nathaniel!’

Thea York cursed Estelle Lockwood a hundred times over in her head, but her expression remained gentle and graceful. "Nathaniel, I wasn’t being careful earlier. Rest assured, it won’t happen again."

She looked both wronged and magnanimous.

Mrs. Keaton had been intimidated by Nathaniel Sloan at first, but on second thought... ’Estelle Lockwood is messing around with another man, how could Mr. Sloan not be furious? He’s probably secretly grateful to Thea York and is just pretending not to care to save face.’

At this thought, an idea struck Mrs. Keaton, and she immediately stepped forward.

"Oh, Mr. Sloan, Thea really is on your side! You have no idea, Estelle Lockwood is being kept by this old man..."

"’Kept?’" Nathaniel Sloan repeated, a humorless smile on his face. "Mrs. Keaton, if you’re going to slander Mrs. Sloan without a shred of proof, you should know that Evernight International’s legal department doesn’t take such things lightly."