Chapter 216: Mr. Sloan Digs a Pit for the Sloan Family

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Mr. Sloan Digs a Pit for the Sloan Family

The final item at Mr. Lynch’s auction was a plot of land.

It was located in the southern part of Crestfall.

As a semi-developed commercial area, anyone could see the potential value of southern Crestfall. The land was currently valued at around ten billion, but if the Keldon Business District was fully developed, the plot would be worth far more.

The fiercest competition for this land was between Mr. Sloan and Theodore Lancaster—the man who had just returned to the Sloan family and was rumored to be their legitimate son.

Everyone held their breath, wondering who would ultimately win the plot.

Laura Jennings located Nathaniel Sloan and shot the butler a meaningful look. The butler understood, approached Nathaniel, and said, "Sir, Mrs. Sloan is looking for you. She’s over there. Should you... should you go now...?"

He was her son, after all. Yet, when Mrs. Sloan summoned him, Mr. Sloan acted as if he hadn’t heard. "Just say what you need to say."

Cold sweat beaded on the butler’s brow. "Mrs. Sloan has something to discuss with you. She’s asking you to go over."

Nathaniel Sloan calmly took a sip of his tea. "I have nothing to discuss with her."

"But... but..."

"You insolent whelp!" Laura Jennings’s anger flared. Ignoring the crowd, she swung a vicious slap, but Nathaniel merely tilted his head. She lost her balance and stumbled back into a chair. "You dare to dodge?!"

The expression in Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes never changed. "You’re getting old, Ms. Jennings. You can’t even land a slap anymore. Perhaps you should focus on your upkeep."

Laura Jennings was about to go mad with rage. ’What an insolent whelp! Theodore is always so polite and respectful, but this Nathaniel Sloan... He’s just an ungrateful wretch!’

"What is this behavior? I’m your mother! Is this how you treat your own mother? You see me arrive and don’t even greet me, let alone stand up and offer me your seat? I am your biological mother! You ill-mannered brat!"

Nathaniel Sloan nodded calmly. "Mm."

The man was completely unfazed. "I’m aware Ms. Jennings is my biological mother. So if I have no manners, it’s because the fish rots from the head down. You’ll just have to live with it, Ms. Jennings."

Estelle Lockwood: "..."

Estelle Lockwood couldn’t help it. "Pfft..."

Laura Jennings choked, so furious she could barely breathe.

But she remembered the purpose of her visit, gritted her teeth, and lowered her voice.

"Nathaniel Sloan, I’m warning you. Don’t you dare try anything at this auction. That land belongs to Theodore!"

The seats in the auction hall were widely spaced and separated by privacy screens. Since Laura Jennings had also lowered her voice, no one else could overhear their conversation.

However, judging by Laura Jennings’s tone, it was clearly not a pleasant one.

The onlookers held their breath, not daring to speak.

Just then, Nathaniel Sloan slowly set down his teacup. The sharp CLACK echoed, making everyone’s heart jump.

There wasn’t the slightest ripple of emotion in the man’s eyes. With a mocking tone, he raised an eyebrow. "So?"

Laura Jennings seethed. "So, you’d better just give up on that land. If you dare to bid on it, I swear, this won’t be over!"

Nathaniel Sloan’s tone was laden with meaning. "And in what capacity is Ms. Jennings giving me orders?"

"As your biological mother, of course!"

Nathaniel Sloan nodded slowly. "Ah, I see. I was under the impression you were Theodore Lancaster’s mother, seeing as you’re both equally useless."

Once again, Estelle Lockwood had to suppress her amusement. ’Looking at the furious, yet restrained expression on Laura Jennings’s face, I almost want to give her a round of applause for her self-control.’

"NATHANIEL SLOAN!" Laura Jennings shrieked, her voice rising uncontrollably. "Who the hell do you think you are? The Sloan family was always meant to be—"

But before she could finish her sentence, Nathaniel Sloan cut her off, his voice dangerously calm.

"Ms. Jennings, there are some things we all understand perfectly well. The reason I haven’t laid them bare has nothing to do with familial affection. Rather, I’m curious to see just how shameless the Sloan family can become. Do you understand me, Ms. Jennings?"

A cold sweat suddenly broke out on Laura Jennings’s back, and a baffling sense of dread began to creep in.

’Wha-What does Nathaniel Sloan know?’

’No, that’s impossible. How could Nathaniel Sloan possibly know? The entire Sloan family knows he’s the illegitimate son. Even if he suspected something, he has no proof!’

’So that’s it! Nathaniel Sloan must be trying to scare me!’

’Fine. He really is an ungrateful wretch, threatening his own mother!’

But the more she thought about it, the more frightened she became. Laura Jennings couldn’t bring herself to utter another threat and turned to return to her seat.

But Nathaniel Sloan spoke again, his voice unhurried. "Ms. Jennings."

"That land is as good as mine. Since the Sloan and Lancaster families are backing Theodore Lancaster, let’s see what you’ve got."

After Laura Jennings returned to her seat, Nathaniel Sloan’s words echoed in her mind.

’Nathaniel Sloan knows full well that the Lancaster and Sloan families will both back Theodore. What makes him so confident he can still snatch that land away?’

’Could it be... because the land is that valuable? That he has a reason he absolutely must acquire it!’

Ethan Sloan frowned. "What did Nathaniel Sloan say?"

A sharp glint flashed in Laura Jennings’s eyes. "He refuses to back down. He said he’ll compete against the Sloan and Lancaster Groups until the very end. Ethan, it seems the reward for winning this land is even greater than we imagined!"

Ethan Sloan had been hesitant. After all, over ten billion was an enormous sum.

’If they could secure it for just ten billion, that would be one thing. But Nathaniel Sloan won’t back down. Bidding against him would drive the price up... the premium would be... ’

’But if it’s truly worth it, then it wouldn’t be a loss!’

Nathaniel knew exactly how much liquid capital the Lancaster Group and the Sloan Group had at their disposal. His determination to keep competing despite this knowledge could only mean that Laura Jennings was right—the land’s potential was even greater than they had imagined.

Ethan Sloan made up his mind. "We’re bidding! We have to win this land, no matter the cost!"

...

「Elsewhere」

Estelle Lockwood lowered her voice. "Mr. Lynch, so what’s the actual benefit of winning this land?"

Hearing her call him Mr. Lynch, a flicker of resignation crossed Nathaniel Sloan’s face. "There is no benefit."

Ever since Estelle Lockwood learned that their past issues were all a misunderstanding and discovered that he was, in fact, Mr. Lynch, she had grown much closer to Nathaniel Sloan. So, she felt comfortable asking whatever she was curious about.

"No benefit? Then how were you so sure the Sloan family would take the bait?"

Nathaniel Sloan answered in a slow, deliberate tone, "Because the Sloan family has far too much faith in my abilities."

At first, Estelle Lockwood was taken aback by his seemingly narcissistic comment, but a moment later, she understood.

’It was precisely because, for all these years, Nathaniel Sloan’s investments and acquisitions had been flawless. His business acumen was lethal; even projects no one else believed in would miraculously become smash hits under his guidance.’

’That was why, even though Ethan Sloan and Laura Jennings targeted and detested Nathaniel Sloan, they never once doubted his judgment.’

’So now, by putting on a show of going all out to win this land, he was sending a signal to the Sloan Group: this was a plot he, Nathaniel Sloan, had set his sights on. And just like his previous projects, it was destined to become the new landmark investment in Crestfall.’

’Therefore, the Sloan family didn’t suspect a thing and would spare no effort to snatch the land away to support Theodore Lancaster.’

But in reality...

Estelle Lockwood was still curious. "But I’ve looked into that plot. The location is excellent. No matter how it’s developed, it’s impossible to lose money on it."

’So, what does Mr. Sloan plan to do?’