The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 11: Date Changes

Editor: Henyee Translations

The study was completely silent.

Noelle bit her lower lip, putting on a fragile expression. "Dr. Lockwood, didn’t the butler tell you that no one is allowed to enter Nathaniel’s study without permission?"

Estelle shot her a sidelong glance. "Are you speaking for Nathaniel?"

Noelle looked aggrieved. "I..."

Nathaniel looked up coolly. "What do you need?"

"So you are interested in the Star Group gala too, Mr. Sloan?" Estelle smiled faintly, twirling a curl of her hair around her finger before shooting a glance over at Noelle. "And you’re taking her with you?"

A bad feeling stirred in Noelle’s heart, and she quickly bit her lip.

"Dr. Lockwood, for your information, I’ve been Nathaniel’s date to these events for years. My absence might look bad for Evernight International. Besides, I’m the one who handles all the arrangements for the galas Nathaniel attends. I heard that the Chairman of Star is a woman, and I might be of some help if she and I happen to get along."

After saying that, Noelle shot Estelle a deliberately cautious look and added, seemingly offhandedly, "Besides, I heard that the Chairman of Star admires men who are devoted to just one woman, and since I have been the only woman by Nathaniel’s side all these years, the Chairman might get the wrong impression if his date is suddenly someone else."

It was obvious what she meant.

Noelle was worried that Estelle wanted to attend the gala as Nathaniel’s date, so she had deliberately emphasized that she had been the only woman by his side all these years.

The smile on Estelle’s face slowly turned to ice.

Wasn’t that true?

For years, Nathaniel’s date to all the galas and galas had always been Noelle. Even she, his actual wife, had never had the privilege of attending a gala by his side.

She still remembered their first wedding anniversary.

Thomas Foster would be celebrating his seventieth birthday that day and had specifically invited Nathaniel and his wife.

Out of respect for Horace, Nathaniel had agreed to take Estelle with him.

She had been full of anticipation, but just two hours before the gala, Noelle had sought him out.

Estelle remembered every word Noelle had said that day.

"Nathaniel, the Foster family is taking the old man’s seventieth birthday very seriously. My sister is new to this town. She just came from her old countryside home, so she doesn’t understand the local etiquette, nor does she know anything about perfumes or wine tasting. We can’t afford to let her offend the Fosters...

I’m not saying my sister is a country bumpkin. I’m just worried she won’t fit in. After all, she’s used to living in poverty. It would be terrible if she embarrassed herself at such a grand event.

You know what my sister is like. She definitely can’t handle a gala like this. Nathaniel, please, just think about it."

And just like that, Nathaniel’s date for the evening had been Noelle instead.

Thomas had already announced that Nathaniel would be attending the gala with his wife, so the moment Nathaniel had appeared with Noelle, the hashtag "The President of the Sloan Group and the Heiress of the Lockwood Family: A Perfect Match" had shot to the top of the trending charts.

From then on, Noelle had become known as Nathaniel’s date, while she, his real wife, had remained unknown.

Estelle’s thoughts snapped back to the present, her eyes darkening as she said, "What a strange thing to say, Miss Lockwood. If the President of Star admires devoted men, then you definitely shouldn’t be there as Nathaniel’s date."

Noelle tried to interrupt, but Estelle cut her off, "If I were you, I’d be a little smarter and stay home. You wouldn’t want to be exposed as his mistress in front of hundreds of people, would you? Who do you think would be the most embarrassed then?"

"You..." Noelle’s face turned deathly pale.

She looked furious and flustered, and her eyes reddened.

"Dr. Lockwood, how could you say that? You don’t know anything about us! Nathaniel and I..."

"So what do you propose, Dr. Lockwood?" Nathaniel interrupted coolly, lifting his pale eyes. "Should you be my date instead?"

Noelle’s breath was caught in her throat.

Estelle frowned in disgust.

"Me? No, thank you. Everyone knows what kind of person you are, Mr. Sloan. Being seen with you would hurt my reputation, but I should still offer you a word of advice. Don’t be penny-wise and pound-foolish."

Without another glance, she turned and walked out of the study.

Noelle bit her lower lip. "Nathaniel..."

Nathaniel’s dismissal was crystal clear and sharp. "You can skip this one."

"Dr. Lockwood isn’t necessarily..."

Before she could finish, Nathaniel’s icy gaze landed on her.

Noelle’s throat tightened.

Forcing down the venom in her mouth, she adopted a gentle tone as she said, "Alright, Nathaniel. I will leave you alone."

The moment she left the study, she put on an aggrieved expression and made a phone call.

"Mrs. Sloan, please..."

At eight o’clock that evening, the gala began.

Estelle had arrived backstage long beforehand, and Henry handed her a stack of documents when he met her and said, "This is the information on the bidders. Please take a look at it."

Estelle accepted the documents and heard Henry chuckle. "Tsk. Yara, guess what I just saw?"

She raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Your ex-husband is still with his first love, despite my suggestion. Look, they’re right over there."

Henry’s grandfather had saved Estelle years ago, and she had spent the past few years recovering with the Kendrick family abroad. Naturally, Henry knew all about her past.

It was obvious who he meant by "ex-husband" and "first love." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Estelle casually lifted her gaze and looked through the crowd.

Her eyes immediately landed on Nathaniel, who had become the center of attention, and Noelle, who was smiling sweetly at his side.

What a touching love story.

Estelle rose to her feet and scoffed. "If they’re so determined to get humiliated, we should only be happy to help."

It was very lively inside the banquet hall.

"Look, it’s Mr. Sloan and Noelle!"

"Wow, are they wearing matching outfits? They look so cute together..."

"I knew Noelle would always be Mr. Sloan’s date. He is just so devoted to the woman he likes."

Nathaniel’s eyes were cold.

Tall and imposing as he was, he emanated an innate air of nobility that was almost oppressive.

With a sweet smile on her face, Noelle kept her hand loosely looped through his arm, looking as though she were the only person in the world allowed near him.

At that moment, several of Sloan Group’s business partners approached them.

"Nathaniel, go ahead," Noelle said thoughtfully. "I can take care of myself."

Nathaniel had only brought Noelle here because he had received a call from his mother.

Upon hearing this, he turned away without a moment’s hesitation.

When she saw this, Noelle subtly gritted her teeth.

A second later, however, she put on a shy smile and told the group of girlfriends gathered around her, "Nathaniel is always like that. He clearly cares about me, but he isn’t good at expressing it. Thank god we grew up together, so I know him so well. He knew I liked Star perfumes, so he came here for me."

The women immediately showered her with flattery.

"Star perfumes cost a fortune! Mr. Sloan is so good to you!"

"Exactly! Everyone knows you’re the apple of Mr. Sloan’s eye, Noelle. What kind of woman could compare to that? Your shameless sister actually tried to seduce Mr. Sloan, but that’s because ugly people really do love causing trouble."

"Her name was Estelle Lockwood, right? It’s a good thing she died early. How dare a woman like that try to take what’s yours?"

Just as Estelle arrived, she happened to overhear those exact words.

Her eyes darkened, and without a moment’s hesitation, she pushed open the banquet hall doors.