The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Yara Lockwood Is Not Allergic to Mangoes

The entire dining room fell deathly silent.

Estelle Lockwood froze, a half-smile playing on her lips as she feigned ignorance. "What is Mr. Sloan doing? It’s just a piece of mango. Is someone going to die?"

With that, she reached for another piece.

Nathaniel Sloan abruptly grabbed her wrist. Staring into her eyes, he asked, word by word, "You can eat mangoes?"

Estelle Lockwood reacted as if she’d heard a joke. "Why wouldn’t I be able to eat mangoes? Mr. Sloan... you don’t actually think I’m allergic to them, do you?"

She suddenly bent her head and took a bite of the fruit perched on the tip of the cake. "Well, you’d be wrong. I’m not allergic."

Thirty seconds, a minute, five minutes...

Time passed, but Estelle Lockwood showed no signs of an allergic reaction.

Nathaniel Sloan stared at her, searching her smile for the slightest hint of something wrong.

’How could this be...’ he thought. ’I was wrong again.’

Estelle Lockwood gave a sarcastic smile. ’Of course I know he’s starting to suspect my identity, but so what? Nathaniel has no proof.’

After all, in Nathaniel Sloan’s mind, she was severely allergic to mangoes.

But in reality, she wasn’t allergic at all.

It was just that when she had first returned to the Lockwood Family, Noelle Lockwood, wanting to make her look like a ’country bumpkin,’ had deliberately brought out a variety of expensive fruits and asked if she had ever eaten them.

Before she could answer, Noelle Lockwood had launched into a monologue. ’Oh, Sister, I’m so sorry. I should have been more considerate of your feelings. You’ve never even seen these fruits before, so how could you have eaten them? Mom said you’re allergic to mangoes, so I figured I shouldn’t get you any, and I brought other fruits instead... It’s all my fault for hurting your pride, Sister.’

At the time, Estelle Lockwood, who had desperately longed for familial affection, didn’t dare say anything more. She could only silently accept the ’fact’ that she was allergic to mangoes.

’I can’t believe Nathaniel actually remembered...’

’But what good did remembering do? His so-called understanding of his wife came from the mouth of another woman, and it was false information at that.’

Estelle Lockwood’s smile grew even more contemptuous. "Mr. Sloan, can you let go of me now?" she said coldly.

Nathaniel Sloan snapped back to reality and abruptly released her. His eyes were dark with suppressed emotion. "Since Dr. Lockwood is not her, please mind your conduct."

Estelle Lockwood couldn’t even be bothered to look at him. "Mr. Sloan, there’s no need for this. It’s just the two of us here. You don’t have to pretend you were so in love with your ex-wife."

Nathaniel Sloan gave her a cool glance. ’If she isn’t her, then there’s no need to explain.’

"Dr. Lockwood only needs to worry about herself. Christian has a routine check-up tonight. Remember your responsibilities."

After speaking, the man walked straight upstairs.

Estelle Lockwood rolled her eyes. After finishing breakfast, she went to her company.

As soon as she arrived at the office, Estelle Lockwood recalled the photograph she had seen in Nathaniel Sloan’s hands the night before. Frowning, she called her assistant. "Help me buy a paper shredder and have it sent to Imperial Crest."

Henry Kendrick and Penelope Sullivan happened to overhear her. Pushing the door open, they walked in. "A paper shredder? What did your ex-husband do to you now?"

Estelle Lockwood answered nonchalantly, "It’s nothing. Last night, he was all alone, holding our photo together and reminiscing about the past."

Henry Kendrick raised an eyebrow. "You two only have one photo together. If you destroy it, it’s gone for good."

A smile touched Estelle Lockwood’s lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes. "If it’s gone, it’s gone. What’s that got to do with me?"

’It’s not that I didn’t want to take more photos with Nathaniel Sloan. Did he ever give me the chance?’

During their wedding photoshoot, they weren’t even finished when Noelle Lockwood called Nathaniel Sloan away, claiming to have ’heart pain.’

Every time after that, Rose Lowell and Noelle Lockwood would make excuses, saying that this country bumpkin was too afraid to face the camera, too afraid to have her picture taken.

And Nathaniel Sloan... actually believed them.

Penelope Sullivan mused, "Why do I get the feeling your ex-husband still cares about you a little?"

"You think so?" Estelle Lockwood didn’t believe it for a second, not caring at all. "It’s time. Call everyone in for the meeting."

...

「Imperial Crest, in the study.」

Nathaniel Sloan gently caressed the photograph.

This picture was taken seven years ago. It was also the only photo he and Estelle Lockwood had together.

Estelle didn’t like having her picture taken, so this was the only one they had.

"Nathaniel, why did you send Christian to kindergarten? Noelle has told you so many times that Christian’s health isn’t suited for it! You shouldn’t have listened to that doctor. She’s an outsider, what does she know?"

A woman’s voice drew closer, and the study door was pushed open. A frowning woman entered, her face full of disapproval.

The visitor was Mrs. Sloan, Nathaniel Sloan’s mother, Laura Jennings.

Nathaniel Sloan put the photo down and lifted his gaze coolly. "What are you doing here?"

"What do you mean, ’what am I doing here’? My precious grandson is being tormented to death by that quack doctor, of course I had to come see! Wasn’t Noelle taking good care of him? Why did you have to go and find someone else!"

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes turned icy as his gaze swept over to Noelle Lockwood. "You said Yara Lockwood is a quack doctor?"

When Noelle Lockwood saw the photograph, she gritted her teeth in her heart. ’Estelle Lockwood again! It’s been five years, and Nathaniel is still thinking about her!’

But in the next moment, a gentle and proper smile returned to Noelle Lockwood’s face. "Nathaniel, I was just worried..."

"Of course Noelle didn’t say it. Noelle is so kind, how could she possibly come to me to complain?"

Laura Jennings said angrily, "She just let it slip accidentally! That’s how I found out you’d rather trust an outsider than Noelle! Nathaniel, what did we agree on from the beginning? We agreed to let Noelle spend more time with Christian, to let them bond. And now?!"

"You actually embarrassed Noelle in front of so many people! Do you have any idea what people outside are saying? They’re all saying Noelle is the mistress! I won’t let Noelle be wronged. You fire that doctor, right now!"

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes darkened. "She is Christian’s doctor."

Laura Jennings was completely dismissive. "There are so many good doctors in the world, why does it have to be her? She has wronged this family, so she should be fired!"

"She hasn’t wronged Christian. Sending him to kindergarten was my idea."

Laura Jennings slammed her hand on the desk. "Are you really not getting it, or are you pretending not to? I’m talking about Noelle! She wronged Noelle! Noelle is the future mistress of Imperial Crest. Having a female doctor living in the house, isn’t that wronging her?!"

Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze shot toward her as he asked coolly, "The mistress of the house? Is that what you think, too?"

Noelle Lockwood’s throat tightened. Nathaniel Sloan had never promised she would be the future Mrs. Sloan. The current public rumors were all ones she had started herself.

Noelle Lockwood put on a wronged expression. "Nathaniel, that’s not what I meant. Auntie misunderstood..."

"That’s enough! Why are you blaming Noelle! Nathaniel, it’s time for you to settle down! Noelle has waited for you for so many years, what are your intentions? She’s wasted her youth on you, and now you won’t even fire a doctor for her sake!"

"Back then, I told you to marry Noelle, but you insisted on marrying Estelle Lockwood. After Estelle Lockwood died, your life should have gotten back on track! I know that this Yara Lockwood looks somewhat similar to Estelle, but Noelle is Estelle’s sister. Have you forgotten Estelle Lockwood’s last letter?" freeweɓnovel.cøm

Nathaniel Sloan looked up at Laura Jennings, his expression cold. "Are you finished?"