The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Is Yara Lockwood Imitating Estelle Lockwood?

Laura Jennings seethed. "Don’t push your luck! Noelle and I are victims here too! If you have to blame someone, blame the unscrupulous seller! How was I supposed to know the one that little bastard had was the real one..."

"Brother, I’ve heard people say that ladies from wealthy families are supposed to be very polite, but why does this old lady keep saying ’little bastard’? She doesn’t seem very classy," Mia suddenly interrupted, her expression completely serious.

Laura Jennings’s eyes widened. Just as she was about to start cursing, she heard Zachery speak up, holding back a laugh.

"Mia, don’t ask me. This is the first time I’ve ever seen someone like this either. She buys a fake, snatches your real one, and then turns around and falsely accuses you of stealing."

"Now that she’s been exposed, she still won’t apologize. She acts like you should be honored that she framed you."

"I remember Uncle Henry Kendrick also comes from a wealthy family. I’ll have to ask Grandma Kendrick later if all rich families are like this, or if it’s just Mrs. Sloan."

Mia pouted, playing along. "Then I’ll go ask Grandma Hughes too."

"And I’ll ask Uncle Carson," Zachery added.

"And Uncle Smith," said Mia.

As the two little ones rattled off one name after another, Laura Jennings’s expression grew increasingly foul.

’If they really go around spreading this everywhere, how will I ever be able to show my face again?!’

"Both of you, shut up..." Laura Jennings swayed, her face deathly pale, and she nearly collapsed.

"Auntie!" Noelle Lockwood quickly steadied her, shaking her head desperately with tears in her eyes.

"Dr. Lockwood, this is all my fault. Auntie isn’t well, please don’t upset her any further. It’s all my fault... Nathaniel, I’m willing to apologize to Dr. Lockwood. Let’s just get Auntie upstairs to rest first."

Nathaniel Sloan narrowed his eyes. "Luke White, take Mother upstairs."

A cold sneer touched Estelle Lockwood’s lips. ’She knew it. Nathaniel Sloan would never have the heart to make his own mother apologize.’

’All Laura Jennings did now was hurl a few insults and frame someone. Compared to five years ago, this was nothing.’

’When you have no expectations, you can’t be disappointed.’

’But she couldn’t just let the injustice Mia suffered slide.’

’If Nathaniel Sloan couldn’t bring himself to make Laura Jennings apologize, she would handle it herself.’

"Zachery, Mia, let’s go back to our room." As Estelle Lockwood walked past Nathaniel Sloan, she scoffed. "Such a good son, Mr. Sloan."

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression remained unchanged.

Once Estelle Lockwood was out of sight, only Nathaniel Sloan, Luke White, and Christian remained in the living room.

Christian pressed his lips together. "Daddy, why didn’t you make Grandma apologize?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression faltered for a moment before he lowered his gaze. "Daddy promises, I won’t let Mia be wronged again."

Luke White also hurried to explain, "Young Master, Sir has his reasons for doing this..."

"It’s just because Grandma is the elder and Mia is the younger one, so she doesn’t have to apologize. After all, in your adult world, even when an elder is wrong, they’re just doing it ’for your own good.’"

Nathaniel Sloan hadn’t expected Christian to say that.

Luke White grew flustered. "Young Master, you’ve really misunderstood. Sir has no intention of protecting Mrs. Sloan. There will be an apology, of course, but not right now..."

"Why not now?" Christian pressed.

Luke White was at a loss for words. "Well..."

Christian craned his neck, refusing to back down. "Is it because Grandma isn’t well? Daddy, are you afraid she’ll get sick from anger and then you’ll just end up blaming Mia for it? Is that why you let her go upstairs? Is ’not feeling well’ an excuse for everything?"

Christian had grown up doted on and pampered, but he never had any peers his own age. He had finally, finally met Zachery and Mia. It was bad enough they couldn’t acknowledge each other, but now Mia was being wronged, and he couldn’t even get her a shred of justice!

"I hate you adults! Is it that hard to say sorry? Why can’t you just do it?"

Christian’s eyes unknowingly turned red. "I like Mia, and you all treat her like this. I hate you!"

With that, he ran straight upstairs. Luke White moved to follow. "Sir..."

Nathaniel Sloan slowly raised his eyes. "Christian has friends now."

Luke White’s heart ached. There were things the Young Master didn’t know, burdens that Sir was shouldering all by himself. He couldn’t help but ask, "Should I go explain things to the Young Master? Or perhaps to Miss Mia..."

"There’s no need." Nathaniel Sloan exhaled heavily. "Go tell Mrs. Sloan to apologize as soon as she feels better. If an apology is not received before Grandfather’s birthday banquet, she needn’t attend." frёewebnoѵēl.com

Noticing that Nathaniel Sloan had not referred to Laura Jennings as ’Mother’, Luke White sighed silently. "Yes, Sir."

...

「Upstairs.」

Christian’s eyes grew redder and redder, and finally, large tears began to stream down his face.

’He had always thought of himself as capable. Even with his poor health, ever since he’d been old enough to understand things, Noelle Lockwood had never been able to get the better of him.’

’But today, all he could do was watch helplessly as Mia was slandered. He had no proof, and he was just a kid. Even if he defended Mia, the adults would just see it as him being partial.’

’Why? Was getting an apology really this difficult?’

"Holy crap, Young Master, what are you crying for?"

THUD. The bag of chips dropped from Mia’s hand. She stared, dumbfounded, at the Young Master who was crying his eyes out, and her voice hitched.

"I-I’m the one they were framing, I think. Why are you crying? Did they bully you too? Are they even human?! You’re that old hag’s actual grandson!"

Christian raised his red-rimmed eyes. "Mia, I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect you."

"Huh?" Mia finally realized the Young Master was feeling guilty about what had just happened.

"No, what does this have to do with you? Why are you apologizing to me?"

Christian’s lips pressed into a thin line. "They framed you, and I couldn’t do a single thing."

Mia waved her hand dismissively. "It’s no big deal. I’m not bothered by it. Besides, I would never let myself get the short end of the stick."

Christian lowered his eyes, his own dark eyes filled with disappointment and a hint of determination.

’He had to grow up faster. Only then could he protect his younger brother, his younger sister, and his mommy.’

"Mia, there won’t be a next time."

Mia was puzzled. ’She tried to detect a hint of an act in the little schemer’s eyes, but there didn’t seem to be one.’

’Was the Young Master really feeling indignant and sad for her?’

’But why? Even if she was the cutest, most beautiful, best-behaved, and most dazzlingly cheerful person in the entire world, that surely wasn’t enough to make a Young Master she’d only known for two days so heartbroken on her behalf, right?’

...

"Nathaniel..."

Just as Nathaniel Sloan reached the top of the stairs, Noelle Lockwood approached from the side, tears welling in her eyes.

"I’m sorry, I’m truly sorry. Earlier, when Auntie said the bracelet was missing, it was Ms. Carter who told me she saw it in Mia’s room. That’s why I..."

Nathaniel Sloan didn’t even look up. "I’m not the one you should be apologizing to."

"I’ll be sure to apologize to Mia tomorrow, Nathaniel. I admit, Auntie was a bit impulsive... but she had her reasons."

Nathaniel Sloan gave her a cold look.

Noelle Lockwood lowered her gaze. "It’s because Auntie feels that Yara Lockwood is trying to imitate her sister. And you know... the anniversary of her sister’s death is approaching..."