The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Make the Scum Dad Face the Wife-Chasing Crematorium

Nathaniel Sloan’s voice was hoarse. "Dr. Lockwood, you destroyed her only photograph. Tell me, how should I punish you?"

Estelle Lockwood’s smile grew even brighter as she arched an eyebrow. "Her only photograph? Oh... no wonder Mr. Sloan is losing his mind in the middle of the night. But you can hardly blame me for that. Who would have guessed that after two years of marriage, you and your ex-wife only had a single photo together?"

In the dim light, the faces of Yara Lockwood and Estelle Lockwood seemed to merge into one.

Nathaniel Sloan asked hoarsely, "How did you unlock the safe’s combination?"

Estelle Lockwood frowned slightly. ’Is he insane? He’s still trying to test me?’

"You set the safe’s combination to Noelle Lockwood’s birthday. It was an easy guess."

Nathaniel Sloan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His breath came out heavy with restraint as he looked at her face and explained subconsciously, "That’s not Noelle Lockwood’s birthday..."

It was Estelle Lockwood’s birthday.

Estelle Lockwood was the true heiress of the Lockwood Family. That birthday had always been hers.

"Why are you explaining this to me?" Estelle Lockwood suddenly felt a surge of irritation. ’Things feel like they’re starting to spin out of control.’

She shot to her feet, her lips close to Nathaniel Sloan’s ear. Every word was a dagger to his heart.

"Are you trying to say that was your ex-wife’s birthday? But every July sixteenth, the only person who celebrates a birthday is Noelle Lockwood."

’The day she was born wasn’t her birthday. Did the Lockwood family even remember that her birthday was also on that day? Had the Lockwood Family ever thrown her a party? When anyone mentioned July sixteenth, everyone assumed it was Noelle Lockwood’s birthday.’

’And now he was telling her it was *her* birthday... How ironic, wasn’t it?’

"Mr. Sloan, your safe combination, your computer password, your phone password—they’re all 0716. It’s so easy to misunderstand. Your ex-wife probably died believing your passwords were for her sister’s birthday."

A sharp pain lanced through Nathaniel Sloan’s heart, as if a giant hand was squeezing it, making it hard to breathe.

Estelle Lockwood knew exactly how to twist the knife. "What a shame. She’s dead. You’ll never get the chance to explain it to her now."

"And Mr. Sloan, stop trying to test me. Estelle Lockwood died five years ago. Got it?"

’I am not her. Estelle Lockwood died five years ago. The person standing here now is just Yara Lockwood.’

The dark haze in Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes cleared. As if snapping awake, he shoved her onto the bed.

Then, as if fleeing in disarray, he strode out the door.

Estelle Lockwood slowly sat up in bed, wiping the cold sweat from her brow.

She wasn’t as calm as she appeared, either. Thankfully, the man hadn’t lost his mind completely.

But... why did Nathaniel Sloan look so upset when she said those things? ’The person he loved clearly wasn’t me. Why couldn’t he accept the fact that I’d been ’dead’ for five years?’

...

Estelle Lockwood slept until morning. She had been worried that Nathaniel Sloan would come looking for trouble again the next day, but to her surprise, the man vanished for a whole week.

’...Where had Nathaniel Sloan gone?’

"Yara, the Young Mr. Kingston from the Kingston Family is back. He’s the one in charge now. If we want to partner with them, we’ll need to go through his connections."

Henry Kendrick took a sip of his tea. "But Young Mr. Kingston is a tough nut to crack. Besides, the Kingston Family was originally supposed to partner with your ex-husband. I’m afraid it won’t be easy for us to steal the deal."

Estelle Lockwood reined in her thoughts. ’It’s better if Nathaniel Sloan doesn’t come back. Why am I thinking so much about it anyway?’

"We have to at least try. Schedule a meeting with Young Mr. Kingston."

"Alright, I’ve scheduled it for tomorrow. Young Mr. Kingston just got back in the country today, so we’ll be the first ones to meet with him. As long as we’re sincere enough, landing this deal should be no problem."

Since she had to negotiate with Young Mr. Kingston the next day, Estelle Lockwood went to bed early.

But at eleven that night, she was jolted awake by a call from Penelope Sullivan. "Guess where I just saw your ex-hubby?"

Estelle Lockwood yawned, her eyes still half-closed. "Where?"

Penelope Sullivan said mysteriously, "The Entertainment City."

Estelle Lockwood took a moment to process what an "Entertainment City" was. "Oh."

Penelope Sullivan was taken aback. "You’re not surprised at all?! An Entertainment City! Your ex-hubby went to an Entertainment City!"

Nathaniel Sloan’s public persona had always been that of a refined and dignified man who would never set foot in a place like an Entertainment City.

Estelle Lockwood rolled over in bed, wanting to end the conversation. She answered dismissively, "Mhm, I’m shocked. Utterly shocked. What happened? Did he get busted for soliciting a prostitute?"

Penelope Sullivan: "..."

Penelope Sullivan took a deep breath. "Never mind. What I was trying to say is that someone hijacked the deal with the Kingston Family tonight."

Estelle Lockwood’s sleepiness vanished instantly. She shot upright in bed. "What do you mean?"

’Hijacked? Tonight? I was planning to talk to them tomorrow morning. Someone making a move tonight... they’re clearly targeting me.’ fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Penelope Sullivan gulped. "Aren’t you concerned about your ex-hubby anymore?"

Estelle Lockwood frowned. "I couldn’t care less if he drops dead on top of another woman, but lost profits are gone forever."

"Er..." Penelope Sullivan was at a loss for words. "But you really do need to go to the Entertainment City and find your ex-hubby, because this has to do with him..."

Five minutes later, Estelle Lockwood hung up the phone, her face grim.

’Nathaniel Sloan didn’t absolutely need this deal. Meeting with Jasper Kingston before she could was obviously his way of getting back at her.’

’Getting back at her for what? For destroying that photograph?’

Heh.

Estelle Lockwood put on her makeup in record time, picked out a dress that was both elegant and sensually form-fitting from her closet, and rushed out the door.

「In another room.」

Mia said huffily, "I heard everything! Scum Dad is trying to steal Mommy’s deal! He’s so awful! How can a man be such a scumbag! Zachery, you little dummy, do you have a plan?"

That deal was very important to Mommy, but all Mia could do was worry helplessly.

’Maybe I should go act cute for Scum Dad?’

Zachery racked his brain, his thoughts racing. Suddenly, a novel he’d read before popped into his head.

*After the Divorce, She Became a Powerhouse, and Her Scumbag Husband Walked Through Fire to Win Her Back.*

’Wait, I’ve got it!’

Zachery’s eyes lit up. "Mia, do you know what a ’wife-chasing crematorium’ is?"

Mia: "?"

Zachery said excitedly, "Change of plan! Our new goal is to make Scum Dad fall in love with Mommy, and then have her dump him! Time to start the crematorium arc!"

Mia stared blankly. "...Huh? A crematorium? Are you going to burn Scum Dad? We can’t do that! Murder is illegal!"

Zachery waved his hands excitedly. "Not a literal crematorium! It’s, you know... one of those things you just have to feel, you can’t really explain it! Don’t worry, just leave everything to me! I’ve read tons of novels, I know all the tropes!"

Mia gasped. "..." freewebnovёl.ƈom

’Zachery, what in the world have you been reading?!’

...

「Elysium Entertainment City.」

This was Crestfall’s biggest den of opulence, a place where rich young heirs could blow through millions in a single night. As long as you had the money, any man or woman was yours for the taking.

Inside the largest private suite, a crowd of young men and women were gathered. "Jasper Kingston, welcome home!"

"Are you happy with your welcome-back party? Elysium is so popular these days, we had to pay extra just to book this suite."

The man of the hour held a glass of red wine, taking a delicate sip. His gaze landed on a figure in the corner. "Nathaniel, you came all this way and you’re not even having a drink?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes were cool and distant. He was the only one without a woman by his side. Upon hearing Jasper, he apathetically raised his glass. "Welcome."

KNOCK, KNOCK.

Just then, the manager knocked on the suite door. "Young Mr. Kingston, a friend of yours is here."

The suite fell silent. One of the men frowned. "Everyone we invited is already here. What friend? It’s not someone who heard Jasper and Nathaniel were here and just decided to show up, is it? What’s her name?"

The manager scratched his head, looking puzzled for a moment. "She said her name is Yara Lockwood."

Nathaniel Sloan’s head snapped up.