The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Who Said She Was Here for Nathaniel Sloan?

Jasper Kingston glanced at Nathaniel Sloan’s expression and smiled. "Nathaniel, a friend of yours?"

In an instant, all eyes turned to Nathaniel Sloan.

Nathaniel Sloan frowned, not answering the question. "I won’t see her."

"Nathaniel, that’s not very polite," Jasper Kingston said with a smile, setting down his wine glass. He turned to the manager. "The lady came all this way. Let her in."

Jasper Kingston was the man of the hour, after all. Since he had spoken, no one else had any objections.

One of the young socialites, a friend of Nathaniel’s, came forward and teased, "Nathaniel, who’s this Yara Lockwood? Another one of your romantic entanglements? You already have Noelle at home. If you’re messing around on the side, I’ll have to report you."

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes were cold, but he didn’t speak.

Soon, the manager led someone in. "Miss Lockwood, this way, please."

Estelle Lockwood’s lips curved into a faint smile as she pushed open the door to the private room and walked in.

Eager to see the woman who had come chasing after Nathaniel Sloan, nearly everyone turned to look at the door.

The moment she pushed the door open, the entire world went silent.

THUD.

The microphone in the socialite’s hand dropped onto the carpet. His eyes flew wide. "Estelle Lockwood?!"

The resemblance to Estelle Lockwood was uncanny!

Everyone whipped their heads toward Nathaniel Sloan. But wasn’t Estelle Lockwood dead?

Estelle Lockwood wasn’t surprised by the reaction. Her lips curled as her gaze, half-smiling, swept over Nathaniel Sloan.

’What a coincidence. All familiar faces.’

The young man who had spoken was Kian Winslow, one of Noelle Lockwood’s devoted admirers and a primary instigator in the campaign to ostracize, belittle, and mock Estelle Lockwood back then.

Estelle had met most of the others in the room a few times as well. While they hadn’t mocked Nathaniel Sloan’s wife to her face, behind her back, they were always encouraging Noelle Lockwood to take her place.

’Didn’t Nathaniel Sloan go on and on about how much he missed his ex-wife?’

’If he really missed her, would he still be hanging out with these friends who helped ruin his marriage?’

"Nathaniel, is that Estelle Lockwood? She... you..." Kian Winslow stammered.

Nathaniel Sloan’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t seen this woman in a week. Seeing her appear here in a sexy, hip-hugging dress, an inexplicable fire ignited within him.

He strode forward. "Who gave you permission to come looking for me?"

At his words, Estelle Lockwood turned her head as if just noticing him, feigning surprise. "Mr. Sloan is here too?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s brows drew together. He didn’t know what game this woman was playing, but he found himself inexplicably wanting to hide her sensual figure from the others. He instinctively moved to block her. "Go home."

Estelle Lockwood took a step back, her tone dripping with a disdain that made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him. "Don’t be so full of yourself, Mr. Sloan."

Before Nathaniel Sloan could speak again, she put on a bright smile, turned, and brushed right past him to greet the man standing behind him.

"Mr. Kingston, a pleasure. I’m Yara Lockwood. I heard you’ve returned to the country, so I’ve come on behalf of our Star Group to extend a welcome."

Nathaniel Sloan’s face instantly darkened.

Jasper Kingston maintained his gentle and refined demeanor. "Ah, so you’re Miss Lockwood from Star. A pleasure. I thought you were here for Nathaniel?"

Estelle Lockwood looked surprised. "Of course not. What’s so charming about Nathaniel Sloan that would make me come looking for him in the middle of the night? I’m here for you, Mr. Kingston." freewebnoveℓ.com

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The silence in the private room was deafening.

The singing stopped, the drinking ceased. Everyone just stared blankly at Estelle Lockwood.

This woman had some serious nerve! Everyone knew Nathaniel Sloan was the dream man of every girl in Crestfall. This Yara Lockwood not only disrespected him but even said he couldn’t compare to Jasper Kingston.

Jasper Kingston was no slouch himself, but weren’t those words a blatant slap in Nathaniel Sloan’s face?

As if she heard nothing, Estelle Lockwood walked over to the sofa in her high heels and sat down, crossing her slender, pale legs. More than a few people audibly swallowed.

The fire in Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes burned even brighter.

Someone in the corner whispered, "Damn, are you sure that’s not Estelle Lockwood...?"

"Young Mr. Winslow, you’ve seen Estelle Lockwood the most. You tell us, is that her?"

"She’s been dead for five years. Can the dead come back to life?"

"But you never know. What if she didn’t die back then...? If she’s back, what’s Noelle going to do?"

"Shut up, all of you," Kian Winslow cut in, a calculating glint in his eyes. "There’s one way to find out. Estelle Lockwood couldn’t hold her liquor at all. Go get her drunk."

On the other side of the room, Estelle Lockwood raised her glass, her eyes bright. "Mr. Kingston, we’re signing our partnership agreement tomorrow. From now on, we’ll all be friends. Come, let me toast you."

Alcohol tended to show on her face quickly, not as an exaggerated flush, but as a delicate pink dusting her cheeks, making her eyes look a little hazy.

She looked even more radiant and captivating than before.

Many of them were stunned by the sight.

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression grew even darker.

"Miss Lockwood is partnering with Jasper? In that case, shouldn’t you toast us, Jasper’s friends, as well?" Kian Winslow suddenly interjected with ill intent.

Estelle Lockwood narrowed her eyes. ’Why is Noelle’s admirer still so stupid? He thinks that because I couldn’t drink five years ago, Yara can’t drink now?’

Estelle Lockwood took a glass of red wine from a nearby waiter, her gaze shifting flirtatiously. "Mr. Kingston, are all these people your friends? Do you think I should offer them a toast?"

A gentle smile on his face, Jasper Kingston turned with a helpless air. "Nathaniel, what do you say?"

Nathaniel Sloan didn’t know why, but a surge of anger rose within him.

’A nightclub. Alone. Drinking. And pretending not to know him.’

Every single thing was making his blood boil.

’Fine. Let’s see how long this woman can keep up her act!’

"Miss Lockwood is nothing to me. You don’t need to ask my opinion."

Kian Winslow immediately piped up, "See? Neither Jasper nor Nathaniel has any objections. So, Miss Lockwood, are you drinking or not? You know, when we come here to party, we all have our own hostesses. Someone like you, Miss Lockwood, seems quite suited for the job."

Estelle Lockwood’s lips curved into a smile. She tilted her head back and downed the drink in one go.

The liquor slid down her throat with a spicy kick, making her eyes even hazier. Nathaniel Sloan’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

After finishing her drink, Estelle Lockwood pulled a thick wad of cash from her purse and stuffed it into the hands of the male host who had just given her the drink. "Young Mr. Winslow, who else wants a toast? Bring them on all at once."

Receiving such a generous tip, the host’s service became even more attentive. He said in a soft, gentle voice, "Please, drink slowly."

Estelle Lockwood downed another glass, followed by another wad of cash.

The other male and female hosts couldn’t sit still any longer. Even the hostess by Kian Winslow’s side ran over to Estelle Lockwood and started massaging her legs. "Miss Lockwood, I can pour drinks too! Look at me!"

Yara Lockwood was very pleased and gave her a wad of cash as well.

In an instant, everyone had crowded around Estelle Lockwood. Even Kian Winslow and his cronies looked like they were part of her drinking entourage.

Estelle Lockwood smiled faintly. "Young Mr. Winslow, take a look. Who’s the paid companion now?"