The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Sweating Yet, Ex-Hubby?

Nathaniel Sloan wasn’t deliberately waiting here. He had just gotten home himself and heard the sound of a car braking before he could even walk through the door.

He turned around and saw Estelle Lockwood and the three children getting out of the car.

For a fleeting moment, he had the strange illusion that they were a family...

However, that illusion was shattered by Henry Kendrick.

Henry Kendrick walked up with a smile, extending his hand for a shake. "Well, well, Mr. Sloan. We haven’t seen each other since the last time we saw each other. I’ve come uninvited, hope you don’t mind? I was just dropping Yara and the kids home, and since it’s getting late, I thought I’d freeload a meal off you."

Without waiting for Nathaniel Sloan to respond, he immediately lowered his head, looking like a pitiful puppy.

"Why aren’t you saying anything, Mr. Sloan? Was I being too presumptuous? I’m sorry, I just wanted to get to know Yara’s friends. I didn’t realize you’d mind my presence so much. It’s all my fault."

Estelle Lockwood: "..."

Nathaniel Sloan’s brow furrowed. He felt like Henry Kendrick was making veiled accusations. "Vice President Kendrick..."

Henry Kendrick immediately cut him off. "What’s wrong? Why the frown, Mr. Sloan? Don’t you like the way I talk? That can’t be right. I heard you have a thing for the ’green tea’ types, and I’m a professional. Isn’t that right, Yara? Oh, what are we all doing standing at the door? Let’s go in."

With that, Henry Kendrick walked right in as if he owned the place.

He was completely at ease, acting as if Imperial Crest was his own home. "Yara, this place is really nice. I’ll come visit you often from now on. I’m sure Mr. Sloan won’t mind if one of Yara’s male friends moves in to keep her company, right?"

Henry Kendrick emphasized the words "male friends."

A vein throbbed on Nathaniel Sloan’s temple. He had no idea why Henry Kendrick was so hostile toward him.

Watching from the side, Luke White was filled with mixed feelings.

’This... Vice President Kendrick is a ’green tea’ too! He’s even more of a ’green tea’ than Noelle Lockwood!’

It was dinnertime, and since Henry Kendrick was the vice president of Star Group, Nathaniel Sloan had no good reason to kick him out.

As they sat at the dining table, Estelle Lockwood kicked Henry Kendrick’s leg under the table, giving him a look that said: ’Stop fooling around.’

Henry Kendrick pretended not to notice.

He had personally witnessed how much Estelle Lockwood had loved this man during her five years with the Kendrick Family.

Even after she was covered in scars and nearly lost her life, it still took her a very long time to let go of those feelings.

When she first arrived, she was afraid to sleep in the dark, terrified of thunder, and scared of anything related to fire.

It was Old Mr. Kendrick, Mr. Kendrick, and Mrs. Kendrick who stayed by her side, helping her recover over the course of nearly three years.

The Kendrick Family doted on Estelle Lockwood as if she were their own daughter. The eldest young master of the Kendrick Family treated her like a real sister, and Henry Kendrick, who had accompanied her back to the country for her revenge, also considered her his own family.

Confronted with the man who had hurt her so deeply, Henry Kendrick had no intention of letting him off the hook!

Henry Kendrick started criticizing the dishes on the table. "This food isn’t that great. Yara, is this what the Sloan Family usually feeds you?"

Mia and Zachery exchanged a look. They stared at the lavish spread on the table, rendered speechless.

’Uncle Henry doesn’t even know how to properly find fault. How can he complain about a state banquet-level meal like this?’

But Henry Kendrick was one step ahead. "Mr. Sloan, didn’t you promise to be Yara’s servant for a year? Since you’re a servant, why aren’t you in the kitchen cooking yourself now that Yara’s friend is here?"

A dead silence fell over the dining table.

Chapman and the other servants didn’t dare to look up. ’Who is this guy? So brave? How dare he provoke Mr. Sloan!’

Nathaniel Sloan put down his chopsticks and looked up calmly. "Does Young Mr. Kendrick want to eat something I’ve cooked?"

"Of course. I truly want to sample your culinary skills, Mr. Sloan. Are you unwilling?"

He then sighed dramatically. "Ah, Yara, this servant of yours isn’t very obedient. Never mind, never mind. It’s not like I absolutely have to make things difficult for him. But he’s so boring and useless all the time, how is he supposed to take care of you?"

Estelle Lockwood: "..." ’That’s enough, you’re being way too much of a ’green tea’!’

But the entire dining room had become Henry Kendrick’s stage.

His "green tea" artistry was superb. "Mr. Sloan, don’t misunderstand. I’m not deliberately trying to give you a hard time. I just don’t get why Noelle Lockwood was so desperate to have you. I don’t think you’re all that great. You’re not bad-looking, I guess, but you have a terrible personality and a foul temper."

"Noelle Lockwood had to have you, even at the cost of being cursed out for being the mistress. I’m just really curious, which is why I wanted to see if you have any hidden virtues I haven’t discovered yet, Mr. Sloan. Like, say, cooking."

"But now it seems you don’t have any. Then again, that makes sense. How could I possibly use my normal logic to comprehend the mind of a fake heiress who’s a real mistress?"

Nathaniel Sloan seemed to understand where Henry Kendrick’s hostility was coming from.

Noelle Lockwood...

Henry Kendrick despised Noelle Lockwood, and he also despised Nathaniel for ’taking care of’ her all these years.

’But why would Henry Kendrick despise her? And why is he so hostile toward me and Noelle Lockwood?’

Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze darkened. ’Perhaps it’s because... the Kendrick Family’s beloved daughter is Estelle Lockwood.’

’Henry Kendrick is standing up for Estelle Lockwood.’

Everything in his mind seemed to click into place. With an impassive expression, Nathaniel Sloan explained, "There’s nothing between me and Noelle Lockwood."

"Stop explaining. Explanations are just excuses, and excuses are admissions of guilt."

Henry Kendrick didn’t even hesitate to drag himself through the mud. "Mr. Sloan, I get you, because I’m a scumbag too. We scumbags are all the same. We’re always looking for the next best thing while we have a good thing going. When we get caught, we just say, ’I don’t know what you’re talking about. There’s nothing going on between us. We’re innocent.’"

Estelle Lockwood fell silent.

Zachery and Mia also fell silent.

Christian propped his chin on his hand, watched Henry Kendrick, and nodded thoughtfully.

Zachery: "..." ’Aaaah! Young Master, you can’t learn from a ’green tea’ like him! Learn something good for a change!’

After his speech, Henry Kendrick felt a little thirsty. He drank a large glass of water, then shot a provocative look at Nathaniel Sloan.

’Breaking out in a cold sweat now, are we, ex-hubby?’

Unexpectedly, Nathaniel Sloan suddenly put down his chopsticks and rose calmly. "It’s getting late, and Young Mr. Kendrick is almost finished eating. I imagine you don’t have room for a heavy, meaty dish, so I’ll just stir-fry some simple vegetables for you."

And with that, he actually went into the kitchen.

Twenty minutes later, a plate of vibrant green vegetables was placed in front of Henry Kendrick, accompanied by a freshly brewed cup of pre-Qingming Longjing green tea.

Henry Kendrick felt that something wasn’t quite right.

’...Damn it. Is ex-hubby mocking me for being such a ’green tea’? He is, isn’t he? He totally is!’ freēwēbηovel.c૦m

’Heh. He comes down hard on a male ’green tea’ but was completely blind when faced with a female ’green tea’ like Noelle Lockwood.’

’Ex-hubby really is unreliable!’

...

After the meal was over, Estelle Lockwood was about to head upstairs when Nathaniel Sloan suddenly spoke up. "The cooperation project with Star Group has been drafted. Miss Lockwood, please remember to go to Evernight International tomorrow to sign the contract."

Star had ultimately chosen Evernight International as its fragrance supplier, while opening up a different track of business with the Kingston Group.

The contract signing with Evernight International was tomorrow. As the person in charge of this collaboration, Estelle Lockwood naturally had to be there.

When it came to work, she wouldn’t let her personal feelings interfere. "Got it."

After Estelle Lockwood went upstairs, Henry Kendrick ended his performance and was about to take his leave when Nathaniel Sloan suddenly stopped him.

"Young Mr. Kendrick, I have a few questions. Would you be willing to answer one or two for me?"