The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 40: Chapter 40: Mr. Sloan, You’re Going to Cause a Misunderstanding

Henry Kendrick grew impatient. "Let’s save the talk about our collaboration for tomorrow. This is my personal time."

Nathaniel Sloan replied calmly, "What I want to ask isn’t a business matter."

His gaze was calm as he cut straight to the chase, seizing the initiative. "Young Mr. Kendrick, is Yara Lockwood the Kendrick family’s adopted daughter?"

Publicly, Yara Lockwood was the co-founder of Star Group alongside the Kendrick family. Outsiders were unaware of her true relationship with them, but in reality, Estelle Lockwood had spent the last five years recuperating under their care. The Kendricks had taken her to a few banquets abroad, always introducing her as: ’one of our own’.

Clearly, Nathaniel Sloan had investigated Yara Lockwood’s identity, which was why he was asking.

Henry Kendrick frowned. "Why are you asking this?"

A glint flashed in the eyes behind Nathaniel Sloan’s gold-rimmed glasses, but his tone was as calm as ever. "Yara Lockwood is my son’s private doctor. It’s only natural that I make sure I have all the facts."

Henry Kendrick sneered. "That’s right. Yara grew up with my family, the Kendricks. My parents treat her like their own daughter. Oh, and by the way, I hope you, Mr. Sloan, can pass that along to Noelle Lockwood and that brainless cousin of hers."

"Yara has the entire Kendrick family backing her. She’s not someone just any riffraff can bully."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes when he heard Noelle Lockwood’s name. He steered the conversation back on track.

"If Yara Lockwood grew up with the Kendricks and is considered a daughter of the family, then why—"

He lowered his voice. "Is her last name Lockwood?"

Henry Kendrick narrowed his eyes, alarm bells screaming in his head. He suddenly realized it. ’This ex-husband is starting to suspect Estelle’s identity.’

"What’s wrong with her surname being Lockwood? That was her name to begin with; she just didn’t want to change it. Is that a problem?"

That much was true.

Coincidentally, though Estelle Lockwood had been lost to her family for eighteen years, the grandfather who had taken her in also shared the surname Lockwood. It was he who had given her the name Estelle Lockwood.

That was why she hadn’t changed her surname after faking her death to leave the Lockwood family. freewebnøvel.com

Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze fell. "Is that so? Then how do you explain, Young Mr. Kendrick, that all of Yara Lockwood’s records stop five years ago?"

It was as if this Yara Lockwood had appeared out of thin air five years ago. Her background before that was a complete blank.

Estelle Lockwood died, and Yara Lockwood appeared out of thin air... A lump formed in Nathaniel Sloan’s throat. He didn’t dare to dwell on the thought.

Henry Kendrick narrowed his eyes and sneered mockingly, "The Kendricks aren’t people you can investigate just because you feel like it. I heard Yara looks a lot like your deceased ex-wife, Mr. Sloan. Don’t tell me you suspect Yara *is* your ex-wife?"

"You’re reading too much into it, Mr. Sloan. Yara and Estelle Lockwood are not the same."

Recalling the injustices Estelle Lockwood had suffered, Henry’s voice filled with hatred as he spoke with biting sarcasm,

"Estelle Lockwood couldn’t win over the elders. She was a country bumpkin, despised by her own birth parents, and looked down on by everyone. Yara is one of the Kendricks, with Star Group to her name. My parents, older brother, and grandparents all adore her. They are two completely different people—"

"Estelle was a good person, Young Mr. Kendrick. Watch what you say," Nathaniel Sloan cut him off coldly.

Henry Kendrick shot him a look that was not quite a smile. "Fine. I’ve said my piece. But don’t you dare use Yara’s name to reminisce about your ’late wife’ anymore. It’s disgusting."

With that, Henry Kendrick got directly into his car and drove off.

He couldn’t understand how Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood could be so biased. Estelle Lockwood was their biological daughter, yet they allowed that adopted daughter to suppress and torment her, only to turn around and say with false sincerity, "It’s because Estelle was naturally insecure and didn’t want to be close to us. That’s why we didn’t like her."

But she was the very same person, and yet Estelle Lockwood had earned the love of everyone in the Kendrick family. Mr. and Mrs. Kendrick treated her like their own daughter, and Old Mr. Kendrick and Old Mrs. Kendrick wanted to give her company shares.

The Lockwoods claimed Estelle was rude and disrespectful to her elders... Utterly ridiculous!

Five years on, and that family was still exploiting Estelle Lockwood’s value to pave the way for Noelle Lockwood.

And Nathaniel Sloan, that accomplice, had the audacity to say ’Estelle was a good person’.

If she was so good, then why didn’t Nathaniel Sloan help her when she was being bullied by Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood?

Why didn’t he speak up for her when she was being mocked and scorned by Noelle Lockwood?

Who was he putting on this insincere act for now?

The more Henry Kendrick thought about it, the angrier he got. He pulled out his phone and fired off a furious text to Estelle Lockwood: "That ex-husband of yours! Ptui!"

Outside Imperial Crest, Nathaniel Sloan watched Henry Kendrick’s retreating back and was lost in thought.

’Henry Kendrick seemed far too agitated.’

’Why was he so agitated? Because he was standing up for Estelle Lockwood.’

’If Yara and Estelle Lockwood aren’t the same person, and Henry Kendrick doesn’t know Estelle, why would he get so worked up?’

’So...’

Nathaniel Sloan abruptly closed his eyes.

’So, you’ve come back, but you refuse to reveal yourself to me?’

’Is she really Estelle Lockwood?’

...

「The next morning.」

Estelle Lockwood got out of bed, washed up, and chose a formal outfit, preparing to head to Evernight International for a negotiation.

With Evernight acting as both a fragrance supplier and perfume partner, Estelle Lockwood needed to drive down costs as much as possible. It was going to be a tough battle.

Nathaniel Sloan’s team was no pushover, either. They definitely wouldn’t yield when it came to concrete profits.

Estelle Lockwood could already imagine how sharp and contentious today’s negotiations would be.

However, as soon as she came downstairs, she saw the man in charge of the other company standing by the sofa, casually adjusting his tie. He shot her a sidelong glance. "It’s about time. Let’s go to the office together."

Estelle Lockwood was at a loss for words. "..."

’This feels so weird.’

"Mr. Sloan, as the head of Star, I’m supposed to negotiate prices with you today," she reminded him.

’So, we’re about to be at each other’s throats, but right now we’re eating breakfast and leaving for the office together. Isn’t there something wrong with this picture?’

But Nathaniel Sloan just flicked his eyes up. "Mm. We’ll deal with that later. Get in the car."

Estelle Lockwood started to refuse, but then she heard Nathaniel Sloan say calmly, "Chapman and the driver were called away unexpectedly. There aren’t any other cars in the garage for you to use. The meeting is starting soon, and we’ll be just on time if we leave now. If you delay any longer..."

A faint smile seemed to touch his lips. "Then just get ready for ’Star’s CEO and Evernight’s Chairman Arrive Late Together’ to become the front-page headline on the financial news channel."

Estelle Lockwood: "..."

’Why is Nathaniel Sloan being so weird today?’

But she didn’t overthink it. Without any coyness, she decisively got into the car.

Nathaniel Sloan gripped the steering wheel with both hands, forcing himself to look away.

’He did have many questions, but he wasn’t in a hurry. If she really was Estelle Lockwood, then... at least she was back by his side now.’

Watching the two of them leave, Zachery, mid-breakfast, began to animatedly spin a tale for Mia, a brilliant idea that had just struck him.

"By day, they’re the heads of two rival companies, fighting tooth and nail over profits, known to all as mortal enemies. But by night, they share the same car, return to the same home, and even have three children..."

"Stop!" Mia exclaimed, exasperated. "Zachery, you little dunce, what kind of novels have you been reading now?"

’Have we already moved on from the ’groveling ex’ trope to the ’enemies-to-lovers’ one?’

...

「Half an hour later.」

At an intersection just before they reached Evernight International, Estelle Lockwood suddenly said, "I want to get out of the car."

Nathaniel Sloan glanced at her, his tone unruffled. "We’re almost there."

Estelle Lockwood frowned. "No, I need to get out. If we’re seen arriving together, it’ll give people the wrong idea."

Nathaniel Sloan stepped on the brake. His gaze deepened, and his voice grew husky.

"What kind of wrong idea?"