The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Nathaniel Sloan Was Ice-Cold, "I’d Like to See Who Dares!

Estelle Lockwood hung up the phone and was about to hail a cab when she suddenly heard Nathaniel Sloan call out to her. "Miss Lockwood."

She turned around. "Is something wrong?"

"We’re going to Rosalind Garden in two days to select raw materials. Don’t forget, Miss Lockwood."

Estelle Lockwood’s brow furrowed.

’The schedule was just set in the meeting half an hour ago. Would I really forget it already? Is Nathaniel Sloan mocking me for being an airhead?’

Estelle Lockwood gave a noncommittal response and went straight back to Star Studio.

...

「A little after two in the afternoon, Evernight International, the CEO’s office.」

Luke White knocked and entered. "Sir, the arrangements for the collaboration are all set, and the personnel for the trip to Rosalind Garden the day after tomorrow have been decided."

Nathaniel Sloan hummed softly in acknowledgment. Sensing Luke White had more to say, he didn’t even lift his gaze. "Is there something else?"

Luke White swallowed, feeling utterly helpless. "Also, Mrs. Sloan called again. She wants you to add Miss Noelle Lockwood to the group..."

Nathaniel Sloan’s rejection was immediate. "Out of the question."

Luke White nodded and had the secretary reply to Mrs. Sloan.

’I just don’t get it,’ he thought. ’What on earth does Mrs. Sloan see in Noelle Lockwood? Back when the missus was still around, Mrs. Sloan couldn’t stand her and was constantly trying to push Noelle onto the Sir.’

RING... RING...

Just then, Nathaniel Sloan’s phone rang. It was an unknown number, but it was calling his personal cell.

"Hello, is this Mia Lockwood’s father?"

A young, anxious female voice came from the other end. "This is Greenbriar Kindergarten. We couldn’t reach her mother, and since your number was listed as the father’s contact, we had to call you. Something has happened to Mia. Could you please come over?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression darkened instantly. "Luke, get the car ready."

...

「Half an hour later, Greenbriar Kindergarten.」

Inside the office, a gaudily made-up woman, draped in expensive designer brands and dripping with jewelry, was pointing at Mia and screaming abuse, the flesh on her face jiggling as she shook.

"My son wanted to touch you—that’s an honor for you, you hear me?! And you dared to have him beaten up for it? You must have a death wish!"

Next to the woman stood a chubby little boy, who shouted with a smug look on his face, "Mia Lockwood, you’re just a fatherless bastard! So what if I touched you? You think you’re so high and mighty?"

Zachery’s face was grim, and Christian had lost his usual smile.

The two boys stood protectively in front of Mia. Zachery gritted his teeth. "Shut your mouth!"

Christian added coldly, "Being the loudest doesn’t make you right. I’ve already called the police."

Mrs. King was instantly furious. "Miss Lockwood, look at this, just look! I can’t even say a few words! Calling the police? Do you have any idea what the King Family’s status is in Crestfall?! Miss Lockwood, if this isn’t resolved, this will not be over!"

Noelle Lockwood said with feigned sincerity, "Mrs. King, please, calm down. It’s my child who was in the wrong in this matter..."

The two young kindergarten teachers were frantic with worry. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

The principal wasn’t in today. During activity time, the chubby boy, Walter King, had followed Mia around, repeatedly trying to touch her waist and legs, but Mia had managed to dodge him every time.

Afterward, the little bully escalated, gathering a few helpers to drag Mia into the restroom, where they tried to strip her clothes off.

Fortunately, Mia’s two "brothers" arrived just in time, and each of them landed a punch on Walter King.

All hell broke loose. Walter King sat on the floor, wailing his eyes out and demanding they call his parents.

The King Family was powerful and influential in Crestfall, and the vice-principal was a spineless coward who only knew how to curry favor with the elite. The moment he saw Mrs. King arrive, he demanded that Mia and the boys apologize without even asking what had happened.

Initially, one of the teachers had wanted to stand up for Mia. It clearly wasn’t her fault—she was the one who had almost been assaulted, and now she was being forced to apologize? It was completely unreasonable. That’s why she had called Mia’s father.

Who would have thought that right after she hung up, a woman claiming to be Christian’s mother would show up.

The teacher thought for a moment. ’Christian and Mia are brother and sister, so Christian’s mother must be Mia’s mother, too.’

But as soon as this "mother" walked in, she showed no concern for her daughter. Instead, she immediately started apologizing to Mrs. King, placing all the blame on her own children!

Noelle Lockwood was still earnestly apologizing. "I’m so sorry, Mrs. King. My Christian was being thoughtless. I’ll be sure to discipline him properly when we get home. It’s definitely wrong for a child to hit someone."

"Christian, I know you and Mia Lockwood are good friends, but you can’t just go around hitting Young Mr. King without knowing the facts. Mia Lockwood claims Young Mr. King tried to assault her, but does that make it true? Everyone knows she’s..."

At this point, Noelle Lockwood paused deliberately, then sighed as if she couldn’t bear to say more. "Christian, come over here and apologize to Young Mr. King right now."

Mrs. King’s expression softened considerably. "Miss Lockwood, now you’re being reasonable. Fine, I won’t hold it against Christian Sloan. But those two little mongrels must apologize! And be expelled!"

The King Family was new money, and Mrs. King knew nothing but a hedonistic lifestyle, completely oblivious to the intricacies of high society.

Noelle Lockwood had revealed her identity as a daughter of the Lockwood Group, but Mrs. King didn’t connect Christian Sloan with Nathaniel Sloan, assuming Christian was just some unfavored illegitimate son.

As for the other two, they were supposedly the children of Lockwood Family servants, so they were even less worthy of her concern.

Noelle Lockwood smiled gracefully. "I’m only responsible for taking Christian. The other two children have nothing to do with me. Do as you wish, Mrs. King."

With that, she put on the air of a mother who cared wholeheartedly for her son. "Christian, let’s go home. From now on, you should spend less time with..."

"Get lost!" Christian Sloan shoved her away coldly.

Noelle Lockwood’s smile froze. "Christian, what are you doing? Are you unhappy because Mommy didn’t help Mia Lockwood? But we have to be reasonable people..."

"Your idea of being reasonable is to ignore the truth, twist right and wrong, and pin all the blame on Mia?! And another thing, you’re not my mommy, so stop flattering yourself!"

Noticing the strange looks from the people around them, Noelle Lockwood feigned helplessness. "Christian, you’re really breaking Mommy’s heart... I know you resent Mommy because I said Mia isn’t a good child and told you not to play with her, so you..."

"I’m your mommy, so I can indulge your tantrums, but other people will just think you’re ill-behaved, do you understand?"

The onlookers’ expressions gradually returned to normal.

’So that’s it. Christian was just saying those things on purpose because of Mia Lockwood.’

’Sigh, to disown his own mommy for a tainted friend like that... that Mia Lockwood is really bad news!’

Christian gritted his teeth, hating for the thousandth time that he was just a child. "I’m not leaving. I did nothing wrong. I want to see Walter King apologize to Mia!"

Noelle Lockwood looked helpless, as if Christian were the most rebellious child alive.

Hearing this, Mrs. King let out a laugh of pure indignation.

Her posture was high and mighty, her expression full of contempt.

"Apologize? Don’t think I don’t know. That Mia Lockwood is a nobody from nowhere, raised by a single mother with no power or influence in Crestfall. She’s just a fatherless little bastard! My son telling her to take off her clothes was him doing her a favor! He likes her, so what’s wrong with a little touch? What’s she acting so high-and-mighty for!"

At this, Mrs. King’s eyes darted slyly, and her voice turned sinister. "So you want to do this the hard way, is that it? Men, strip her naked for me!"

At her words, Zachery’s and Christian’s faces went dark with fury. They immediately shielded Mia between them, one in front and one behind.

But Mrs. King had brought four bodyguards. Two small children were no match for four grown men.

Walter King clapped his hands, his chubby face filled with a sinister viciousness that didn’t belong on a five-year-old. "Hurry up, hurry up and strip her!" frёewebnoѵēl.com

Zachery said anxiously, "Mia, when you get a chance, run—"

"Let’s see who dares!"

BANG!

The office door was kicked open, and a dozen bodyguards in black suits flooded in, instantly pinning the Kings to the ground.

Everyone was stunned.

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression was glacial. His sharp gaze swept over them as he repeated, one word at a time, "Let’s. See. Who. Dares."