The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: You Deserve a Lifetime in the Wife-Chasing Crematorium

’Nathaniel Sloan... is he asking for my help?’

’Yes, Nathaniel Sloan was injured saving me. I should help him.’

But in the chaos, her thoughts uncontrollably drifted back to the past—

Five years ago, at a party, Nathaniel Sloan had cut his hand on a broken wine glass. She had wanted to help then, too, but Noelle Lockwood had stopped her.

Noelle had scolded her, asking if she could just stand aside quietly and not cause trouble, since she didn’t know or understand anything.

At the time, Estelle Lockwood had wanted to say that she just wanted to bandage Nathaniel Sloan’s wound, not cause trouble.

But Noelle Lockwood had shoved her away in disgust, fussing over Nathaniel Sloan.

She was left alone in a corner. No one noticed her, and no one cared how she felt.

It was as if an invisible barrier separated her from Nathaniel Sloan and everyone around him, making her feel completely out of place.

Ever since then, she had never shown concern again, whether Nathaniel Sloan was sick or injured. After all, even if she did, it would just be ’causing trouble’.

The present scene overlapped with the memory from five years ago. Estelle Lockwood took a sharp step back, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Mr. Sloan can handle a simple bandage himself. I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble."

With that, she took Mia’s hand and started to leave. "We’re going home."

Zachery hurried to follow. Christian glanced at Nathaniel Sloan, a hint of sympathy in his eyes.

’He didn’t know why Mommy was suddenly upset, but it was definitely Daddy’s fault.’

Between his mommy and daddy, Christian decisively chose his mommy.

Director Miller was speechless.

’His wife and kids all left within a minute. I wonder what the injured Mr. Sloan is thinking right now?’

Director Miller laughed awkwardly, trying to smooth things over. "Haha, Mrs. Sloan is probably... probably just very busy, haha."

Nathaniel Sloan’s long, narrow eyes narrowed slightly.

Blood was still dripping from his forearm, but he paid it no mind. He gave the sprawled-out President King a dismissive glance and uttered a single word, "Investigate."

President King trembled like a leaf. It was over. Everything was over...

...

「That night.」

After the three kids were asleep, Estelle Lockwood suddenly heard the door open.

A thick gauze bandage was wrapped around Nathaniel Sloan’s muscular forearm. He had opened the door with one hand and was now taking off his suit jacket with that same hand.

After doing all this, Nathaniel Sloan glanced over with a faint smirk. "Don’t they say doctors should have a benevolent heart? Are you really that heartless, Dr. Lockwood?"

Estelle Lockwood, who had been about to go to her room to sleep, furrowed her brow.

’Was Nathaniel Sloan mocking her for being heartless?’

’He was right. She *was* a heartless person!’

Estelle Lockwood said coolly, "During work hours, I’m a doctor with a benevolent heart. But now I’m off the clock. If you want to play the victim, Mr. Sloan, you can sell your sob story elsewhere. I’m sure plenty of women will fall for your act."

A glint appeared in Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes. "So, Dr. Lockwood doesn’t plan on taking care of me?"

Estelle Lockwood was stunned. "What on earth gave you the idea that I want to take care of you?"

’Don’t even try to tell her that Nathaniel Sloan got hurt for her sake. It was Walter King’s fault he got hurt. And as for why Walter King, who wasn’t even at Greenbriar Kindergarten a few days ago, suddenly transferred in today only to start bullying Mia...’

’If she investigated further, she’d probably be able to dig up all sorts of dirt on Nathaniel Sloan’s mother.’

’She refused to believe that Laura Jennings had nothing to do with this.’

’So, the real culprit behind Nathaniel Sloan’s injury was his own mother. Why on earth should *she* have to take care of him?’

Nathaniel Sloan leaned casually against the sofa, a faint smile on his lips.

Seeing how desperate she was to avoid him, the man suddenly felt an urge to tease her.

"You haven’t forgotten we’re supposed to go to Rosalind Garden in two days, have you, Miss Lockwood? With my hand injured, it’s quite inconvenient for me to get around. If I don’t receive the best care, I’m afraid I won’t be able to go."

Nathaniel Sloan added nonchalantly, "And if I don’t go, the project can’t proceed smoothly. What do you say, Miss Lockwood?"

Estelle Lockwood’s eyes widened in shock. ’How could this man be so despicable!’

"Nathaniel Sloan, am I the only one making money from this partnership?"

’The partnership was clearly mutually beneficial, yet he was using it to threaten her!’

Nathaniel Sloan raised an eyebrow. "To be honest, I don’t really care about that little bit of money from the project."

’A total of 4.5 billion in investment and profit over its full course, and he calls it a "little bit of money"?’

But he had hit her right where it hurt. Every day of delay was another day of burning money. Nathaniel Sloan didn’t care, but she cared a lot!

But if she really had to take care of him, Estelle Lockwood would inevitably be reminded of that very unpleasant memory from five years ago.

"So, Miss Lockwood, care to reconsider?" Nathaniel Sloan said lightly. "When you asked me to be your servant, I didn’t refuse in the slightest."

Estelle Lockwood let out a dry laugh. "Oh, you remember you’re my servant? Since you’re the servant, what gives you the right to demand I take care of you?"

Nathaniel Sloan naturally caught the sarcasm in her voice but remained noncommittal. "These are special circumstances. Things are different, naturally."

Seeing her remain silent, Nathaniel Sloan leisurely picked up his phone with his left hand. "If Dr. Lockwood is unwilling, then I’ll just have to postpone the trip to Rosalind Garden."

As he spoke, he made a move to call Luke White.

Estelle Lockwood gritted her teeth.

’In the past, she had wanted to take care of him but never got the chance. After all, the moment Nathaniel Sloan got hurt, all sorts of women would flock to his side.’

’Noelle Lockwood, his secretary... they would all surround him so tightly that she, the legitimate Mrs. Sloan, wasn’t even allowed to visit him in the hospital.’

’Now he gets a small injury on his arm and expects her to ’take care’ of him?’

’The nerve!’

’But the trip to Rosalind Garden couldn’t be delayed. The studio was waiting for the flowers to make perfume, and the costs for equipment, labor, and maintenance were astronomical. She couldn’t afford any delays.’

Estelle Lockwood’s expression shifted several times. Weighing ’losing money’ against ’taking care of him’, she decided money was more important.

’Putting up with his nauseating behavior for two days would pass, but lost money was lost forever.’

Estelle Lockwood said through gritted teeth, "Fine. Take care of you, is it? All right. No problem."

Seeing the vivid expression on her face, Nathaniel Sloan’s lips curled. He once again saw Yara Lockwood’s face superimposed on Estelle Lockwood’s, and his mood brightened considerably.

However, before he could speak, he saw Estelle Lockwood suddenly get up and head for the kitchen.

Two minutes later, she returned carrying a watermelon, a knife in her hand.

"Mr. Sloan, the kitchen just happened to have a chilled watermelon. It’s getting hot, so this will help you cool down. Since it’s inconvenient for you to move, I’ll cut it for you."

Nathaniel Sloan was slightly stunned. He had only been joking when he’d asked Estelle Lockwood to take care of him.

He hadn’t expected her to actually be willing to cut fruit for him.

"These things..."

’You don’t have to do these things.’

But before he could finish, Estelle Lockwood gripped the knife with one hand and plunged it straight into the watermelon. White blade in, red blade out. It looked less like she was stabbing a watermelon and more like she was stabbing Nathaniel Sloan’s head.

With a CRACK, the watermelon split in two.

A menacing smile played on Estelle Lockwood’s lips. "Don’t you worry, Mr. Sloan. For the next two days, I’ll take *very* good care of you."

Nathaniel Sloan: "..."

Estelle Lockwood snorted coldly, dropped the watermelon knife, and went upstairs to bed.

Nathaniel Sloan sat alone in the living room for a long time, watching her retreating back, deep in thought. freēwebnovel.com

’Her little mannerisms, the expression on her face when she was angry... it was all too similar...’

PLAP.

Suddenly, a tube of ointment was tossed onto the sofa next to Nathaniel Sloan.

He looked up and met Zachery Lockwood’s slightly tense little face. "Mia told me to bring you this medicine," the boy said, clearly unhappy about it.

Nathaniel Sloan toyed with the ointment, amused. "At least Mia has a conscience."

Zachery immediately blew up. "What’s that supposed to mean? Are you implying my mommy is heartless?"

Nathaniel Sloan laughed, a teasing glint in his long, narrow eyes. "Those are your words, not mine."

Zachery Lockwood: "..." ’Damn, I think my scumbag dad just tricked me!’

He muttered under his breath, "Serves you right. I hope you have to grovel for the rest of your life to win her back."