The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 46: Chapter 46: Noelle Lockwood Is Scorned by Mr. Sloan and Almost Dies of Anger

Nathaniel Sloan didn’t hear what he was mumbling. "Zachery, there’s something I’ve always been curious about."

Zachery felt the man was up to no good. If he hadn’t rushed over to save Mia today, Zachery wouldn’t have bothered being civil. "What do you want?"

Nathaniel Sloan looked at the boy, who was the spitting image of Yara Lockwood. A storm raged inside him, but his tone was exceptionally calm, as if he were just asking a casual question.

"What is Estelle Lockwood’s relationship to you?"

His tone was so casual, so nonchalant, that it made Zachery let his guard down for a couple of seconds. "Oh, Este—"

’Wait!’ Zachery suddenly snapped to his senses. Alarm bells went off, sirens blaring in his head.

’What’s going on? Why did scum dad suddenly bring up Mommy’s real name?’

’Did he find out?’

’No, no, no, that’s not right. If he had found out, scum dad—the accomplice who caused Mommy’s death—wouldn’t be this calm. He’s testing me!’

With that thought, Zachery changed his tune. "Oh? Who’s Estelle Lockwood? I remember your fiancée is named Noelle Lockwood, Uncle Sloan. Don’t tell me they’re sisters? Wow, Uncle Sloan, you’re quite the player!"

Nathaniel Sloan narrowed his eyes.

After a long moment, he said in a hoarse voice, "Estelle Lockwood was my wife."

Zachery’s intelligence was at its peak. He said with deliberate disdain, "Why are you asking? Don’t tell me you suspect Mommy is Estelle Lockwood? And that I’m your son?"

"Uncle Sloan, you’re being ridiculous. Who goes around so eager to be someone else’s dad? Even if you’re handsome and rich, you can’t just get an amazing son like me for free."

"Besides, I know Mommy is great and a lot of people like her. If you want to date her, just pursue her directly. But saying she looks like your ex-wife? That’s a terrible way to hit on someone... oh, I mean, to scam your way in."

Zachery cleverly switched the word at the last second.

’Hmph. Serves him right. After all, the first time scum dad saw Mommy, he thought she was a scammer.’

Zachery pressed his advantage.

"Besides, even if Mommy really were your ex-wife, you should take a good, long look at yourself and figure out why she won’t acknowledge you. Maybe it’s because you were just that awful!" ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

After saying his piece, Zachery quickly ran upstairs, not giving Nathaniel a chance to respond. freewebnoveℓ.com

’That was close! Scum dad is definitely suspicious.’

’But... when I said that last part, why did scum dad look so sad?’

’Could it be that scum dad has feelings for Mommy, too?’

’If he has feelings for her, why did he cause her death?’

’On second thought,’ Zachery mused, ’it’s actually better if he has feelings. If he felt nothing, no guilt at all, then Mommy’s return and her refusal to acknowledge him would probably just be one less problem for him to deal with.’

’But if he does have feelings for Mommy, and feels guilty... ’

’...then Mommy’s coldness and her deliberate concealment of her identity would be like a poisoned knife to Nathaniel Sloan.’

...

「8:00 AM the next morning.」

Estelle Lockwood dragged herself out of bed, still heavy with sleep.

She remembered she still had to "take care of" Nathaniel Sloan today... Estelle gritted her teeth. ’It’s only for two days. I can bear it!’

After freshening up, she was about to head downstairs when she suddenly heard a woman’s sickeningly sweet voice.

"Chapman, how could you not tell me about something as serious as Nathaniel’s injury?"

"I’m so sorry, I really didn’t know things would turn out this way. It’s all my fault... Chapman, I’ll stay at Imperial Crest for the next few days to take care of Nathaniel. I’ll just stay in my old room. Please arrange it."

Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow. ’This woman has been kicked out countless times, yet she still manages to cling to him like a piece of taffy. How shameless.’

Chapman hesitated. "Miss Noelle..."

Just then, Nathaniel Sloan walked out of the study and into the living room. His brow furrowed instantly. "What are you doing here?"

Noelle Lockwood’s eyes, red from crying, filled with fresh tears. She looked as if she wanted to say something but was holding back, her gaze fixed on Nathaniel Sloan with deep, lingering affection.

"Nathaniel, I never thought you would get hurt at the kindergarten that day. It’s all my fault..."

"I couldn’t rest easy, so I wanted to come and take care of you. You don’t have anyone thoughtful and considerate by your side, and Chapman is getting older. It wouldn’t be right to trouble him with certain things."

Nathaniel Sloan said flatly, "I don’t need you to take care of me."

"It’s no trouble. I’m more than willing to take care of you." Noelle Lockwood bit her lip. "Nathaniel, have you changed your dressing yet? Let me help you."

As she spoke, she moved to take Nathaniel Sloan by the wrist.

Estelle Lockwood chuckled, descended the stairs in a flash, and looped her arm through Nathaniel Sloan’s. "Nathaniel, darling," she cooed, feigning intimacy, "so this is where you were. How’s your arm?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s entire body went rigid.

Noelle Lockwood’s eyes flew wide, her lips trembling as if she had just seen something unbelievable. "You..."

"Oh, Miss Lockwood is here too. You want to take care of Nathaniel? No need, I can handle it. You’re a pampered young lady, Miss Lockwood. Someone who’s never had to lift a finger in her life wouldn’t know the first thing about taking care of people, would she? So please, don’t just get in the way."

Estelle Lockwood rested her head on Nathaniel Sloan’s shoulder, her tone dripping with false affection. "Isn’t that right, Nathaniel, darling?"

The room fell silent.

Estelle Lockwood remembered an incident shortly after they were married. Nathaniel Sloan had been injured at a banquet, and a crowd had swarmed around him, pushing her, his actual wife, to the periphery.

Noelle Lockwood had bustled around him anxiously, and the crowd had parted to make way for her.

When Estelle had tried to help, Noelle had scolded her loudly: "Sister, you’re from the countryside. Do you even know how to bandage a wound? You don’t know anything! At a time like this, could you please stop getting in the way!"

The other guests had pointed fingers at her, whispering that she was tactless. ’What a time to be vying for attention against Miss Noelle,’ they’d said. ’As if she could ever win.’

’But back then, all Estelle Lockwood had wanted to do was help...’

Pulling herself back to the present, Estelle Lockwood swept her gaze over Noelle Lockwood’s pale face and felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

Noelle Lockwood trembled, looking like she was on the verge of tears. "Miss Yara, Nathaniel’s injury is no small matter. This isn’t a game. For years, I’ve been the one taking care of him through every ailment, big or small. I know how to look after him. You can’t do it properly..."

"Is that so?" Estelle Lockwood blinked. "But Mr. Sloan only wants *me* to take care of him."

Noelle Lockwood forced a gentle smile. "Miss Yara, please don’t joke around. Nathaniel... say something..."

Estelle Lockwood also turned to look at Nathaniel Sloan, her eyes narrowed in an obvious threat.

A smile suddenly touched Nathaniel Sloan’s lips. He leaned in close and, in a voice only the two of them could hear, said to Estelle Lockwood, "What would Miss Lockwood like me to do?"

Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow. "What do you think I want you to do? Are you playing dumb with me?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes shifted slightly. ’He remembered that scene, those words. It was from the banquet six years ago. He’d been injured, and Estelle Lockwood had tried to bandage his wound, only to be pushed away by Noelle Lockwood.’

’Yara Lockwood still won’t admit she’s Estelle Lockwood. In that case, I’ll just have to...’

A teasing smile played on Nathaniel Sloan’s lips. He decided to push his test all the way. "I can help you, Dr. Lockwood. But you’ll have to give me a kiss. How about it?"