Free Web NovelChapter 62: Chapter 62: I Thought You Were a Different Person
As Zachery spoke, he pinched himself again, but still, no tears would fall.
He resorted to covering his face with his hands and continued to wail dryly.
Nathaniel Sloan’s heart ached. "Christian, it’s okay. Daddy’s here. Daddy will kick her out right now."
"Nathaniel." Tears silently streamed down Noelle Lockwood’s face. "I know Christian isn’t close to me. If I just wanted him to like me, I could simply do nothing and let him have his way with everything."
"But I truly want Christian to become a better person, which is why I can’t let him have his way all the time. That’s why I had to find him a tutor, to make him study properly. But... what just happened... your mother saw it all."
Laura Jennings immediately nodded. "That’s right. Noelle is Christian’s biological mother. Everything she does is for his own good. Think about it—if she weren’t his real mom, why would she bother finding a piano teacher for him?"
Noelle Lockwood lowered her head, her expression meek. "Nathaniel, I know I’ve made Christian unhappy. If you want to blame me for it, I have nothing to say. But Mr. Young is a teacher, after all. How can Christian be so disrespectful to his elders... If word of this gets out, people will laugh at him."
Laura Jennings’s heart instantly ached for Noelle. "Nathaniel, Noelle is being so humble, and you still don’t believe her? Christian is my grandson, and I love him dearly, but you can’t spoil him rotten!"
"I just don’t get it. Grandma, am I your real grandson?"
Zachery didn’t back down an inch. "You say I’m disrespectful to the teacher and insist that I apologize, but Mr. Young called me stupid. Why don’t you make Mr. Young apologize to me?"
The piano teacher and Noelle Lockwood’s expressions froze simultaneously.
Zachery continued, "Mr. Young said that if it wasn’t for Noelle Lockwood, he wouldn’t have come to teach me at all. He said it was a blessing for me that he was my teacher and that I should just be obedient and listen. What century are we in? ’A blessing for me’? What, did my daddy not pay him?"
"Daddy, Noelle Lockwood says I don’t like her, but does she even like me? If she did, she wouldn’t have deliberately introduced this kind of teacher to me. She’s just trying to ruin me!"
"But Aunt Noelle has been treating me like this for years. I’m used to it. But you, Grandma?"
Zachery’s tone suddenly shifted.
"I used to think you were just being deceived by Noelle Lockwood, but you’re doing the same thing today—demanding I apologize without even figuring out what’s right or wrong. Daddy says a couple of things to Noelle Lockwood and your heart aches for her. Why doesn’t your heart ache for your own grandson?"
"Or is it that I’m not your real grandson at all? How about we go get a DNA test? But I look so much like Daddy, so I’m definitely his biological son. That leaves only one possibility—you’re not Daddy’s biological mother!"
"Because you’re not Daddy’s biological mother, you’re not my real grandma. That’s why you agree with Noelle Lockwood’s methods and want to deliberately ruin me!"
The more Zachery spoke, the more he felt he was right. ’The logic is airtight.’
Laura Jennings’s face flushed red, then went pale. In the end, she was both furious and exasperated. "Nonsense! How am I not Nathaniel’s real mother! And... besides, you didn’t mention before that the piano teacher insulted you! If you had, Grandma would have definitely taken your side!"
Zachery didn’t want to hear her excuses. With red-rimmed eyes, he said, "Daddy, that’s what happened. I’m not apologizing."
Nathaniel Sloan’s expression turned to ice. His sharp gaze swept over Noelle Lockwood, but his words were directed at the piano teacher.
"Since you’re so unwilling to teach my child, you’re fired. Chapman, make sure the reason for his dismissal gets out."
The piano teacher panicked. If he left the Sloan family, where else could he find such a good job?
"Miss Noelle, please help me! I-I did it all because of you..."
"I’m so sorry, Christian! I didn’t know Mr. Young would be so awful!" Noelle Lockwood suddenly burst into uncontrollable sobs, cutting the piano teacher off.
She clutched her chest as tears streamed down her face like pearls from a broken string. "It’s all my fault. Christian, you can blame me. It’s all my fault..."
Laura Jennings was at a loss. "Nathaniel, see? Noelle knows she was wrong. It was the teacher who was deceiving everyone. You really can’t blame Noelle... She came today specifically to make pear soup for Christian. You know how much he loves her pear soup..."
Zachery pursed his lips.
’I really wish I could pry open Grandma’s skull and see what’s inside.’
’But Noelle Lockwood really is something else. Even after I ’cried’ like that, Laura Jennings is still defending her.’
’They must have bullied Mommy just like this in the past!’
’If it happens once, it’ll happen again. If I don’t get rid of this woman for good today, Noelle Lockwood will just find more excuses to come over. What should I do...’
’Wait, pear soup?’
Zachery’s eyes darted about as a plan formed in his mind. He tugged on Nathaniel Sloan’s sleeve.
"Daddy, I want some pear soup."
Noelle Lockwood’s eyes lit up. ’I knew this little brat wouldn’t dare to actually kick me out!’
Nathaniel Sloan frowned slightly. ’Noelle really isn’t a good person to have around Christian.’
’But Christian wants pear soup...’
He shot her a cold look. "Then stay and make him the soup."
Noelle Lockwood forced a smile, hiding the venom deep in her eyes. "Okay, Christian. I’ll go right now."
Noelle Lockwood went to the kitchen. After a moment’s hesitation, Laura Jennings followed her.
Zachery said disdainfully, "Daddy, I’m serious. You should find some time to get a DNA test with Grandma."
’With an IQ like that, she and my scumbag dad really don’t seem like they’re related.’
’Though I hate to admit it, my scumbag dad is incredibly smart and capable. How could he have a mother like that? How could Laura Jennings possibly give birth to a son like him?’
"Okay, Daddy, I’m done talking to you. I’m going back to my room."
Zachery ran off as soon as he finished speaking. He needed to hurry and coordinate with the little young master, then wait to see himself dominate at the dinner table!
...
Zachery ran back upstairs, but he discovered Christian wasn’t in the room.
’Strange, where’d the little young master go... Don’t tell me he’s with Mommy?’
...
「In Estelle Lockwood’s study.」
She was on a video call with Old Mr. Kendrick and Old Mrs. Kendrick, her two little ones by her side. When the call ended, the two kids obediently said their goodbyes. freewebnσvel.cøm
Old Mr. Kendrick exclaimed, "Zachery, this is incredible! You’ve changed so much since coming back to the country. You’re so polite now, even saying goodbye to your great-grandpa."
Old Mrs. Kendrick chuckled happily. "What are you talking about? Our darling Zachery has always been very polite. Isn’t that right, sweetie?"
Old Mr. Kendrick teased, "If you weren’t standing right next to Yara, I’d think you were a completely different person."
Mia’s scalp prickled with fear. ’Old Mr. Kendrick was the one who taught Zachery the Disguise Technique! What if Great-Grandpa figures it out?!’
She tugged on Christian’s sleeve, trying to signal him to say less.
But to her surprise, Christian wasn’t flustered at all. He even took the opportunity to praise himself. "Great-Grandpa, it’s because I met a friend after coming back. He’s very polite, and playing with him has made me more polite, too. By the way, his name is Christian."
Mia remained expressionless. ’...’ *Heh.*
After hanging up the video call, Estelle Lockwood took out calligraphy supplies and placed them in front of the two little ones.
The Kendrick family was a family of calligraphers, and Old Mr. Kendrick himself was a master. Zachery was normally hyperactive, but he could always manage to settle down and focus when it was time to practice. Because of this, Zachery and Mia made time every week to practice their calligraphy.
Today, however, ’Zachery’ didn’t move.
Estelle Lockwood asked with confusion, "Darling Zachery, what’s wrong?"
