Free Web NovelChapter 65: Chapter 65: Aunt Is Back and Wants to See Yara Lockwood
Noelle Lockwood stumbled back a step. "Christian, I never thought you’d think of me like that... I’m so sorry..."
With that, she covered her mouth and ran off, heartbroken.
Laura Jennings was left standing there awkwardly. Seeing Noelle Lockwood run out and being ignored by everyone else, she had no choice but to follow.
The living room fell quiet. Zachery immediately stopped his crocodile tears. His sad expression vanished, replaced by a nonchalant look as he took Estelle’s hand and led her upstairs. "Aunt Yara, we’re going back to our room."
Nathaniel Sloan stood in the living room, remaining silent for a long while before asking, "Chapman, have you noticed Christian has been a little different lately?"
Chapman chuckled. "The young master has certainly gotten much more lively. It’s probably because Zachery and Mia are here. Having playmates his own age has helped him open up."
Nathaniel Sloan nodded. Just then, his phone rang. Surprise flashed in his eyes as he answered. "Aunt is back? And she... wants to see Yara?"
...
After dinner with her three little cubs, Estelle went back upstairs to work.
Suddenly, there was a knock on her study door. She looked up in surprise. "Yes?"
Nathaniel Sloan got straight to the point. "Report to Evernight International headquarters starting tomorrow."
Estelle frowned. "Are you doubting my professional competence?"
’I’ve already agreed to the collaboration and to setting up at Evernight International. How could I possibly forget?’
Nathaniel Sloan’s lips curved into a slight smile. "Of course not. I just wanted to give my partner a heads-up. My aunt wants to see you."
Estelle froze.
’Nathaniel Sloan’s aunt...’
Old Mr. Sloan had only two children: his older son, Ethan Sloan, and his younger daughter, Iris Sloan.
Ethan Sloan was Nathaniel’s father. As for Iris Sloan, she was in her early forties, had never married, and managed the Sloan Group’s business operations up north.
’Five years ago, before Iris Sloan left Crestfall, she was the one in the Sloan family who treated me the best and protected me the most...’
’His aunt is back...’
Estelle felt a surge of excitement and joy, but she quickly suppressed it. "Alright."
Nathaniel watched her expression and asked in a low voice, "You seem quite eager to meet her?"
Estelle gave a well-rehearsed answer. "Of course. Ms. Sloan’s reputation is known far and wide. It’s my honor to be able to meet such a legendary woman in person."
Nathaniel’s gaze darkened.
’Aunt always doted on Estelle. Will Yara tell her the truth?’
His stare made Estelle uneasy. "Is there anything else, Mr. Sloan?"
He calmly withdrew his gaze. "My aunt just got back to the country. I booked a table at a restaurant in Dewdrop Garden for a welcome dinner tomorrow night. Want to join?"
Estelle wanted to refuse, but she held her tongue.
’In my current identity, I have no reason to invite his aunt out alone.’
’It would be good to have dinner with her, even if it’s under the pretext of joining Nathaniel.’
...
Meanwhile, when Laura Jennings returned to Sloan Manor, she found Iris Sloan standing in the living room, looking thoroughly displeased.
Iris Sloan managed all the Sloan Group’s affairs in the northern region of Innerland and rarely returned to Crestfall. Laura Jennings froze stiff the moment she saw her.
Iris Sloan didn’t even bother with small talk, stating coolly, "It seems you’ve been quite idle lately. I’m cutting off your allowance. You’d better not go anywhere for the next few days. Stay home and reflect on your behavior."
Laura Jennings gritted her teeth in anger, but she was too afraid of Iris to raise her voice. "Reflect on what? Iris, you just got back and you’re already cutting my allowance? Have you asked Ethan...?"
Hearing his name, Iris looked disgusted. ’Her brother may be in charge of the Sloan Group, but he has accomplished little. And out of everyone, he chose to marry a woman like Laura Jennings, who got her position by being the mistress.’
"If you don’t like it, have Ethan come to me himself. Also, Christian doesn’t like you, so stay away from him. Do you have any idea what the rumors are saying?"
"Everyone is saying that you’re abusing your own grandson for the sake of the Lockwood family’s fake heiress. You think that brings you honor?"
Laura Jennings’s bravado faltered, her face flushing as she argued, "Noelle is Christian’s birth mother, and she’s Nathaniel’s future wife. I... I was just protecting Noelle..."
"Enough. You think I don’t know what’s going through your head? You just feel lonely being the only mistress in the family, so you’re relentlessly pushing for Noelle Lockwood to usurp the position."
Iris waved a dismissive hand, not bothering to continue. "I’m inviting Yara over in a few days. You’d better drop that sour look, as if someone owes you a million dollars. If you can’t put a smile on your face, then get back upstairs and stay there."
Laura Jennings was furious. ’Doesn’t Iris know I’m her sister-in-law? How dare she speak to me like that? No one in this family respects me, not even my husband’s younger sister!’
’Iris always favored Estelle, and now she wants to invite that vixen Yara over as a guest. What is she trying to do?!’
’Noelle is so gentle! Can’t Iris see that?!’
But no matter how incensed she was, Laura Jennings didn’t dare have an outburst in front of Iris. All she could do was run off crying to tattle to Ethan Sloan.
...
「The next afternoon.」 freewebnovёl.ƈom
Estelle first handled some data at Star Company, then sent a message to Nathaniel Sloan before heading to Evernight International.
As per her contract, she would be shuttling between Evernight International and Star Company for the next month. Luke White had already arranged an office for her, so all she had to do was show up and check in.
She didn’t expect to see Noelle Lockwood the moment she arrived at the base of Evernight Tower.
Estelle frowned instantly. ’This woman is impossible to shake.’
At that moment, in the lobby of Evernight Tower, Noelle Lockwood was directing an assistant to hand out small gifts to the receptionists and other staff.
Several of the receptionists thanked her. "Thank you, Miss Noelle. It’s so kind of you to take time out of your busy schedule to visit and even bring us gifts."
Noelle smiled gracefully. "I’m a manager at Evernight, after all. Now that Evernight International is launching a Perfumery Department, and since I come from a family of perfumers, it’s only natural that I come to help."
After what happened last night, Noelle had been unwilling to just sit back and wait, so she had come up with this plan.
’Nathaniel wouldn’t let her go to Imperial Crest, but could he stop her from coming to the company?’
’She already held a position at Evernight International and had experience making perfumes, so it was perfectly reasonable for her to be here now.’
Estelle didn’t want to waste her breath on Noelle, so she went to press the elevator button. But Noelle called out to her in a gentle voice, "Miss Yara, are you going to see Nathaniel? That’s the regular employee elevator, it’s rather slow. I can take you up in the president’s private elevator."
As she spoke, Noelle walked over to another elevator, smiling her gentle smile. "As it happens, I’m also on my way to see Nathaniel. Let’s go together, it’s no trouble."
Estelle’s eyes went cold as a memory from years ago surfaced uncontrollably in her mind—
She had come to bring Nathaniel Sloan lunch and had seen Noelle Lockwood in the lobby.
The receptionist had blocked her from going up, and Noelle had said with a smile, "She’s one of the maids from the house, here to bring Nathaniel his lunch. Don’t stop her."
Afterwards, the receptionist and security guard let her go, telling her to take the service elevator.
Noelle, meanwhile, had gracefully walked into the president’s private elevator amid a chorus of compliments from the staff. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
The contrast between them was stark: one in the heavens, the other on the earth. A world of difference.
