The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Why Does It Feel Like President Sloan Is the One Being Disdained?

To the unknowing eye, Estelle Lockwood’s action looked as if she were holding Nathaniel Sloan’s wrist.

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression didn’t change. He let her pinch him and nodded faintly. "Yes."

Estelle Lockwood scoffed lightly. "Miss Lockwood, did you hear that?"

Tears welled up in Noelle Lockwood’s eyes. "Nathaniel..."

Nathaniel Sloan didn’t even spare her a glance. Utterly ignored, Noelle Lockwood turned pale with anger, her body swaying precariously before she ran off in tears.

Only after Noelle Lockwood left did the crowd begin to whisper amongst themselves.

"Is... is she flaunting her special treatment? Who does she think she is? President Sloan’s new flame?"

"Who on earth is Yara Lockwood? Isn’t Noelle Lockwood the Sloan Family’s chosen daughter-in-law? How dare she disrespect Noelle like that?"

"People have been talking about Noelle Lockwood for years, but we’ve never seen her actually marry into the Sloan Family. Maybe she was just putting on airs. I don’t think President Sloan has any intention of marrying her at all..."

"I wonder if Yara Lockwood will be the one to win him over, being so close to him? I think she and President Sloan are a better match. I’m rooting for her!"

"Even if Yara Lockwood adores the President, what good will that do? He probably despises women like her..."

The words were barely out of the person’s mouth when, in the next moment, they saw Estelle Lockwood release Nathaniel Sloan’s hand. She took three steps back in disgust and said, "Weren’t we going to eat? Let’s go."

The crowd: "?"

’Why does it feel like the President is the one being scorned?’

...

Noelle Lockwood’s face was contorted with rage; she was absolutely furious. But with Laura Jennings too scared to leave her house after being scolded by Iris Sloan, who was left to stick up for her?!

’Why should that bitch Yara Lockwood get to have dinner with Nathaniel? No, I won’t allow it!’

Noelle Lockwood gritted her teeth, and then a sudden flash of inspiration struck her. She had a plan. She quickly summoned her driver. "To Dewdrop Garden."

...

「Meanwhile, at Dewdrop Garden.」

When Iris Sloan saw them arrive, she greeted them with a warm smile. "Yara, come, sit next to me."

Estelle Lockwood nodded. "Okay."

"I’ve ordered a few dishes, but I don’t know if they’re to your taste. Yara, take a look and order some things you like. Nathaniel Sloan is paying anyway, so don’t worry about saving him money."

Estelle Lockwood obediently glanced at the menu. "These are all my favorites."

"Oh, that’s good, that’s good. I was worried your tastes might have changed!"

"Thank you, Aunt Sloan. I’m surprised you still remember my preferences."

A tickle rose in Nathaniel Sloan’s throat. It was the first time he had ever seen such a demure side to this woman.

Then, a thought seemed to strike him, and a glint appeared in his dark eyes. "I don’t even know what Yara Lockwood likes to eat... How do you know so clearly, Aunt?"

Everything that happened concerning Yara Lockwood was telling Nathaniel Sloan that she was, in fact, Estelle Lockwood.

Back then, Estelle Lockwood and Iris Sloan had been very close. Iris remembered what Estelle liked to eat and would often make her special meals.

Iris Sloan raised an eyebrow. Of course she knew what Nathaniel Sloan was implying. But with that white lotus still hanging around him, was she really going to let him figure out the truth so easily?

It was precisely because Nathaniel Sloan had no proof that the two of them maintained a delicate balance.

’If he were to confirm that Yara Lockwood is Estelle Lockwood...’

Iris Sloan felt a pang of sadness as she thought of the Estelle Lockwood from five years ago—the one who had seemingly died inside because of this love.

’Since Estelle doesn’t want to remarry, how could I push her back into the fire?’

So, Iris Sloan turned the tables on him. "Yara has been living at Imperial Crest for so long, she’s Christian’s private doctor, and now she’s your business partner. And you’re telling me you don’t know what she likes to eat?"

Nathaniel Sloan was suddenly at a loss for words, feeling as if he had no way to defend himself. "That’s not..."

"If you’d paid even the slightest bit of attention, you could have just asked a couple of questions and found out Yara’s tastes yourself. And you have the nerve to ask me?"

Nathaniel Sloan instinctively tried to explain, "I was just curious how you knew..."

"Yara and I hit it off right away. We talked for so long this afternoon, so of course I know her tastes. What’s so strange about that?"

Iris Sloan cut him off, giving him no chance to ask any more questions. "Alright, Yara, I’ll have them bring out the food."

The manager didn’t dare to delay, and the dishes were quickly served.

Among the dishes was a steamed sea bass. Iris Sloan turned the dish in front of Estelle Lockwood. "I remember you used to love this dish. How come you don’t eat it anymore?"

Estelle Lockwood sighed in resignation. Iris Sloan’s every action confirmed that she knew she was Estelle Lockwood, which was why she was asking why she no longer ate a food she used to love.

She had already deceived her aunt once and didn’t want to do it again, so she answered truthfully, "They don’t have this dish abroad. After not eating it for so long, I got used to it."

Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze darkened as he keenly caught the words "used to."

"Aunt, if you only just met Yara today and hit it off, how could you remember something she *used to* like to eat?"

The hand Iris Sloan was using to pick up food paused mid-air. She frowned to herself. ’Does this nephew of mine have to be so perceptive?’

Just as she was trying to come up with an excuse, she saw Estelle Lockwood speak up, perfectly composed:

"I met Aunt Sloan at a Kendrick Family banquet before. Is there a problem? Does President Sloan have an objection?" freewēbnoveℓ.com

Nathaniel Sloan’s voice was hoarse. "Is that so? Aunt has been in Europea all these years, while the Kendrick Family’s business is in the USA. Aunt, have you been to a Kendrick Family banquet?"

Estelle Lockwood shot him a sideways glance, her red lips parting slightly. "It was a banquet three years ago. If President Sloan doesn’t believe me, he can investigate it himself. Stop interrogating people while they’re trying to eat."

Nathaniel Sloan narrowed his eyes meaningfully. "It’s quite a coincidence. The people around me all seem to be quite fond of Miss Lockwood."

Christian, for instance. And Iris Sloan.

One was Estelle Lockwood’s son, and the other was one of the elders who doted on her the most.

Upon meeting Yara, both of them had shown a strong liking for her.

Who would have thought that Estelle Lockwood’s eyes would go wide with surprise. "Everyone around you likes me? By saying that, President Sloan, are you implying that in your eyes, Ms. Laura Jennings isn’t a person?"

"PFFT—" Iris Sloan spat out a mouthful of tea.

’It’s true, though. Laura Jennings is Nathaniel Sloan’s biological mother, and she despises Estelle Lockwood. When Nathaniel said that, he clearly wasn’t including her.’

Outsiders didn’t know the reason why, but as a member of the Sloans, Iris knew the story perfectly well. All she could say was that Laura Jennings had brought it on herself.

But at a moment like this, when she finally had the rare pleasure of seeing Nathaniel Sloan look so discomfited, why would she bother explaining for him?

It’s just that...

Iris Sloan hesitated. For some reason, she felt that whenever the two of them spoke to each other, an invisible barrier formed around them, making it impossible for anyone else to get a word in.

It was a hard feeling to describe. If she had to sum it up in one sentence, it would be this: Iris Sloan felt they were a match made in heaven.

’But Estelle said she doesn’t want to remarry...’

Just then, a knock came from the door. Estelle Lockwood got up to answer it.

But as she stood up, her ankle caught on the leg of her chair, and she lost her balance, stumbling forward uncontrollably—

Nathaniel Sloan shot to his feet and caught her in his arms, saving her from the fall!

Iris Sloan stared blankly for a moment, feeling like something wasn’t quite right. "..."

’This is what it looks like when two people don’t want to remarry and plan to never see each other again for the rest of their lives?’