The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About novel Chapter 201

Chapter 201: Chapter 201: The Insignificant Sloan Family Is Beneath My Notice

Estelle Lockwood stopped in her tracks, turning to see a handsome man she didn’t recognize.

"Do I know you?"

The man nodded and smiled. "Not yet, but we will soon, Miss Lockwood. I heard you’ve finally cleared your name in the arson case. This is a congratulatory gift."

The man produced an exquisite box from behind his back. Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow, her gaze turning scrutinizing.

The box contained a new, limited-edition piece from the brand LD&Q. A single small piece of jewelry like that was worth as much as a house in Crestfall. A stranger casually offering such an expensive gift made Estelle Lockwood take an involuntary step back.

"We’re not related, nor are we friends. Please, sir, take this valuable gift back."

The man was the very picture of a gentleman. Hearing Estelle Lockwood’s refusal, he didn’t press the matter. Instead, he made a graceful, gentlemanly gesture. "My apologies. I was being presumptuous. However, this gift will always be waiting for you, Miss Lockwood."

Estelle Lockwood narrowed her eyes. This man seemed flawless, but his sudden appearance was strange enough. Moreover, he acted so gentle and proper, as if he wanted nothing at all—as if his only purpose in coming here was to give her a gift.

But the more desireless he appeared, the greater his ambitions were likely to be.

Estelle Lockwood didn’t linger at the entrance. She turned and walked into the building, her eyes meeting Nathaniel Sloan’s.

For a brief moment, Nathaniel’s gaze clashed with the man’s outside. Then, Nathaniel looked at Estelle Lockwood. "Let’s go."

The man outside wasn’t annoyed. He watched quietly as Estelle Lockwood walked away until her figure disappeared from sight. Only then did his assistant step forward.

"Young Mr. Lancaster, that Estelle Lockwood already has three children! If you want to get married, there are plenty of heiresses from wealthy families for you to choose from. Why bother with a married woman who has kids? Besides, Estelle Lockwood’s background is humble, and she grew up in the countryside. How could she possibly be worthy of you!"

Theodore Lancaster glanced coolly at his assistant, the feigned affection in his eyes completely gone.

"It doesn’t matter what Estelle Lockwood is like. What matters is that she belongs to Nathaniel Sloan."

’Everything that belonged to Nathaniel Sloan should be mine, including his woman and children.’

Theodore Lancaster sneered. ’Besides, if it weren’t for that illegitimate son, Nathaniel Sloan, I would have been the one engaged to Estelle Lockwood. I’m just taking back what’s rightfully mine. What’s wrong with that?’

BEEP BEEP BEEP...

Just then, Theodore Lancaster’s phone rang. He answered, and Laura Jennings’s cautious, fawning voice came from the other end.

"Theodore, dear, are you coming home for dinner tonight? I made chicken soup especially for you! Ethan said he’s planning to hold a family banquet to formally introduce you. What do you think...?"

Theodore Lancaster gave a noncommittal reply, which was enough to make Laura Jennings ecstatic.

「Sloan Residence.」

Laura Jennings hung up the phone and, flushed with excitement, hurried toward the kitchen. Iris Sloan happened to witness the scene.

’Laura Jennings always either beat or cursed her son, Nathaniel,’ she mused, lowering her gaze. ’She was constantly calling him a jinx or a curse, wishing her own stepson would just die. She’s also extremely hostile toward Nathaniel’s children and even helped Noelle Lockwood abuse Christian in the past.’

’But now, when faced with the biological son of the original wife, Miranda Lancaster, Laura, the mistress, is being so incredibly attentive!’

A terrifying thought surfaced in Iris Sloan’s mind.

...

Upstairs, a flicker of emotion crossed Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes, his thoughts unreadable.

’Theodore Lancaster is clearly after Estelle Lockwood. Do they... know each other?’

Nathaniel Sloan wasn’t afraid of anything. He didn’t care about Theodore Lancaster’s identity or what schemes the Lancaster Family was plotting. The only thing he cared about was whether Estelle Lockwood would see him the same way everyone else did.

Nathaniel Sloan’s voice was hoarse and devoid of emotion. "Stay away from him."

Estelle Lockwood hummed in agreement, then asked, "Who was that man just now?"

Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow. ’Don’t tell me I guessed right?’

Just then, before Luke White could even knock, Ethan Sloan burst into the room.

"Nathaniel Sloan, are you deaf to what I’m saying? I told you to go to the Sloan Group! Did you think you could get out of it just by hiding?!"

Nathaniel Sloan narrowed his eyes and asked calmly, "What am I hiding from?"

Ethan Sloan said impatiently, "Do I even need to say it? You’re hiding from your status as an illegitimate son! Nathaniel Sloan, I used to think you were my only heir, so I was a bit lenient with you!"

"But you need to get this straight: as an illegitimate son, you have no right to inherit the Sloan Group! Now that Theodore is back, nobody wants to make things too ugly. Nathaniel, I’m your father. I’m willing to give you a chance!"

"Go to the Sloan Group now and publicly declare that you will no longer interfere with the rights of succession. Otherwise, the Lancaster Family won’t let you off! For an illegitimate son like you, the fact that the Lancasters let you grow up safely is already a sign of their mercy!"

Estelle Lockwood found this interesting.

’Ethan Sloan is emphasizing the words "illegitimate son" in every sentence,’ she thought. ’Doesn’t he know that the more he stresses it, the more insecure he sounds?’

Nathaniel Sloan shot him a sideways glance and smiled nonchalantly. "Father, I believe you’ve gotten one thing wrong."

Ethan Sloan frowned. "What?"

Nathaniel Sloan said slowly, "After I turned fifteen, you and Ms. Jennings kicked me out of the Sloan family. In all these years, I have never used a single cent of the Sloan Group’s resources."

Ethan Sloan’s expression stiffened. It wouldn’t be a good look for him if people heard he’d kicked his own son out at fifteen. "What are you trying to say?"

"I’m trying to say..."

Nathaniel Sloan’s tone was mocking, "...that you have far too much confidence in the Sloan Group, Chairman Sloan. A piddling little family like the Sloans isn’t even worth my attention."