Editor: Henyee Translations
The study instantly plunged into a dead silence.
Noelle bit her lower lip, putting on a fragile appearance. "Dr. Lockwood, didn’t the butler tell you that you can’t just casually enter Nathaniel’s study?"
Estelle shot her a sidelong glance. "Nathaniel hasn’t even said anything. Who asked you to interrupt?"
Noelle looked aggrieved. "I..."
Nathaniel looked up with a flat expression. "Do you need something?"
"Are you also interested in the Star Group’s banquet, Mr. Sloan?" Estelle chuckled softly, turning her head to look Noelle up and down. "And you’re taking her with you?"
A bad premonition washed over Noelle. She hurriedly bit her lip and said, "There’s something you don’t know, Dr. Lockwood. I’ve attended as Nathaniel’s partner all these years. If I don’t go, it will make Evernight International look insincere.
"Furthermore, I’m the one who usually manages things for Nathaniel when he attends banquets. Star’s chairman is also a woman, so we might just hit it off. I could even help Nathaniel out."
At this point, Noelle shot a feigned, cautious glance at Estelle and added, seemingly inadvertently, "Besides, I heard that Star’s chairman deeply admires devoted men. I’ve been Nathaniel’s partner for so many years; if he were to suddenly bring someone else, Star’s chairman might misunderstand him..."
Her words couldn’t have been more obvious.
Noelle was worried that Estelle would also go to the banquet and steal the spot as Nathaniel’s partner, so she deliberately emphasized the point: "For so many years, I have been Nathaniel’s partner."
Estelle’s smile gradually grew cold.
Was it not so? For all these years, Nathaniel’s partner had always been Noelle. Even as his actual wife, Estelle hadn’t possessed the qualifications to accompany him to banquets.
She still remembered their first wedding anniversary. Old Mr. Foster was throwing his seventieth birthday banquet and had specifically invited Nathaniel and his "wife." Out of respect for his grandfather, Nathaniel agreed to take her. She had been full of anticipation back then, but just two hours before the event, Noelle sought Nathaniel out.
Estelle remembered every single word Noelle said that day with absolute clarity. Every sentence was supposedly for Estelle’s own good, yet every single word degraded her, painting her as a presentable hillbilly who couldn’t be shown in public.
"Nathaniel, the Foster family places great importance on the old gentleman’s seventieth birthday. Estelle just returned from the countryside. She doesn’t understand etiquette, nor does she know anything about perfumery or wine tasting. I’m afraid she might offend the Foster family and get bullied...
"I don’t mean to imply that Estelle is a hillbilly. I’m just worried she won’t adapt well. After all, she’s used to living a life of poverty. If she makes a fool of herself at such a grand occasion, it would be terrible, and she would definitely feel awful about it too.
"You know how Estelle’s personality is. She definitely doesn’t want to deal with a banquet like this. Please think it over, Nathaniel."
And just like that, Nathaniel’s partner for the banquet was swapped to Noelle.
Old Mr. Foster had already spread the word in advance that Nathaniel would be attending his birthday banquet with his wife. The moment he attended with Noelle on his arm, paparazzi went into a frenzy snapping photos. The trending topic "Sloan Group’s Helmsman and Lockwood Family’s Daughter—A Match Made in Heaven" immediately surged to the top of the search charts.
From then on, the famous star Noelle became known as Nathaniel’s woman, while his actual wife remained entirely unknown to the public.
Pulling her thoughts back to the present, Estelle’s eyes darkened bit by bit. "That is a strange thing to say, Miss Lockwood. Since Star’s chairman admires devoted men, you are even less qualified to accompany Nathaniel."
Noelle tried to interrupt but was beaten to the punch by Estelle.
"If I were you, I would learn to be smart and stay at home. Lest you be publicly exposed as the mistress at a banquet with hundreds of people. Who do you think will lose more face when that happens?"
"You!" Noelle’s face instantly turned ashen. Angry and anxious, her eyes reddened. "How could you say that, Dr. Lockwood? You don’t know anything. Nathaniel and I..."
"So, what does Dr. Lockwood want to do?" Nathaniel interrupted flatly, his light-colored eyes lifting. "Swap my partner to you?"
Noelle’s breathing instantly tightened.
Estelle frowned in disgust. "Swap to me? No thanks. Everyone can see what kind of character you have, Mr. Sloan. Walking beside you, I’m afraid my own reputation would be dragged down. However, I still must remind you, Mr. Sloan, don’t lose the big picture over something trivial."
Having said her piece, Estelle didn’t even spare them another glance and walked straight out of the study.
Noelle bit her lower lip tightly. "Nathaniel..."
"You don’t need to go anymore," Nathaniel said, flatly issuing an order for her to leave.
"What Dr. Lockwood said isn’t necessarily..."
Before she could finish, Nathaniel shot a glare at her, his eyes freezing cold.
Noelle choked on her words. Forcibly suppressing the resentment in her eyes, she feigned gentleness. "Alright then, Nathaniel. I won’t disturb you any longer."
Upon leaving the study, Noelle immediately put on an aggrieved facade and dialed a number with a tearful voice. "Mrs. Sloan..."
At eight o’clock that evening, the banquet began.
Estelle had already arrived backstage. Henry handed her a stack of documents. "Information on the bidding parties. Take a look."
Estelle took them, then heard Henry let out a teasing laugh. "Tsk, Yara, guess what I just saw?"
Estelle raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Your ex-husband ignored my obstructions and still brought his precious first love. Look, right over there."
Henry’s grandfather had saved Estelle back in the day, and she had spent the past few years recuperating abroad with the Kendrick family. Therefore, Henry was very clear about her past. It was also glaringly obvious who the ex-husband and first love he spoke of were.
Estelle lifted her gaze nonchalantly. Through the crowd, she immediately spotted Nathaniel, surrounded like the moon among stars, along with Noelle smiling sweetly by his side.
What a deeply moving romance.
Estelle stood up and sneered. "I really underestimated how thick-skinned the two of them are."
Inside the banquet hall, the atmosphere was incredibly lively.
"Look quickly, Mr. Sloan and Noelle are here!"
"Wow, are they wearing matching outfits? They look so good together..."
"I knew Mr. Sloan’s partner this time would definitely still be Noelle. He is truly devoted..."
Nathaniel’s eyes were aloof. Tall and exuding an innate aristocratic air, just standing there gave off a sense of oppression.
With a sweet smile, Noelle loosely linked her arm through Nathaniel’s, as if she were the only person in the world who could get close to him. Right at that moment, several business partners of the Sloan Group walked over. Noelle said with understanding, "You go ahead first, Nathaniel. I can take care of myself."
The only reason Nathaniel had brought Noelle along was because he had received a call from his mother. When they were young, Noelle had saved him, and later, she had saved his mother as well. His mother constantly said that one must repay their debts of gratitude, so she heavily favored Noelle.
Hearing this, he turned away coldly without the slightest hesitation. Noelle gritted her teeth slightly.
But the next second, she feigned shyness and said to a few of her socialite friends nearby, "Nathaniel is just like that. He clearly cares about me, but he isn’t good at expressing it. If we hadn’t grown up together, I’m afraid even I wouldn’t know what he was thinking. He only came today because he knew I liked Star’s perfumes, so he..."
The surrounding people immediately followed up with flattery. "Star’s perfumes are worth a fortune! Mr. Sloan treats you so well!"
"Yeah, who doesn’t know that you’re Mr. Sloan’s favorite, Noelle? To support your career, the Sloan family even regularly buys out theaters for the movies you star in. What other woman can compare to you? Back then, your shameless sister, Estelle, actually had the delusion of seducing Mr. Sloan. Truly, ugly people seek attention!"
"I remember your sister was named Estelle, right? Thank goodness she died early. The absolute nerve of a woman like that to try and steal your things."
Estelle arrived just in time to hear this remark. Her eyes darkened, and without hesitation, she pushed open the doors to the banquet hall.