Editor: Henyee Translations
What in the world was going on? A scam call?
His phone number was protected by a high-level security system. Scam and telemarketing calls shouldn’t have been able to get through.
Before he could figure it out, his phone rang again.
"Hey handsome, why did you hang up? If you aren’t happy with a motel, we can upgrade to a five-star hotel. Or I can come straight to your place. We agreed on two thousand a night..."
CLICK. Nathaniel hung up again.
A moment later, another unknown number called. Nathaniel accidentally brushed the answer button. It was an unfamiliar female voice, but her words were exactly the same!
"Sir, are you looking for a hookup? Today or tomorrow works for me. Since you seem in such a rush, let’s just do it today. You name the place, and I’ll be right..."
Nathaniel’s expression darkened. "What do you mean?"
The woman on the other end was visibly taken aback. "What do you mean, ’what do I mean’? I’m asking if you want to hook up! Didn’t you say you were an addict who can’t go a single day without a woman?"
Nathaniel wasn’t an idiot. In a flash, he figured out exactly what had happened.
Yara Lockwood!
He suppressed his anger and closed his eyes. After a long moment, he exhaled a heavy breath and said coldly, "Not interested. Get lost."
The woman didn’t hold back either. "Are you a psycho? If you don’t want to hook up, why did you post that little ad? What a waste of my time!"
Nathaniel hung up and massaged his temples.
Before he could even calm down, a third call came in.
He answered the phone in pure irritation. "I said I’m not interested."
The assistant on the other end was bewildered.
Terrified that he had interrupted his boss in the middle of something intimate, Luke White’s tone became extremely cautious. "Uh, um... Mr. Sloan, the kindergarten called. They wanted to ask if Christian will be attending this year?"
Nathaniel’s expression immediately returned to normal. "I’ll ask Christian what he wants. If he wants to go, he’ll go. Also, arrange for the other two children at home to be enrolled as well."
Luke nodded. He thought to himself, "Those two little brats clearly have ulterior motives. Why is Mr. Sloan bothering with them? Does he really think he’s their father?"
"Whatever," he reasoned. "If Mr. Sloan has made his decision, I won’t try to persuade him otherwise. Time to clock out!"
Meanwhile, at Imperial Crest.
The three little ones stared at each other in a standoff.
After five solid minutes of glaring, Mia swallowed hard and tried to break the silence. "...Hi?"
They had just been about to return to their room when they turned around and saw the young Mr. Sloan trailing right behind them.
Zachery immediately shielded Mia behind him, his face stern. "What do you want?"
"I wanted to bring you some gifts." Christian held out a small gift box. "Zachery, this is for you. It really suits your vibe. Do you like it?"
Christian handed over a pair of sunglasses. Zachery instantly felt the awkward obligation that came with accepting a bribe. "I—no, you..."
Before he could finish, Christian turned to Mia. "Mia, I noticed your pajamas were getting a bit old earlier, so I bought you some new ones. Do you think they’re pretty?"
Mia was speechless.
Christian continued, "Whatever you guys want, I can get it for you."
Zachery’s heart gave a little traitorous flutter. He thought, "He’s... he’s so good at manipulating people."
Mia, however, sucked in a breath. This Christian really was Noelle’s son. He had clearly inherited her deceptive skills.
She asked cautiously, "What exactly are you trying to say?"
Coming up with an excuse that would bring them closer together, Christian lowered his dark eyes. "I know you guys hate Noelle too. Let’s team up and kick her out together."
Zachery and Mia were both dumbfounded.
Zachery was so speechless he couldn’t even form a sentence. What did that mean? Wasn’t Noelle his biological mother?
Christian’s logic was crystal clear. "You guys definitely have an ulterior motive for getting close to Daddy. Don’t worry. As long as you help me, I won’t tell him anything, no matter what you do."
Zachery couldn’t help but marvel, "You’re selling out your daddy just like that... Wait, how did you know we have an ulterior motive?"
He still needed to play the good boy in front of his scumbag father. He couldn’t risk blowing his cover!
Mia couldn’t resist burying her face in her hands. Zachery was such a naive idiot. Didn’t he realize Christian had just tricked him into confessing?
A glint flashed in Christian’s eyes. He had guessed right. In an instant, he connected all the dots.
These two were also his daddy’s children, making them his triplet siblings. And Dr. Lockwood was indeed his mommy. It was just that his daddy, for Noelle’s sake, refused to admit it.
However, he didn’t have any proof. Even if he told them the truth, Mia and Zachery wouldn’t believe him.
Like a little wolf luring in its prey, Christian pinpointed exactly what Zachery was thinking and continued to bait him step by step. "Daddy has always protected Noelle all these years, so I haven’t been able to chase her away. Zachery, Mia, I could tell at a glance that you two are kind-hearted, smart, and adorable. You’ll help me, won’t you?"
Zachery was instantly moved. Christian really was a great guy! Even after discovering they had hidden agendas, he still praised them for being kind and adorable!
As for why Christian wanted to get rid of Noelle? It had to be because Noelle didn’t deserve to be a mother at all, leaving Christian severely lacking in maternal love!
Zachery jumped on board immediately. "Deal! We were here to get revenge on that evil wo— Mmph! Mia, why are you stopping me from talking!"
Mia clamped a hand over the mouth of this massive blabbermouth. She questioned him with mature composure, "Noelle is your biological mother. Why do you want to kick her out?"
Feigning absolute victimhood, Christian sighed. "She always scolds me and bullies me, and she feeds me things I’m allergic to. Sigh, life in a wealthy family isn’t easy. You can never have a good day when you’re under the thumb of an evil woman."
Mia felt something was off. "But..."
Zachery was already teary-eyed. He slapped his thigh, interrupting Mia’s doubts. "You have it so rough! Alright, I’ll help you!" After saying that, he turned his head. "Right, Mia?"
Mia was dead silent. Zachery was such a little blockhead!
Though, coming to think of it, if Noelle really treated Christian well, why would he always look so sickly and frail?
Mia more or less agreed and promptly asked, "So, what’s your plan?"
Christian’s eyes darted around. He made a gesture, and the three little ones huddled close as he whispered his scheme.
Zachery’s eyes widened. "That actually works?!"
Mia wore an incredibly complicated expression. Just how was Christian’s brain wired?!
Feeling that his relationship with his younger brother and sister had taken a massive step forward, Christian was thrilled. "Then it’s settled. Zachery, Mia, see you tomorrow."
Mia felt a wave of powerlessness, knowing she had been completely played. "See you tomorrow..."
One hour later.
Estelle pushed open the main doors of Imperial Crest. Heaven knew how badly she wanted to just walk away and never look back. But thinking of Zachery and Mia still at Imperial Crest, and remembering her need for revenge, she forced herself to endure it.
That bastard, Nathaniel Sloan—she wasn’t done with him yet!
"Dr. Lockwood, you’re back? Why... why are you wearing Mr. Sloan’s coat? Where is he?"
Estelle never expected the butler to still be awake at eleven o’clock at night. She could practically read the word "gossip" gleaming in his eyes. Coughing lightly, she shamelessly threw Nathaniel under the bus.
"Nathaniel probably won’t be coming back tonight. Don’t bother him. He’s very busy this evening with a woman on each arm. He likely won’t have time to come home."
After all, now that the little ad was posted, there would probably be plenty of women looking to hook up with him.
Outside the door, a luxury car’s engine cut off. Nathaniel halted his steps in the dark of the night.
He scoffed. He was very busy? With a woman on each arm?