Chapter 433: Chapter 433: Estelle Lockwood, It’s You
Estelle Lockwood tilted her head. "But I think..." She paused. "Even if Thea York really wants to find a backer, she’d look for you."
So what if Nathaniel Sloan had explicitly rejected her? Shamelessness knew no bounds. Mrs. York had started out as a mistress, so naturally, she had her ways to help her daughter latch onto a man.
Nathaniel remained noncommittal. "That’s why Stella York made a deal with me."
Estelle finally grew curious about the terms of this deal. "So, what does Stella want to do?"
Nathaniel curled his lips into a smile, seemingly amused by Stella’s wicked scheme. "She said... since Thea and Mrs. York love being mistresses so much, they might as well be mistresses for the rest of their lives."
"And?"
"If she wants to marry into the Sloan family so badly, fine. Aside from Liam Sloan and me, isn’t there another man in the family?"
Estelle paused, her tone meaningful. "...Ethan Sloan?"
Nathaniel only touched upon the surface. "Stella’s biological mother was driven out of the York family by Mrs. York and Thea. She died shortly after. Anyone with eyes could see that her death was inextricably linked to that mistress and her daughter. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence, and more than a decade has passed. Even if she wanted to seek justice, there’s no way to do it.
"Coupled with Chairman York’s favoritism, Stella hates Thea to the core. Kill her? Stella wouldn’t go as far as to commit a crime, but making Thea agree to her terms is entirely doable.
"Thea is hell-bent on becoming the matriarch of the Sloan family, standing above everyone else, and shedding the label of ’the mistress’s illegitimate daughter.’ Therefore, Stella wants her to remain a mistress, be reviled by everyone, and tear each other apart with Laura Jennings like rabid dogs.
"In exchange, Stella’s condition was that she would find ways to make Laura’s life miserable and spare no effort in causing trouble for Theodore Lancaster. I agreed."
Nathaniel smirked. "Mutual benefit. It’s a pretty good deal."
Estelle fell deep into thought. "But... what if Thea isn’t willing?"
"She will be." Nathaniel’s tone was nonchalant. "Moreover, I’ll make sure she does it willingly."
Estelle had a feeling that Nathaniel was digging a trap for Thea. "...What are you planning to do?"
"I’ll have someone conveniently leak my room number to her," Nathaniel said calmly. "She’ll find a way to get the key card herself. Then, I’ll make her a willing participant."
Estelle was speechless.
Thea York wandered around the banquet hall, but the guests actively avoided her like the plague.
The York family was finished. Word had already spread that Stella York was out to avenge her late mother, and everyone knew exactly how the original Mrs. York had died.
In the past, people hadn’t dared to offend Thea out of respect for the York Group backing her. Now that the York Group was firmly under Stella’s control, they were just as terrified of offending Stella as they used to be of offending Thea.
As a result, not a single person struck up a conversation with her. The sycophants and fake friends who used to fawn over her were now avoiding her as if she were a venomous snake. How could she not be filled with hatred?!
Having tasted what it was like to be the center of attention, she couldn’t stand being ignored and looked down upon now. She swore she would turn the tables.
But how could she make a comeback?!
"Hello, could you tell me which room Mr. Sloan is staying in?" Suddenly, a waiter asked Luke White nearby. "Mr. Sloan instructed me to deliver a bowl of snow fungus soup to his room."
A glimmer flashed in Luke’s eyes. He exchanged a knowing glance with the waiter and pretended not to notice Thea. "It’s Room 306 on the third floor. Here’s the key card. Go on ahead. Mr. Sloan will be back shortly, so make it quick."
Thea’s eyes flickered with calculation. She followed the waiter upstairs. When the waiter went into the inner bedroom to place the soup down, she quietly slipped inside and hid.
Everything went smoothly. It was so smooth that she didn’t even stop to wonder why it was this easy—why everything fell into place so perfectly, or why the waiter had conveniently left the door open.
Right now, all she wanted was to find a backer and climb back to the top of the social ladder. As long as something happened between her and Nathaniel...
Nathaniel waited for a while before Luke returned and nodded at him. "Sir, everything has been arranged."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "Is Thea in the room?"
"Yes, sir. Everything is proceeding exactly as you predicted," Luke said, bowing slightly. "Thea is currently in your room. As for Laura Jennings, it seems she’s also trying to find a way to thrust Thea onto you."
"Hmm." A faint smile played on Nathaniel’s lips as he looked at Estelle. "Shall we head back together?"
Estelle’s eyes rippled with amusement.
Thea calmed her racing heart, pulled back the covers, and lay down on Nathaniel’s bed. As long as they slept together and she squeezed out a few tears, Nathaniel would have to take responsibility for her no matter what.
Just as she was thinking this, she heard a BEEP. The suite door opened.
Because it was a presidential suite, there was a living room separating the bedroom from the main entrance. Thus, she could only hear the door opening and couldn’t tell how many people had walked in.
However, she had already asked around—Estelle had been called away by Old Mr. Sloan and shouldn’t be back so quickly. Plus, Luke had clearly said Nathaniel was on his way back. So, the person walking through that door had to be Nathaniel!
Having figured this out, she timed her reaction to the sound of the opening door and put on a shy, coy expression.
But then, she heard a scoff.
Estelle stood at the bedroom doorway, watching with keen interest. Her arms were crossed over her chest as she looked the woman up and down. "Who is this bashful look for, Miss York? Me?"
Wait, that voice!
Thea choked, her head snapping up to see Estelle looking at her with a mockingly sweet smile.
Unable to hold back, she shrilly demanded, "Why is it you?! Where’s Nathaniel?!"
"What a funny question, Miss York," Estelle said, tilting her head. "You’re lying in my bed, yet you’re asking why I’m the one returning to my room?"
"You!"
"Your seduction tactics are quite lacking, Miss York. Is this how your mother taught you?" Estelle asked curiously. "You didn’t even bother to find out who was coming back before laying yourself out on Nathaniel’s and my bed... Or did your mother also climb the ranks this way, literally sickening the rightful wife with anger?"
She tilted her head again. "Fortunately, my mental fortitude is pretty good. Other than enjoying watching you make a fool of yourself, I really don’t feel much else."
This was blatant mockery. Since there was no one else around, Thea dropped her act. Her expression darkened. "Estelle Lockwood!"
"The York family has fallen. Are you so terrified that Stella will come after you that you’re desperate to latch onto Nathaniel?"
Thea clenched her teeth so hard her jaw ached, the hatred in her eyes practically overflowing.
Nathaniel was the man she had set her sights on. What right did Estelle have to snatch him away? If Old Mr. Sloan hadn’t insisted they marry back then, would Estelle be enjoying such a blessed life right now?
Shouldn’t all of this have been hers?
Now that her plan had been foiled once again, Thea was seething with indignation. Her gaze turned ferocious. In that moment, her hypocritical, high-and-mighty facade shattered completely; the gentle goddess she had pretended to be was long gone.
"Estelle Lockwood, you can’t stop me—"