Chapter 434: Chapter 434: Ethan Sloan, Is Your Pig Brain Filled with Mush?
"Estelle Lockwood!"
Thea York screamed at the top of her lungs, "They say the one who isn’t loved is the real mistress! What do you think you’ve won? You just happened to marry Nathaniel a few days before I could! Nathaniel is a responsible man. Otherwise, do you really think you could have—"
"Miss York, I have no intention of stopping you."
Estelle interrupted slowly. Looking at her contorted expression, she chuckled and said, "Don’t think like that, Miss York. Am I the kind of person to stop you from pursuing true love? You said that whether you use tricks or not, as long as you climb to the top, it counts as a success. So, why don’t you give it a try?"
Thea’s eyes darkened, and she sneered. "Would you really be that kind?"
"Of course." Estelle curled her lips into a smile. "But I know that no matter what I say, you won’t believe me, Miss York. So, how about..." She paused. "...we let Nathaniel tell you himself?"
Thea shuddered violently. "Nathaniel?!"
She looked toward the door and, sure enough, saw Nathaniel Sloan!
She wondered what this meant. Nathaniel was here too? Then why was Estelle the one who came in to talk to her? What exactly was Nathaniel playing at?
Estelle was about to walk out the door when she suddenly remembered something and turned back. "By the way, Miss York, could you please put your clothes on first?"
Thea was unwilling, but looking at Nathaniel, she bit her lip and put her clothes back on. Shedding a line of clear tears, she looked incredibly pitiful. "Nathaniel, look at how Estelle is treating me..."
She wondered if Nathaniel’s willingness to talk to her—and the fact that he wouldn’t stop her—meant that he secretly held a place for her in his heart, too.
Estelle curled her lips into a smile and gave up the stage to Nathaniel.
Nathaniel’s voice was lazy and unhurried as he interrupted Thea’s pity act. "Miss York, aren’t you curious why I didn’t stop this, even though I knew you were lying here?"
"W-Why?"
A wave of ominous premonition washed over Thea, and she trembled all over. "Is... isn’t it because you have feelings for me? Nathaniel, I understand. You won’t divorce Estelle, and I can accept that...
"As long... as long as you love me, I can accept anything..."
"Has Mrs. York raised you to be a little too naive, Miss York?" Nathaniel spoke lightly. His gaze held a smile, but the amusement didn’t reach his eyes. "Why do you think I would ever take a fancy to you?
"Chairman York is a piece of trash who loses his mind the moment a woman seduces him. Do you think I am the same?"
Thea bit her lip, feigning frailty. "Nathaniel, what are you talking about? I don’t understand..."
A gun was pressed against her temple.
Thea stiffened completely. The rest of her words were suddenly choked back in her throat as sheer terror gripped her. She panicked, wondering what Nathaniel was doing.
"Thea York, you want to find a backer so you can continue living your life of luxury. Fine, I will help you. How about it?"
Thea trembled. "What do you mean...?"
Nathaniel’s lips curled up. "Do I need to remind you how Chairman York’s first wife died?"
Thea roared in terror, "I didn’t kill her! It has nothing to do with me! That woman’s death has nothing to do with me!"
Nathaniel glanced at her dismissively. "Miss York, it’s not up to you whether Stella York’s mother’s death has anything to do with you; it’s up to Stella. She has already filed a lawsuit against the York Family. You, Chairman York, Mrs. York—none of you will be able to escape.
"Stella has evidence in her hands. Proving that you committed premeditated murder couldn’t be simpler..."
"I was a minor back then! I was underage! I did nothing wrong! I can’t be sentenced!" Thea squeezed her eyes shut and screamed in panic. "I didn’t kill her! I didn’t kill her! I just... I just helped a little... I didn’t kill her! I was a minor!"
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened. He glanced at his phone, which was on an active call, to ensure that Stella on the other end had gotten the recording before he hung up.
"So what?" Nathaniel shot back. "Even if you were a minor at the time and ultimately dodge a prison sentence, Chairman York and Mrs. York will both be locked up. Who do you think will protect you then?
"Or did you think Stella was some kindhearted saint who would spare a sister with whom she has a blood feud?" He added methodically, "I, on the other hand, can help you get rid of Stella."
Thea didn’t dare to move a muscle. She indeed valued her own life above all else. In the face of survival, nothing else mattered. Parents, familial affection, the family legacy—none of it mattered!
"W-What do you want me to do?"
"Miss York, you only need to return to Laura Jennings’s side and tell her about a plan." Nathaniel’s lips curled up slowly, his tone profound. "Then, I will help you get what you want."
Trembling with fear, Thea left Nathaniel’s room. Clenching her teeth, she made a phone call to Laura Jennings.
At eleven o’clock that night.
There were still quite a few people drinking in the banquet hall. Nathaniel and Estelle were naturally in attendance as well.
Just as everyone was satisfied with the food and wine, a sudden commotion broke out. When the crowd turned around, they saw Laura Jennings holding Thea’s hand, storming furiously toward Nathaniel.
The guests wondered what was going on this time.
"Nathaniel Sloan!" Laura roared. A flash of vindictive pleasure and shrewdness crossed her eyes. She raised her voice, eager to make sure everyone could hear her. "I only found out because Thea accidentally let it slip! It turns out that you two... you two had been sleeping together for a long time, and she is even pregnant with your child!"
BOOM!
The entire hall was shocked. Everyone’s eyes widened. Their gazes darted back and forth between Nathaniel and Thea, occasionally landing on Estelle, completely eager to soak in the drama. They wondered what Laura meant. Mr. Sloan and Thea...?
Ethan Sloan also stepped forward, speaking with self-righteous indignation. "Nathaniel, we didn’t stop you when you helped Stella deal with the York Family. You could say the York Family brought it upon themselves. But you cannot shirk your responsibility toward Thea!
"Thea is your woman. If you are still a man, you can’t just abandon her!"
The venue grew even quieter.
Nathaniel met Thea’s gaze and noticed her eyes flickering evasively. He then offered a faint, mocking smile. "Father, your brain really is nothing but a pig’s brain filled with mush. You believe whatever she tells you."
Ethan snapped, "You!"
"But even if she were telling the truth..." Nathaniel added carelessly, "...so what? Chairman Sloan, I am your son, after all. Inheriting your traits is perfectly normal, isn’t it?"
PFFT.
Someone couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Realizing that everyone was staring at them, they hurriedly covered their mouth.
In their hearts, however, the crowd was secretly despising Ethan.
Putting aside whether Thea was telling the truth or just making a desperate, last-ditch effort—even if it were true... how could it compare to Ethan? After all, Ethan was the one who didn’t even want his first wife, choosing instead to drive her to her death just to make way for his mistress.
He himself was irresponsible to women, especially his own wedded wife, yet now he was demanding that his son take responsibility? Nathaniel’s remark about ’inheriting his traits’ was an absolutely lethal blow. Now, Ethan had brought another mistress over, trying to force his own son to marry her. His brain truly was filled with mush.