Chapter 465: Chapter 465: Who Imitated Nathaniel Sloan’s Handwriting
Vera Sawyer snapped out of her daze.
She suddenly noticed Nathaniel leaning down, murmuring something to Estelle.
Then, Nathaniel brought over a cup of tea.
This scene caused terror to rise from the bottom of Vera’s heart. Her previous assumption that Mr. Sloan didn’t love Estelle at all completely shattered in this moment.
That kind of gaze, those gentle actions—if it were someone he didn’t love, he couldn’t possibly do that!
Yet she had already offended Mrs. Sloan, the person Nathaniel loved most. So she...
"Miss Sawyer." Nathaniel had already raised his eyes, his gaze icy. "You don’t need to feel afraid because of my appearance."
Vera froze abruptly. What... what did he mean?
Did Mr. Sloan mean that although he loved Estelle, he wouldn’t make things difficult for Vera on her behalf?
If that were the case... If that were the case...
"What you need to worry about, Miss Sawyer, is Estelle’s impression and evaluation of you."
Nathaniel casually swirled the tea in his cup. "After all, she is your boss from now on, isn’t she?"
Vera was terrified, shaking her head desperately. "M-Mr. Sloan, no, I know you gave Radiance to Est... to Mrs. Sloan, but, but the boss behind the scenes is definitely still you, right!
"I know you know how to judge and utilize talent, and you wouldn’t lay people off just because of a minor unpleasantness, I know that! I... I’ve always been in the HR department. I may not have major achievements, but I’ve certainly put in the hard work! Mr. Sloan, you can’t just listen to Mrs. Sloan’s one-sided story..."
"Haven’t you understood my meaning, Miss Sawyer?" Nathaniel set down his teacup, a smile that didn’t reach his eyes playing on his lips. "Radiance is a gift I gave to Estelle. Why do you think a gift is called a gift?"
Nathaniel drawled slowly, scoffing as he glanced back. "It seems you look down on Estelle from the bottom of your heart, Miss Sawyer."
Vera’s entire body stiffened as an impossible thought surged into her mind.
So Radiance would be entirely under Estelle’s control from now on...
And yet, for Claire’s sake, she had offended Estelle...
Vera finally grasped the sheer horror of her situation. Trembling all over, she stammered, "Mrs. Sloan, w-what do I have to do for you to forgive me?"
Estelle’s lips curled up. "Tell me, why did you trust Claire so much?
"Since you knew I was Mrs. Sloan, and Mr. Sloan was giving a gift, why were you so certain he was giving it to Claire instead of me?
"It defies logic, unless... Claire said something to you?"
Estelle finished speaking and swept her gaze toward Vera, smiling faintly. "Well?"
Vera swallowed hard in terror. "Because... because I saw a letter Miss Yeats provided..."
Half an hour later, Vera returned to Radiance.
The whole company now knew that she had offended Mr. Sloan and had specially gone to Evernight International to apologize. Upon her return, she naturally garnered many stares.
Those who were unaware of the full situation came forward one after another to ask.
"How did it go?"
"Vera, how could you offend Mr. Sloan?"
"Is Mr. Sloan someone you can afford to offend?"
"Ms. Sawyer, do you really think you’re some big shot?"
"You should have had Miss Yeats go with you just now. After all, Miss Yeats is the new boss and Mr. Sloan’s friend of seven years. Maybe Mr. Sloan would have let it slide on her account..."
Vera abruptly looked up!
Seeing Claire basking in the crowd’s adulation, Vera immediately understood. Claire must have repeated that same rhetoric to the others, making them believe that she was Mr. Sloan’s close friend and the new owner of Radiance.
But all of this was clearly a lie! Everyone had been fooled by Claire!
If Claire hadn’t insisted she was Mr. Sloan’s friend, and if she hadn’t produced that forged evidence, Vera never would have believed her!
Meanwhile.
Estelle pinched the letter between her fingertips. The handwriting was very similar to Nathaniel’s.
Ms. Sawyer’s uncle was a founding member of Radiance. Vera must have seen documents approved by Nathaniel at President Sawyer’s office and was familiar with Nathaniel’s handwriting.
Although this letter had no signature, the handwriting was indeed incredibly similar to Nathaniel’s, almost identical. Only someone who knew him well—and he himself—could distinguish the subtle differences.
Estelle unhurriedly read it from beginning to end, tilting her head. "This is quite interesting. This person must have spent a long time studying and mimicking your handwriting.
"But..." Estelle didn’t understand. "What’s the point?
"Did they imitate your handwriting just to fool Claire? Seven years ago, why would this person contact Claire and become pen pals with her?"
Nathaniel looked up impassively. "Has it occurred to you, Mrs. Sloan, that someone knew your identity and deliberately approached Claire?
"Seven years ago, the only connection between me and Claire was that we were both connected to you."
He analyzed unhurriedly, "I am your husband, though at the time... Claire was a member of the Yeats family, and your mother was also part of the Yeats family.
"Claire and I had absolutely nothing to do with each other. You were the only thing that could tie us together. Don’t you find it strange that this person impersonated me to seek her out? Perhaps their target wasn’t me, nor was it Claire, but you."
Estelle blinked. That was really a strong possibility.
So... what was going on?
At the time, she had believed she was the daughter of Austin Lockwood and Rose Lowell. Even Rose firmly believed it without a doubt.
Old Mr. Lockwood was eager to erase all traces of Grandpa Lockwood, Chase Lockwood. He couldn’t possibly mention to outsiders that she was Chase Lockwood’s granddaughter and Silas Lockwood’s daughter.
Furthermore... Old Mr. Lockwood didn’t know that Estelle’s biological mother was Eleanor Yeats.
So who was pulling the strings, knowing the full picture, yet remaining hidden until now?
"Perhaps Claire can provide the answer to this question."
Nathaniel stood up with a smile. "Let’s go."
At Radiance.
Claire watched Vera being criticized by everyone. As if playing the role of a savior, she gently shook her head.
"Please don’t say that, everyone. Ms. Sawyer was just trying to help me..."
"Miss Yeats, you’re just too kind-hearted."
"Exactly. She shouldn’t have been so impulsive just now. No matter what, that woman is still Mrs. Sloan. She just had to mock and ridicule her, ending up offending Mr. Sloan. Who does she think she is?"
Vera was so angry she could almost laugh!
Why did she mock Estelle? Was it not at Claire’s implied behest?
And now Claire was playing the saint here?!
"Trying to help me? Claire, you really know how to flatter yourself." Vera sneered coldly. "Don’t you have a clue why everyone is waiting here and why the handover ceremony can’t be held?"
Claire’s expression changed slightly. Then, her eyes turned red as she feigned helplessness.
"Ms. Sawyer, what do you mean by that? Do you think it’s my fault... But I was doing it for the company too.
"Radiance was a gift Nathaniel gave me, but Estelle caused a scene. I know it’s a bit unfair to make you apologize, but..."