Chapter 35: Chapter 35: This Is the Wife-Chasing Crematorium; Look, the Scumbag Dad Is Getting Desperate
A dead silence instantly fell over the surroundings.
Nathaniel Sloan had a smile on his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. No one dared to speak.
How could anyone possibly follow that up?!
After half a minute, Zachery’s eyes darted around. He suddenly coughed. "Uncle Sloan, how come I never noticed this great trait of yours before?"
Nathaniel had a gut feeling that this little brat wasn’t going to say anything nice.
Sure enough, the next moment, Zachery looked at him with adoring eyes. "This trait is—you have incredible self-awareness!
"That’s right, you really came at a bad time!"
It grew even quieter.
Luke White and the others wore expressions that screamed they were as good as dead. Yet Zachery acted as if he had no idea what was going on. "Uncle Sloan, I complimented you. Aren’t you going to compliment me?"
Nathaniel was speechless. He nearly laughed out of sheer exasperation. "Such a smart mouth."
Zachery immediately hid behind Jasper Kingston.
Jasper shook his head, looking completely helpless. "The kid is just joking. Nathaniel, are you here to see Yara too?"
Nathaniel hadn’t planned on holding it against the kid, but hearing Jasper’s words made him furrow his brows slightly. He was calling her Yara now?
Jasper smiled and continued, "I thought Yara might not have anyone to take care of her alone in the hospital, so I came to check on her. I didn’t expect you to care about her so much too, Nathaniel."
For some reason, those words sparked an inexplicable surge of anger in Nathaniel’s chest.
What did he mean, he didn’t expect him to care about her so much too? He was the one who had brought Yara to the hospital in the first place! If you were going to do a good deed, you saw it through to the end. What was wrong with him taking care of her all the way?!
"You’re not needed here," Nathaniel stated. He gave Jasper a hard look before walking over to Estelle Lockwood. "I will stay. That’s enough."
Estelle, who had just closed her eyes, opened them in irritation. "Mr. Sloan, I think it’s best we keep our distance. Didn’t you hear what your father-in-law just said?"
Jasper also nodded gently. "Nathaniel, Yara’s fever hasn’t broken yet. She really should get some proper rest. If you stay here and the Lockwood family comes to make trouble again, how is she supposed to recover?"
Nathaniel’s lips formed a tight line, his handsome brows knitting together.
Zachery’s little face flushed with excitement. He whispered to Mia, "Look, this is what I was talking about. He’s groveling to get his wife back! The scumbag dad is panicking!"
Mia was speechless.
Seeing that Estelle’s cup was empty, Jasper was about to pour her some water when Nathaniel suddenly stood up, blocking his way.
He forcefully took the cup from him. His tone was even, showing not a hint of embarrassment or awkwardness as he spoke calmly.
"Dr. Lockwood, I remember we set some ground rules. During the year you treat Christian, I am to act as your caretaker, responsible for your daily meals and looking after you.
"So when you’re sick, it stands to reason that your ’caretaker’ should be the one to look after you, doesn’t it?"
Everyone froze. Even Jasper looked at Estelle in surprise.
Estelle raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Sloan suddenly remembers he’s my caretaker?"
Nathaniel lifted his gaze, his eyes dark and heavy, his emotions unreadable.
Jasper laughed. "Nathaniel, you must be joking. You know how to take care of someone?"
Nathaniel cast a cool glance at him, only to hear Yara laugh.
"If he wants to serve people, let him. Mr. Kingston, aren’t you tired of standing? Have a seat." She then shot a look at Nathaniel. "Go pour tea for me and my guest."
She emphasized the words ’my guest’. Resting her chin in her hand, she watched him with amusement. "Go on. Are you just going to stand there? What kind of caretaker acts like that?"
Nathaniel closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing all his emotions, before walking to the side to pour two glasses of water.
Estelle was displeased. "Why isn’t it tea?"
Nathaniel replied calmly, "You’re still nursing your stomach. You should drink less tea."
Estelle let out a soft hmph. "Then why didn’t you brew tea for Mr. Kingston? He is a guest. Do you have no manners?"
Nathaniel coolly lifted his eyes. "You said it yourself—he’s a guest. A guest must do as the host pleases."
The scent of gunpowder permeated the hospital room. Mia rubbed her arms and asked hesitantly, "Are you sure this groveling... is going to work?"
Zachery felt that even though reality deviated just a tiny bit from his expectations, it wasn’t a big deal!
Estelle choked on her words. Before she could speak, Nathaniel turned to Jasper. "Our two families are collaborating on that piece of land in Sorhaven. Shall we have a chat?"
Jasper’s gaze shifted between the two of them. After a long moment, he said meaningfully, "Alright. Yara, I’ll step out for a bit."
Waiting until the two men left, Estelle lay back down on the bed as the three kids immediately swarmed her.
Outside the room.
A smile played on Jasper’s lips. "You didn’t ask me out here to talk about the Sorhaven land, did you?"
Nathaniel possessed an innate sense of nobility. Just by standing there, he exuded an intense, oppressive aura. "The Kingston Group has a transnational meeting today. Why did you come to the hospital?"
Jasper cut straight to the chase. "Because Miss Lockwood is sick, so I came to see her. Nathaniel, I told you last night—I want to pursue her."
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened.
Jasper acted as if he didn’t notice. "Miss Lockwood’s children are very cute. I like them a lot. Besides, my family won’t object to whoever I choose to pursue. Even if she has two kids, as long as I’m willing, she will be the rightful Mrs. Kingston."
Nathaniel said evenly, "Out of the question."
Jasper leaned against the wall. "Why not?"
Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Nathaniel’s eyes flickered. "Because she is very likely Estelle Lockwood."
Yara was an enigma. She had seemingly appeared out of nowhere five years ago, and there was absolutely no information on her before that. And Estelle had also disappeared five years ago...
Moreover, after returning to the country, Yara had purposefully approached him and the Lockwood family. Although a few attempts to probe her had failed, Nathaniel still couldn’t shake the feeling.
Jasper had already spoken up. "Even if she is, you have no proof. Nathaniel, think about it. If she really is Estelle, why didn’t she reveal her identity to you after returning?"
Nathaniel’s dark eyes were deep and unfathomable. "That is none of your concern."
Jasper let out a silent chuckle. "Nathaniel, we’ve known each other since we were kids. There has never been anything I wanted that I couldn’t get."
Nathaniel shot him a fleeting glance. "Then try it and see."
Inside the hospital room.
Zachery eagerly claimed credit. "Mommy, wasn’t I amazing? It’s a good thing Uncle Kingston showed up, or what would you have done? You wouldn’t have been able to defend yourself at all!"
Estelle had no desire to answer and swiftly changed the subject. "Zachery, your vocabulary has gotten great. You’ve made progress."
Zachery happily stirred the pot. "Then Mommy, what do you think about letting Uncle Kingston be our daddy? I think it’s a great idea! Mia, hurry up and do a reading to see if Uncle Kingston is our future daddy!"
Mia already had three copper coins ready. She closed her eyes and cast a divination.
After a moment, she gasped in pleasant surprise. "Mommy, the reading says your future husband is right outside the door!"
Zachery instantly grew excited. "Really? Uncle Kingston is outside too! It looks like you’re spot on this time. Mommy, he’s your Mr. Right!"
Estelle was speechless.
Mia nodded solemnly. "Mommy, there’s no mistake this time. Your destined true love is right outside the door, and he’s about to walk in."
It seemed like it really was Uncle Kingston. That was fine too; their biological daddy was a scumbag, so there was no need for Mommy to get back together with a trashy man.
The next second, the doorknob turned.
SWISH! Several pairs of eyes instantly shot toward the door. Mia said seriously, "Mommy, since the reading says you and Uncle Kingston will be husband and wife in the future, then..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Nathaniel walked in.