Chapter 441: Chapter 441: This Big Secret, Who Says It Can’t Be Exposed?
I must say, Mr. Sloan’s move was absolutely brilliant!
"Nathaniel Sloan!!" Laura Jennings fumed, her eyes blazing with fury. "I am your mother!"
Nathaniel’s lips curved into a faint smile. "Which is exactly why I fulfilled Ms. Jennings’s wish to become ’sisters’ with Miss York."
Trembling with anger, Laura shrieked, "You unfilial son... unfilial son! How did I ever give birth to a thing like you?!"
"Did Ms. Jennings really give birth to me?" Nathaniel retorted unhurriedly.
The surroundings instantly fell silent. What did that mean?
Laura choked for a moment before instinctively screaming, "Of course I did! Nathaniel Sloan, you unfilial wretch! Are you refusing to even acknowledge your own biological mother?!"
"Whatever Ms. Jennings says," Nathaniel replied carelessly. "Estelle, let’s go."
Estelle blinked, looking at the two people still "pouring their hearts out" to each other on the bed. Thea York lay limply in Ethan Sloan’s arms, an act that greatly satisfied his male chauvinism. In his eyes, Laura Jennings no longer existed.
Laura was on the verge of a breakdown. She wanted to scream. This couldn’t be happening! This was the man she had expended so much effort to finally win over. How could she lose him now?
"Ethan Sloan! We’re in the same boat, yet you’re actually abandoning me? I’ll fight you to the death, AHHH—!"
Ethan mercilessly kicked Laura aside.
"Ms. Jennings, look on the bright side," Estelle sighed before leaving. "Actually, you should be gratified. Even though Chairman Sloan fell in love with Thea, what does this prove? It proves he has stayed true to his original intentions.
"Think about it. Over twenty years ago, Chairman Sloan was dedicated to the profession of cheating, and he cheated with you. Over twenty years later, he remains dedicated to the profession of cheating. This only goes to show that Chairman Sloan is a man of remarkable perseverance."
Laura choked, nearly suffocating on her own breath. What kind of twisted logic was that?!
"Is Ms. Jennings angry?" Estelle tilted her head in surprise. "I thought you would be thrilled. After all, the man you love most has found the woman he currently loves most. Wasn’t Ms. Jennings’s wish for ’all lovers in the world to finally be united’? Now that your wish has come true, you should be happy."
"Estelle Lockwood—!"
"Hmm?" Estelle feigned astonishment. "Could it be that, deep down, Ms. Jennings actually looks down on mistresses? That shouldn’t be the case. When you were trying so hard to help Noelle rise to power back then, you didn’t say that. And when you racked your brains to outlive Miranda Lancaster and became Mrs. Sloan, you didn’t say that either.
"You can’t just have one set of rules for yourself and another for others... Ms. Jennings, that’s a bit of a double standard."
Estelle’s words nearly angered Laura to death. Her chest heaved violently as she pointed right at Estelle’s nose and roared, "Do you think this is over?! Let me tell you, I am Nathaniel’s mother! No matter what, I will always be his mother!"
"Ms. Jennings," Estelle chuckled. "Do you know why Nathaniel allowed you all to come to Evernight International’s annual gala?"
Laura choked up.
Estelle continued leisurely, "However, there is one thing Ms. Jennings said that is correct."
There was one thing she said that was correct? What was it? Laura was so furious that her brain grew dizzy, leaving her unable to think.
Then, she heard Estelle say, "You and Ethan are inextricably bound together in this. At this critical juncture, how could he possibly abandon you? After all, you two are guarding a huge secret together.
"But thinking about it this way, why couldn’t he abandon you? Even if he divorces you, you would never reveal this huge secret. Ethan has nothing to fear.
"Ms. Jennings, you should figure it out for yourself."
Laura’s heart pounded violently as she suddenly realized what secret Estelle was referring to. Estelle knew... Did Nathaniel know too? But so what if they knew! Nobody could prove it! Nathaniel couldn’t produce any evidence at all!
Estelle nodded. "Is Ms. Jennings thinking that Nathaniel has no evidence?
"While matters of bloodlines may seem difficult to prove, they are actually the easiest."
Laura immediately let out a sneer.
Estelle added, "Perhaps Ms. Jennings is now thinking that I’m being too naive. Who could Nathaniel possibly find to prove it? You’ve already bribed the doctor. Even if Nathaniel proves something, you can firmly insist that his immense power and influence allowed him to buy off the medical professional. Ms. Jennings understands the art of shifting the blame better than anyone."
Laura’s expression darkened.
Estelle’s lips curled into a smile. "That’s alright. You will understand when the time comes."
With that said, she turned to Nathaniel. "Alright, I’m done talking."
Nathaniel gave a nod. "Mhm."
Without even casting a glance at Laura, he and Estelle walked straight out of the room. Before leaving, Nathaniel casually swept his gaze over Thea.
Once outside, Estelle asked curiously, "How did you negotiate with Thea to make her agree to this demand? Her sights have always been set on you, so how could she possibly fancy Ethan? Why would she agree to your terms?"
Nathaniel’s eyes held a hint of amusement. "She had no way out, so of course she’d agree."
"Just because of that?"
"Of course... there’s more to it." Nathaniel spoke methodically. "Along the way, I also verified my own speculation."
The timeline rewound to the previous night.
Nathaniel drawled leisurely, "Miss York, you are a smart person. You understand that Stella won’t let you off the hook."
Thea gritted her teeth, perplexed. There was clearly an aphrodisiac incense burning in her room, so why hadn’t Nathaniel succumbed to it? Moreover, he had clearly consumed that drug. No matter what, he shouldn’t be completely unaffected by her.
Thea’s eyes darted around. "Nathaniel..."
"Is Miss York wondering why I’m not already under the drug’s control, unlike what you expected?" Nathaniel countered with a smile.
Thea stiffened completely, a chill running down her spine. Realization suddenly dawned on her, and fear welled up in her heart. Wait... Nathaniel actually knew...
"Miss York, why do you think that consuming such a drug would lead to being controlled?" Nathaniel remarked unhurriedly. "A drug this miraculous—ordinary people wouldn’t believe in its efficacy because it sounds like an absolute fairy tale. Yet, Miss York is so certain of it for only one reason.
"Miss York, you must have seen someone else take this drug before."
Panic surged within Thea. "No, no, no! I haven’t! I haven’t!"
"As for who this person might be, let me hazard a guess."
Reaching this point, Nathaniel was surprisingly in no rush, beginning to speculate in a methodical manner.
"Among the people around Miss York, if we’re talking about someone whose temperament drastically changed... there seems to be only one person: Chairman York. Am I right?
"Although Chairman York disliked his original wife from their business marriage, he treated Stella, his only legitimate daughter, rather well. No matter how much he doted on you, he never intended to let you overshadow Stella, nor did he want to move you and your mother into the York family estate to be an eyesore to Stella.
"But on the day Stella turned ten, Chairman York, who had always loved her dearly, surprisingly and brazenly brought you and your mother into the York family..."