Old Mrs. Sloan hadn’t expected a reply. Seeing the woman looked like she was about to faint, she waved her hand impatiently. "Get out."
Someone quickly grabbed Laura Jennings by the shoulder and unceremoniously dragged her out.
The other people present, of course, weren’t about to offend Nathaniel Sloan and Old Mrs. Sloan for Laura Jennings’s sake, so they remained silent and pretended not to see a thing.
Estelle Lockwood gently pinched Zachery’s little cheek and said to the three little ones, "Mommy’s going to take you to say hello to Great-Grandma."
The triplets’ expressions immediately became obedient. "Okay, Mommy."
But before they could approach, another figure beat them to it, arriving at Old Mrs. Sloan’s side.
Old Mrs. Sloan knew Estelle would be bringing the children over today and was feeling a little expectant. She couldn’t help but crane her neck to look.
Just as she spotted Estelle’s figure, before she even had a chance to feel happy, a gentle female voice, tinged with what seemed like pleasant surprise, suddenly rang out. "Grandma Sloan, it’s been a long time."
Old Mrs. Sloan’s eyes narrowed instantly as she saw Thea York and Mrs. York.
It wasn’t that none of the guests here wanted to curry favor with her, but even those who did wouldn’t dare approach her so directly.
’Now, Thea York was acting as if they were very close... What does she think she’s doing? Who does she think she is? What gives her the right to act so familiar?’
Of course, Old Mrs. Sloan knew who Thea York was. She deeply disliked this illegitimate daughter of the York Family. She appeared gentle and kind on the surface, but was full of schemes behind the scenes. Old Mrs. Sloan had never liked two-faced people.
Moreover, this Thea York seemed to have a thing for Nathaniel.
’Judging by the current situation, Nathaniel is married, and she still hasn’t given up?’
She recalled the rumors circulating outside—that Thea York was the Sloan Family’s preferred choice for Mrs. Sloan, that Thea York and Nathaniel Sloan were childhood sweethearts, and that if Estelle Lockwood hadn’t used unscrupulous means, the current Mrs. Sloan would actually be Thea York...
Heh.
’They were all sly old foxes. Did Thea York really think she wouldn’t see through her petty tricks?’
Coming up to greet her now was nothing more than an attempt to show everyone—look how close Thea York is with the Sloan family matriarch—and add more fuel to the rumors that ’Thea York is the Sloan Family’s preferred choice for Mrs. Sloan’.
Old Mrs. Sloan hummed faintly, her tone cold. "Miss York."
Thea York’s smile was gentle. Noticing that many people were looking over, she acted even more familiar. "Grandma Sloan, have you been well all these years—"
"My surname isn’t Sloan," Old Mrs. Sloan cut her off emotionlessly. "And another thing, Miss York, I don’t believe I invited the York Family."
Thea York’s throat tightened. "Old Mrs. Sloan..."
Mrs. York cursed inwardly, ’This old hag actually dared to humiliate Thea!’ But she couldn’t show her anger and could only try to smooth things over. "Old Mrs. Sloan, my Thea just respects you so much. She insisted on coming to greet you in person, so I brought her along."
"Oh, so it was Mrs. York who brought Thea York over."
Old Mrs. Sloan nodded, then asked, "Then what about Stella York? How come I don’t see Mrs. York bringing Stella York out? Could it be that the proper Young Miss York is too busy inheriting the York Group to have time, so you can only bring the idle Thea York to my banquet?"
Mrs. York’s mouth twitched.
’Doesn’t this old hag know how to talk?! What’s with all the sarcasm! It’s not that our Thea can’t inherit the York Group, it’s all because that bitch Stella York’s methods are too vicious!’
Thea York could barely maintain her smile. What she hated most in her life was being compared to Stella York. How could Old Mrs. Sloan be so utterly disrespectful!
Thea York took a deep breath and looked to the side, her voice soft and fragile. "Nathaniel..."
Old Mrs. Sloan let out a cold laugh.
Nathaniel Sloan didn’t even look at her, acting as if he hadn’t heard a thing. "Grandma, it’s windy out here. Let’s go inside."
Thea York swayed slightly. She felt that people were already laughing at her. "I’m sorry, it’s my fault. Please don’t take offense, Old Mrs. Sloan. We’ll leave right now."
Old Mrs. Sloan shot her a sidelong glance. "Fine, come in. If Miss York and Mrs. York were to leave now, someone would inevitably gossip that this old woman is unreasonable."
A flash of anger crossed Thea York’s face. ’Old hag!’
Enduring the subtle gazes of others, Thea York and Mrs. York walked hand in hand into the manor.
Estelle Lockwood withdrew her gaze and walked over with her three little ones.
...
The banquet was halfway through.
The three little dumplings had Old Mrs. Sloan roaring with laughter, drawing compliments and envious looks from the onlookers.
Estelle Lockwood had just accidentally gotten her clothes wet. She went to a resting area to change, and as she came out, she saw Thea York walking toward her.
Estelle Lockwood didn’t break her stride, ignoring her completely as she brushed right past—
"Miss Lockwood." But Thea York suddenly closed the door, stopping her.
Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow. "Is there something you need?"
Thea York locked the door, her smile never wavering. "Miss Lockwood, I have something to say to you."
Estelle Lockwood watched her with a leisurely air.
Thea York let out a deliberate sigh. "Miss Lockwood, today’s banquet was handled entirely by Nathaniel. You... as Nathaniel’s wife, you’re being far too thoughtless."
Thea York’s words were pointed. "I know, perhaps because you grew up in the countryside, you don’t know how to manage a banquet, which is why Nathaniel had to get distracted with it. But you should learn. This sort of thing is women’s work. How can you let a man like Nathaniel handle it?"
Estelle Lockwood gave Thea York a few surprised glances.
She asked, "What year is it?"
Thea York grew annoyed. "Miss Lockwood, I’m not joking with you. Please be serious!"
Estelle Lockwood took out her phone and glanced at it, feigning a moment of realization. "Oh, it’s already the 21st century. After listening to what you just said, Miss York, I thought the Qing Dynasty was still around. Otherwise, how could I have met an ’ancient person’ like you?"
Thea York was so angry her throat seized up, yet she still put on a magnanimous air, as if trying to guide Estelle Lockwood onto the ’proper path’.
"Estelle, I’m not joking. Look at Mia. Growing up watching you, she’s bound to pick up your bad habits by osmosis. We women must obey our husbands. You should understand the principle that the husband is the sky, right, Estelle? You just need to manage household affairs. All these external matters should be left to Nathaniel."
"And something like a banquet should be your responsibility. From organizing it to sending out invitations, it’s all on you. But now, you’ve left it all for Nathaniel to handle. He’s busy at the company day in and day out, and then he comes home just to deal with these domestic matters. Don’t you ever feel for him?"
Estelle Lockwood: "..."
Estelle Lockwood couldn’t resist pulling out her phone for another look. ’Yup, that’s right, it’s modern society. Otherwise, I would’ve thought I’d time-traveled. What is this feudal remnant?’
Seeing Estelle Lockwood’s silence, Thea York gritted her teeth and demanded, "Miss Lockwood! I’ve said so much, and you haven’t listened to a single word. Do you really think you’re worthy of Nathaniel?!"
’Tsk, tsk. Finally showing her true colors.’
Estelle Lockwood’s eyelids flickered up. Before she could speak, a knock suddenly sounded at the door of the resting area.
Then, a familiar male voice called out, "Estelle."