Thea York ran to Scott York’s side, apologizing profusely. "I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. This child of ours, he... Scott, get back here!"
When the other parents saw Thea York, their expressions soured for a moment.
Although the York Family had been on the decline in recent years and was plagued by scandals, they were still a force to be reckoned with. These parents couldn’t afford to offend them.
’But the York Family has gone too far! They don’t raise their children properly, letting a York kid run around bullying people!’
Thea York sighed in resignation. "Mia, are you all right? Scott, apologize to Mia this instant."
Scott York kept the same cold, disgusted look on his face.
Thea York looked as if she wanted to hit or scold him but couldn’t bring herself to do it. "Sigh... this child, really..."
"Mommy!" Mia suddenly called out.
A thought seemed to flash through Thea York’s mind as she turned around, her demeanor instantly warm and affectionate. "Estelle, you’re here! I was just about to apologize to Mia."
Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow slightly and bent down to pick Mia up. "What’s wrong?"
Mia wanted to say it was nothing. ’I’m not going to argue with a little brat like Scott York who obviously has issues.’
But before she could say a word, Thea York spoke up.
It was as if she wanted to announce to the world that Scott York had problems, that he was a bad kid.
"Estelle, I’m truly sorry. Scott is spoiled rotten, and he was just bullying Mia... Sigh. Scott, aren’t you going to apologize?"
Scott York completely ignored her.
Thea York tried to smooth things over with a helpless air. "Estelle, I’m so, so sorry. Scott is used to being the center of the universe at home. If we don’t let him have his way, he’ll throw an epic tantrum—crying, screaming, the whole nine yards. We’re at our wit’s end, so we can only spoil him..."
One of the parents scoffed, "Spoiling him is your family’s business, but it’s not right to let him out to bully others! We’re not his parents, so why should we have to put up with your kid?"
"No, that’s not it. I’m sorry." Thea York looked as though she had been deeply wronged yet was choosing to bear it in silence. "He’s my eldest brother’s son, and my brother, well... sigh. That’s why my parents feel like they owe the boy, so they spoil him rotten. But who would have thought..."
As she spoke, Thea York began apologizing again. "Estelle, Mia, I’m truly sorry. Scott lost his parents at a young age, after all. As his aunt, I’ve probably been too lenient with him as well, sigh..."
The onlookers were taken aback and instinctively exchanged glances.
’Thea York’s older brother?’
’That’s right... Thea York did have an older brother. He was the son of the original Mrs. York, but he died in an accident long ago.’
’There were even rumors that this ’accidental death’ was orchestrated by the current Mrs. York, who started as the mistress.’
’But if the York Family is spoiling Young Mr. York’s son out of guilt, they couldn’t have been the ones who drove Young Mr. York to his death, right...?’
’Besides, Young Mr. York and Thea York had different mothers. So now, when Young Mr. York’s son makes a mistake, it’s Thea York who has to come and clean up the mess? This is...’
A faint smile touched Thea York’s lips.
’Mom was right. Scott York is an idiot. I raised him to be completely useless long ago.’
’The York Family has a bad reputation right now, so this is the perfect opportunity to use Scott York to clean up our image!’
Thea York glanced over the crowd from the corner of her eye, unable to suppress a feeling of smugness. Just then, a tall, slender figure caught her eye. "Nathaniel..."
Nathaniel Sloan took Mia from Estelle Lockwood’s arms, not even sparing Thea York a glance. "Come on, let Daddy hold you."
Thea York bit her lip, but her expression quickly softened into one of gentle grace.
’There’s plenty of time, anyway. And as for what’s going to happen at the village... I’ve already made the arrangements.’
...
Soon, the kindergarten bus set off. Two hours later, they arrived at the destination for their autumn field trip.
Farm-to-table getaways have become very popular with city dwellers in recent years, with many people eager to experience authentic village life.
As a result, the accommodations here were all guesthouse-style establishments.
But a single guesthouse couldn’t possibly accommodate so many children and parents, so the kindergarten had booked several and was assigning them randomly.
Estelle Lockwood was in no hurry. She watched the three little ones walk ahead, fascinated by everything in the village. Her brow arched slightly. "Mr. Sloan, you have this much free time to come here and waste?"
A smile played on Nathaniel Sloan’s lips. "Mrs. Sloan herself is here. How could I possibly stay away?"
’Besides, I’ve spent far too little time with Mia and Zachery.’
The two of them called Henry Kendrick "Uncle" with such sweet voices and joyful expressions.
But when they saw him, all he got was a deadpan "Daddy."
A profound sense of crisis washed over Nathaniel Sloan. He felt he needed to take action, and this parent-child activity was the perfect opportunity.
Estelle Lockwood stopped in her tracks and suddenly smiled again.
’She just wanted to take the three kids out to have some fun. They were always so sensible it made her heart ache for them.’
Up ahead, the three little ones spotted a guesthouse they liked.
It was a very small establishment with only four rooms. One family had already checked in, leaving just three available.
The three children plus Estelle Lockwood and Nathaniel Sloan would need two rooms, leaving one spare.
Estelle Lockwood was fine with that and was about to register when she suddenly heard a woman’s voice—
"Scott, this is Christian’s room! How could you just barge into someone else’s room like that? Scott, apologize to Christian right now!"
Quite a few people looked over.
Estelle Lockwood and Nathaniel Sloan put down their pens and walked over to the crowd. They saw Thea York lecturing Scott York, her expression a perfect mask of a long-suffering guardian disappointed in her charge.
"There are plenty of other rooms, Scott. Why don’t you just pick one of them, okay?"
Then, Thea York turned to apologize. "Christian, I’m so sorry. This is all my Scott’s fault. You can hit him or scold him if you want. It’s my fault for not teaching him better, for letting him become like this. Scott, are you going to admit you were wrong or not?"
Scott York remained silent, his entire body radiating defiance.
Estelle Lockwood suddenly felt that something was off.
She had majored in child psychology abroad. She could tell at a glance that there was something psychologically abnormal about Scott York. Was it possible that Thea York, who was so ’concerned’ about him, couldn’t see it?
"Scott? Scott? You child, are you still not going to apologize?"
Thea York’s voice grew louder and louder, as if she were trying to draw everyone over.
And indeed, many parents with children in tow had turned to look.
"It’s that Scott York kid again?"
"What did he do this time?"
"Trying to snatch little Christian’s room... This is a guesthouse, isn’t it? The rooms are first come, first served. Christian’s parents already registered and even put their luggage inside. But that Scott York kid insists on taking it. Miss York told him to apologize, and he’s refusing."
"My God, has he been spoiled rotten by the York Family, or what?"
"The York Family is in a tough spot, too. After all, Scott York’s father, the eldest Young Mr. York, is dead... and he was the son of the original wife. No matter how the current Mrs. York treats his son, she’ll be criticized. She can’t hit him, she can’t scold him. All they can do is shower him with food and luxuries."
"That’s right. If they try to discipline Scott York, they’ll just be accused of abusing the grandson of the original matriarch. They really are stuck..."
"But this Scott York kid has really gone too far!"
A smirk touched Thea York’s lips, hiding a flicker of contempt in her eyes. "Scott, are you still not going to apologize?"
’Good, don’t apologize. Let everyone come and see just how unreasonable the original wife’s grandson is!’
"Aunt York." Suddenly, a soft yet firm voice spoke up.
Christian looked astonished. "Aunt York, what are you talking about?"
Thea York was suddenly struck by a bad feeling.