Chapter 275: Scott York’s Envy

Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Scott York’s Envy

"If that’s the case..."

Christian gestured for everyone to lean in. "I have a plan."

...

Five minutes later, Christian finished explaining his plan, and Master Mia offered her own suggestions.

Christian nodded, and Mia’s plan was unanimously approved.

Zachery: "?"

Scott York: "..."

He glanced furtively at Christian, a cautious thought forming in his mind.

’Will I... have friends too?’

...

After lunch, Estelle Lockwood suddenly raised an eyebrow. "Mia, where’s your watch?"

Each of the three little ones had a watch, custom-made for them by Nathaniel Sloan. The trio loved them and wore them whether they were eating or sleeping. But now, the watch on Mia’s wrist was gone.

Mia’s eyes darted around. Thinking of her plan, she quickly shushed her.

"Mommy, can I tell you later, okay?"

Estelle Lockwood was a little curious. "So mysterious?"

Mia nodded firmly. "Mhm! It’s very mysterious, so I can’t tell Mommy right now!"

Estelle Lockwood never minded her child having a few little secrets, so she just patted Mia’s head. "Just as long as you’re not getting into trouble."

Mia gave a big "Mhm!" and said, "I’m going to go play then."

After Mia left, Estelle Lockwood was sunbathing in the courtyard. Cupping her chin, she said, "Mr. Sloan, don’t look so stern."

Nathaniel Sloan lowered his gaze slightly.

Estelle Lockwood said, "See? Because you’re always so stern, Mia didn’t even dare to approach you."

Estelle Lockwood knew Mia well. She had watched this little one grow up. The moment she saw Mia’s eyes darting about, she knew what her daughter was up to.

She’d deliberately shown her the bare wrist, prompting a question about the watch, only to then declare it a secret and ask Estelle Lockwood not to pry.

All of it was for Scott York’s benefit.

Estelle Lockwood stroked her chin. "It’s probably something Scott York doesn’t dare to do, so Mia is trying to prove that her mommy is easygoing."

Nathaniel Sloan, on the other hand, was calm. He raised an eyebrow and glanced toward the two little ones in the corner.

’Oh? So Daddy isn’t so easygoing?’

Christian and Zachery: "..." ’Nope, not looking. We’re out of here!’

...

In another corner of the inn, Scott York’s eyes widened slightly as he said subconsciously, "Your mommy... she really didn’t press you for details..."

Scott York knew how valuable the watch on Mia Lockwood’s wrist was, yet Mia Lockwood’s mother hadn’t shown the slightest surprise when she saw it was missing.

But if it were him... Thea York would probably... No, no, if it were him, he wouldn’t even have a watch like that in the first place.

His aunt had told him he was the shame of the York Family, that he should have never existed. Because his parents were dead, his own survival was a mistake. If he had any sense, he should have died along with his parents.

But Scott York was afraid of pain and couldn’t bring himself to die, so he had clung to life. However, his aunt’s verbal abuse only grew uglier.

Yet, in Scott York’s mind, all of this was normal. After all, it was the only life he had ever known.

But now, after seeing Mia Lockwood and her mommy, Scott York was just realizing... could parents really be this wonderful?

"See? My mommy won’t press me, and she won’t blame me. We can go ahead with the plan!"

Mia stuffed the watch into Scott York’s hands.

Christian and Zachery nodded in agreement.

The only reason Scott York had been against the plan was his fear that... Mia would get scolded, right?

This supposed culprit of "school bullying," who had been picking on his classmates, had a first reaction to Mia’s plan that was, surprisingly, worry—worry that Mia would be punished by her parents for losing the watch.

After Mia’s repeated assurances, Scott York took the watch. He pressed his lips together, his large eyes flickered, and he said, "Okay."

...

Half an hour later, a group of people entered the inn.

The two people in the lead looked like streamers and were in the middle of a live broadcast. Behind them were several assistants carrying their bags.

Upon entering the inn, the owner came forward to say there were no rooms available, but the two streamers said they were just there to casually film the local culture and scenery.

Estelle Lockwood narrowed her eyes slightly. ’Why does this live stream... feel so strange?’

Just then, Scott York came out.

On his thick, chubby wrist was a little yellow duck watch that was completely at odds with his image. Estelle Lockwood recognized it as Mia’s watch at a glance. Recalling what Mia had said earlier, she simply took a sip of her tea and didn’t react.

The two streamers’ cameras drifted, intentionally or not, toward Scott York.

Thea York acted as if she hadn’t noticed. "Scott, come here. Let’s go for a walk... What is this?"

Just then, Thea York finally "noticed" the little yellow duck watch on Scott York’s wrist, and her expression changed instantly.

"Scott, where did you get this watch? You... Why did you steal something again? Hurry up and give it back! What am I supposed to do with you?"

Years of verbal suppression had conditioned Scott York. The moment he heard Thea York speak, his first instinct was to find Mia and apologize.

But then he suddenly remembered Mia’s words.

—’If it were my mommy, and she saw I had a new watch, she would ask me where it came from, whether I bought it or a friend gave it to me. But she would never, ever think I stole it.’

—’But the first thing that mean aunty will say when she sees this watch is that you stole it.’

—’Scott, that’s not normal, right?!’

Scott York snapped out of his thoughts, clenching his fists and pressing his lips together.

’That’s right, it’s not normal!’

Thea York shot a look at the two streamers, then feigned exasperation. "Scott, Scott? This is Mia’s watch, isn’t it? From the size and color, it’s a girl’s thing. You... Sigh, Mia must be worried sick!"

"Hasn’t your aunt told you? If you want something, just tell me, and I’ll buy it for you. But for you to just go and steal a classmate’s watch without a word... what will other people think of you?"

Scott York remained silent.

The two streamers looked over. "Is there anything we can help with?"

Thea York looked helplessly at the camera, letting her face be seen, before shaking her head in resignation.

"It’s nothing. This is a private family matter."

The male streamer immediately said, "I don’t mean to pry, but I heard you mention something about your child stealing. He’s young, so he can still break the bad habit. You should try to talk some sense into him."

An assistant also nodded. "That’s right. In my family, if a kid steals and doesn’t listen, they definitely get a beating. Ma’am, you’re just too lenient with your child."

Thea York pressed her lips together and sighed. "It’s not that I’m lenient, I’m just helpless... This is my older brother’s child. My brother has already passed away. Everyone in the family dotes on him. As just his aunt, it’s not my place to say too much."

Scott York once again recalled Mia’s words.

—’After she accuses you of stealing and pins the blame on you, the bad woman will distance herself from you.’

—’That way, your theft is entirely because you’re a bad seed, and it has nothing to do with her.’

—’She’ll also say that you’re the apple of the York Family’s eye, that everyone in the family spoils you, and that they haven’t wronged you in any way.’