Chapter 290: Nathaniel Is About to Meet Her

Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Nathaniel Is About to Meet Her

Meanwhile, Theodore Lancaster walked into the surveillance room.

A man stood up respectfully. "Sir."

Theodore Lancaster asked with an arrogant look in his eyes, "Has Estelle Lockwood done anything unusual these past few days?"

"No, sir. We’ve been watching her around the clock. Aside from her bedroom, we have a clear view of all of Miss Lockwood’s activities. She usually just reads in the study."

Theodore Lancaster asked cautiously, "What kind of books?"

"Miss Lockwood is probably just bored. She doesn’t seem to have a preference for any genre; she just started with the first row on the first bookshelf."

"If she finds one she likes, she’ll spend a little more time on it. If not, she puts it back and picks up the next one."

With such a methodical, unhurried reading pattern, no one would have guessed that Estelle Lockwood had been putting on an act in the study for days, all for that one book: *Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland*.

Theodore Lancaster watched her on the monitor for a while but saw nothing out of the ordinary, so he turned and left the villa.

Just as he stepped out of the villa, he received a call from Yvonne Lancaster and Old Mr. Lancaster.

"Theodore, this whole affair has gotten out of hand. To go to such lengths for Estelle Lockwood is a waste of your talents. That woman isn’t worth it! It’s improper!" Old Mr. Lancaster’s disapproving voice came through the phone.

Theodore Lancaster’s expression was nonchalant. "What’s improper about it?"

Old Mr. Lancaster frowned. "She’s just a woman, and one who’s had three children at that. How is she possibly worthy of you? You can have any woman you want."

Theodore Lancaster said meaningfully, "But she is Nathaniel Sloan’s only woman."

Old Mr. Lancaster paused. "What are you getting at?"

Theodore Lancaster said nonchalantly, "Everything that belongs to Nathaniel Sloan should be mine. Wouldn’t you agree, Grandfather?"

Old Mr. Lancaster was silent for two seconds. Indeed, this was the very reason he had groomed Theodore Lancaster in the first place.

He hated Miranda Lancaster, and he hated her son, Nathaniel Sloan. His hatred was so profound that even after all these years, he still desperately longed to see Nathaniel stripped of everything he had.

And taking everything from Nathaniel Sloan meant more than just his company, assets, reputation, and status... it also meant his wife and children.

How could Old Mr. Lancaster not know about Nathaniel Sloan’s feelings for Estelle Lockwood?

If Nathaniel Sloan were to learn that Estelle Lockwood had become Theodore’s woman... The idea tempted Old Mr. Lancaster.

"Excellent! You truly are my grandson! Theodore, let’s do it!"

Theodore Lancaster smiled.

He could hardly wait to flaunt his prize in front of Nathaniel Sloan.

’How should I flaunt her? How can I make the whole world believe Estelle Lockwood is dead, while showing her off only to Nathaniel Sloan?’

’First, let the world believe Estelle Lockwood is dead. Then, reveal to Nathaniel Sloan that not only is she alive, but she now belongs to me, Theodore Lancaster.’

’What would Nathaniel Sloan do then? Wouldn’t he go insane? And what would everyone else think?’

’They’d think Nathaniel Sloan had truly lost his mind, driven mad over a woman. How could someone so mentally unstable inherit the Sloan Group? How could he possibly manage Evernight International?’

A sinister glint flashed in Theodore Lancaster’s eyes. ’Those who deserve to die should just stay dead!’

Theodore Lancaster burst out laughing, then quickly composed himself. A vicious look flashed in his eyes as he instructed his assistant.

"I imagine Nathaniel must be in low spirits lately. As his caring younger brother, I should show some concern. How about this: invite him over to the villa for a little get-together. It’ll be a good chance for me to comfort him."

The assistant asked, "To your villa, sir? Which one?"

Theodore Lancaster replied nonchalantly, "North Manor."

...

The Sloan Family’s announcement of "Estelle Lockwood’s accidental death" had already made headlines.

Nathaniel Sloan, of course, had seen it.

Zane Grant sneered. "The Sloan Family has some nerve. I can’t believe how shameless they are! Using Estelle’s death to make themselves look good. What is Laura Jennings even crying about? The person who wanted Estelle dead the most was..."

Zane Grant stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing his mistake.

With Estelle’s passing, the most heartbroken person was Nathaniel. The Sloan Family’s public charade was despicable, but he shouldn’t be bringing it up repeatedly and upsetting Nathaniel further.

However, Nathaniel Sloan’s expression was unusually calm.

He’d had a dream last night.

Ever since Estelle Lockwood faked her death and left five years ago, Nathaniel Sloan had rarely dreamed, and he dreamed of her even less.

But last night, he suddenly did.

He dreamed that Estelle Lockwood was peeling an orange. She took a bite, her expression shifted slightly, but she quickly pretended nothing was wrong and held a slice to his lips. "This orange is quite good. I peeled it just for you. Have a taste."

In the dream, Nathaniel Sloan opened his mouth without a second thought.

And then, an intensely sour taste flooded his entire mouth.

Seeing her prank had succeeded, Estelle Lockwood let out a laugh. She raised an eyebrow, her eyes glinting with a touch of smug satisfaction.

Nathaniel Sloan smiled softly.

When he woke up, he suddenly remembered.

A while back, when fresh oranges had just come into season, Estelle Lockwood had bought a few unripe green ones, peeled them, and stuffed a slice into his mouth.

It was just an ordinary dream, but it gave Nathaniel Sloan a moment of absolute clarity—’Estelle isn’t dead. Estelle is still alive.’

"Nathaniel? Nathaniel?" Zane Grant called out.

Nathaniel Sloan snapped back to reality and stated his theory calmly. "Estelle should be fine. She’s most likely in Theodore Lancaster’s hands."

Zane Grant frowned. "Are you sure?"

Nathaniel Sloan gave a derisive smile. "There were two groups of people hunting Estelle and me back then. We investigated it afterward. One group was sent by Laura Jennings, and the other was sent by Theodore Lancaster."

"I don’t know for sure who ended up with Estelle, but based on what I know of Laura Jennings, her behavior lately doesn’t seem like that of someone who has Estelle captive."

"That means Estelle is in Theodore Lancaster’s hands."

Nathaniel Sloan let out another sneer. "And what kind of person is Theodore Lancaster?"

Zane Grant replied with disgust, "He’s a shameless illegitimate son who stole what wasn’t his and twists right and wrong. He’s cut from the same cloth as those other Lancaster Family scumbags and Laura Jennings!"

Nathaniel Sloan grunted in agreement. "Old Mr. Lancaster loathed his wife, Old Mrs. Lancaster, so he found the mistress and deliberately flaunted her in front of his wife. Yvonne Lancaster was jealous of my mother, Miranda Lancaster, so she used her status as an illegitimate daughter to steal her fiancé and her inheritance."

"So, what do you think a man like Theodore Lancaster, raised by people like that, would do if he captured Estelle?"

Zane Grant understood. "He’d use Estelle to provoke you. To show off that what was once yours now belongs to him. Theodore Lancaster would jump at any chance to gloat, let alone over a prize like Estelle, a living person."

"Following Theodore Lancaster’s logic, now that he has Estelle, he’s bound to flaunt her in your face!"

Nathaniel Sloan slowly closed his eyes.

"Yes. So, until Theodore Lancaster has had his fill of gloating, Estelle won’t be in any real danger."

’Still, his heart ached for her.’

’He didn’t even know if she was okay.’

’But he couldn’t afford to break down now. He had to save Estelle.’

"I suspect Theodore Lancaster will invite me. He might even hint that Estelle is still alive, just to make me lose my mind. After all, as far as the world is concerned, Estelle is dead. If I start insisting she’s alive, won’t everyone think my mental state is questionable? That I’m a madman?"

Just as Nathaniel Sloan finished speaking, Luke White walked in. "Sir, an assistant of Theodore Lancaster’s just delivered an invitation for you."