Liam Sloan hesitated. "Should we... look into it?"

Nathaniel Sloan was silent for a long time.

After quite a while, he finally rose calmly. "It’s fine. No need to investigate."

’He knew Estelle Lockwood still had many secrets,’ he thought. ’She had been gone for five years, and if she wasn’t willing to talk... he couldn’t force her anymore.’

...

The banquet ended at eleven o’clock at night, and rain began to fall.

The Sloan Family had arranged guest rooms for anyone who wished to stay the night.

Iris Sloan suggested that Estelle Lockwood stay, but Estelle had to take her three little ones to kindergarten the next day, so she declined.

Estelle Lockwood arrived at the entrance of Sloan Manor, where she received a message from her driver.

[Miss Yara, I’m so sorry, my daughter suddenly has a fever. I need to take her to the hospital. As for you, I...]

The driver worked for the Kendrick Family. His daughter was only eight, and a child’s fever couldn’t be ignored. She quickly replied: [It’s alright. Go to the hospital.]

[Thank you, Miss Yara!]

Estelle Lockwood didn’t think much of it and prepared to call a car for herself.

...

Not far away.

Nathaniel Sloan watched Estelle Lockwood calmly and suddenly asked, "Is Leo Sloan going home?"

Liam Sloan was taken aback. "Huh? Oh, right. She said the old manor is too stifling, so she’s definitely going home."

Leo Sloan had come alone today. Her parents were still abroad, and she had her own house in Crestfall.

Nathaniel Sloan nodded faintly. "Have her come over. I’ll take her home."

Liam Sloan: "...?"

’Bro, my dear cousin, has your brain malfunctioned?’ Liam was stunned.

Although Leo Sloan was technically Nathaniel Sloan’s cousin, they had met fewer than a handful of times in their entire lives.

Besides, the children from the branch families like them wouldn’t dare ask Nathaniel Sloan for a ride, even if they couldn’t find a driver!

Nathaniel Sloan naturally noticed the shock in Liam’s eyes. "What, is there a problem?"

Liam Sloan snapped back to his senses. "No, no, no, no problem! Right away, right away!"

When Leo Sloan heard Nathaniel Sloan was taking her home, she was ecstatic. After bragging to her clique of friends for a good while, she ran up to Nathaniel, unable to hide her smugness. "Mr. Slo... Nathaniel!"

She rarely dared to claim a close family connection, usually addressing him as Mr. Sloan. ’But he’s offering to take me home himself!’ she thought. ’He must really care about me as his cousin!’

But Nathaniel Sloan only gave her a slow, deliberate glance. "Get in the car."

Nathaniel Sloan’s car was exceptionally luxurious. Luke White wasn’t there, so it was just him and the driver.

The front passenger seat was empty, as was the back. Typically, the front seat was for the driver and an assistant, so without a second thought, Leo Sloan opened the back door.

Just as she was about to get in, she heard the man speak again. "Sit in the front."

Leo Sloan’s expression froze, but she didn’t dare say anything, obediently getting into the passenger seat.

’It’s okay,’ she thought. ’Even if it’s the passenger seat, I’ve still got one up on all the other branch family members!’

Nathaniel Sloan nodded, signaling the driver to go.

Liam Sloan watched the car drive away, baffled. Zane Grant, however, just clicked his tongue. "So damn subtle."

Liam Sloan: "Huh?"

Zane Grant: "You don’t get it?"

Liam Sloan shook his head. "I don’t get it."

Zane Grant scoffed. "Just watch. You’ll get it in a second."

The car drove about fifty meters, just reaching the main gate of Sloan Manor, when Nathaniel Sloan suddenly said, "Stop the car."

The driver quickly stopped. Leo Sloan was confused.

Nathaniel Sloan had already lowered the window. The curtain of rain hid his face in shadow, but his gaze fell immediately on the person standing by the roadside under an umbrella, waiting for a car.

"Yara Lockwood, get in. We’re going home."

Estelle Lockwood froze and looked up.

The sight of Nathaniel Sloan sitting in the car was so similar to five years ago—noble and aloof, like an untouchable flower on a high mountain, a celestial being descended to the mortal world.

Without a second thought, Estelle Lockwood said, "No."

Even though she was also heading back to Imperial Crest, she had no desire to share a car with Nathaniel Sloan.

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression didn’t change. He just said coolly, "You can’t hail a car here."

Sloan Manor was situated in the best location of an ultra-exclusive residential area. For five kilometers leading up to the district, all other vehicles were prohibited, so hailing a ride-share was pure fantasy.

Estelle Lockwood’s throat tightened. It was true. She had actually forgotten about that.

"I’ll find my aunt. She can arrange a driver for me."

Liam Sloan had already run up, deciding to give his cousin a helping hand. "Miss Lockwood! You really can’t get a car here. Most people have their own drivers, but with so many guests today, and the rain, all the other Sloan family drivers are busy taking people home. You’ll have to wait a very long time if you want one."

"Coincidentally, you and my cousin are heading the same way, so why don’t you..."

Estelle Lockwood quietly refused. "It’s fine. I can wait."

Liam Sloan coughed and retreated silently. ’I’m no good at this,’ he thought.

Zane Grant, who was watching the show from the sidelines, remarked, "You’re just making things more complicated."

Liam Sloan was unconvinced. "I’m helping my cousin woo his wife back! How is that complicating things? Without me, do you think he could have gotten my sister-in-law into the car?"

Zane Grant glanced at the naive fool, finding it hard to believe this brain belonged to a lawyer. He had seen it at a glance. "What do you think Leo Sloan’s role in this was?"

Liam Sloan: "?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s car was stopped at the gate, and quite a few people were starting to look over.

Laura Jennings had been harshly reprimanded by Ethan Sloan, who ordered someone to escort Noelle Lockwood away. Just as Noelle stepped outside, she saw Nathaniel Sloan’s car.

’He... he’s inviting Estelle Lockwood into his car! And Estelle Lockwood is actually refusing!’

’Estelle Lockwood is basically slapping her in the face in public!’

Leo Sloan was the first to notice Noelle Lockwood. "Noelle!"

Leo Sloan hadn’t been present during the painting appraisal. She had only heard that Noelle Lockwood had been reprimanded but didn’t know the specific reason and assumed it wasn’t a big deal.

"Nathaniel, Noelle is also alone. Why don’t you give her a ride..."

Estelle Lockwood narrowed her eyes.

Noelle Lockwood looked like a delicate white flower braving the wind and rain—pale-faced and fragile, a sight that would stir any man’s heart.

Yet Nathaniel Sloan didn’t even spare her a glance.

Leo Sloan grew anxious. "Nathaniel, are you really going to let Yara Lockwood in the car? Noelle is watching! You’ll break her heart if you do this!"

Leo Sloan glared at Estelle Lockwood with hatred, as if she had committed some unforgivable sin.

Suddenly, Estelle Lockwood found this interesting.

She watched Noelle Lockwood approach step by step, then glanced back at the indignant look on Leo Sloan’s face in the passenger seat...

A sudden smirk played on Estelle Lockwood’s lips. She leaned in, her red lips close to Nathaniel Sloan’s ear, and exhaled softly.

"Mr. Sloan, you want me in your car?"

"..." The man’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.

Estelle Lockwood toyed with a strand of her hair. "But... if you pick me up, you can’t pick up Noelle Lockwood, you know."

Nathaniel Sloan was calm. "Mm, get in."

Leo Sloan was practically bursting with anger. "Nathaniel!"

Seeing Noelle Lockwood’s eyes fill with tears while Estelle Lockwood opened the car door with a smirk, Leo Sloan grew even more furious. She didn’t dare yell at Nathaniel Sloan, so she vented all her anger on Estelle.

"You shameless vixen!"

Estelle Lockwood accepted it with pleasure. "Generally speaking, vixens are very beautiful. I’ll just take that as a compliment."