Nathaniel Sloan had accepted Liam Sloan’s explanation—Estelle Lockwood did indeed treat him differently than she treated Liam.

The very next moment, however, Henry Kendrick ran over to Estelle Lockwood’s side.

Before Liam could even ask who this man was, he heard Henry Kendrick say, "What are you buying? Want some help picking something out?"

Estelle Lockwood replied matter-of-factly, "A gift for an elder."

Henry Kendrick nodded. "There’s a shop that just got a new batch of sea pearls. They’re quite popular. As it happens, I reserved two necklaces. Why don’t you take one? You can use it for your gift."

Back in the lounge, Liam Sloan’s eyes lit up. Without fully grasping the situation, he declared decisively:

"Bro, see? Another guy hitting on her! Just you watch. Knowing her, she’d never accept a favor from a guy like that! ’Oh, let me give you a necklace,’ he says. Pfft. You think she’d accept that? She only accepts gifts from you, Bro—"

The words were barely out of his mouth.

When Estelle Lockwood’s eyes lit up. "A necklace of sea pearl? That’s a great idea, actually. In that case, I’ll take it."

...

...

The lounge plunged into a deathly silence.

Zane Grant silently facepalmed, and Nathaniel Sloan’s expression was thunderous.

As for Liam Sloan... he slowly sank to his knees.

’Huh? Why isn’t this going according to plan?’

’Who is this guy? Who the hell is this guy?!’

His theory had been meticulously crafted around Yara Lockwood’s personality. Logically, it should have been foolproof, especially since he’d just proven his point moments ago.

But she hadn’t refused the man. She’d even happily accepted his overture.

’Which means...’

"Bro, in her heart, this man is more important than you!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Liam Sloan’s back went rigid. He felt his brother’s murderous glare and immediately tried to backtrack. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"But—but you’re not far behind! In her heart, you’re probably ranked second!"

Just then, Henry Kendrick spoke again. "Oh, right. Our eldest brother said he bought that violin you wanted. It’s at the house, so you can play it when you get back."

Liam Sloan’s voice trembled as he revised his statement. "...Er, Bro, you’re ranked third in her heart."

Downstairs, Henry continued, "Also, our second brother said that since your perfume brand is looking for a spokesperson, he’ll do it. He won’t take a single penny. We’re all family, no need to stand on ceremony."

Liam Sloan, looking horrified, amended again, "...Bro, at least you can still be fourth."

"Oh, right!" Henry Kendrick exclaimed, remembering something else. "Your two little ones said they have a surprise for you. Mia has been doing fortune-telling for people and saved up a ton of her allowance, all to buy you gifts!"

Liam was completely numb by now. "...Bro, even though you’re dead last in Miss Lockwood’s heart, at least you’re on the list. You should be content with that."

Nathaniel Sloan gave a cold laugh. He nonchalantly sat back on the sofa and opened a bottle of wine. "There’s nothing to see. Get back here."

Zane Grant clicked his tongue. ’Wow, someone’s practically drowning in jealousy.’

Just as Zane was about to tell Liam to give it a rest, he heard Liam exclaim, "Bro! I’m not just making this up, this is a real opportunity! Look, isn’t that Noelle Lockwood?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze turned grim.

...

Estelle Lockwood chatted with Henry Kendrick for a moment before he left to retrieve the necklace of sea pearl. She then began to wander around the Celestar Mall.

’This commercial center... is actually one of Nathaniel Sloan’s properties...’

At the same time, at the entrance to a shop on the second floor, Noelle Lockwood and Vivian Lowell stood arm in arm, a long retinue of salespeople trailing behind them.

Although Noelle Lockwood’s reputation had recently soured, everyone knew she was still the only daughter-in-law Mrs. Sloan acknowledged. Since she was destined to marry into the Sloan Family, no one dared to treat her with anything less than utmost respect.

Noelle Lockwood adored this feeling. ’She was born to have everyone trampled under her feet!’

Just then, however, Vivian Lowell’s eyes widened. "Noelle, look! Isn’t that Yara Lockwood?"

A flash of disgust crossed Noelle Lockwood’s eyes. "It looks like it is... What is Miss Lockwood doing here? Vivian, let’s go."

Vivian Lowell was indignant. "Why, Noelle? Why should you have to leave just because Yara Lockwood showed up?"

Noelle Lockwood gave a bitter smile. "I offended Miss Lockwood last time..."

"That’s just Yara Lockwood being petty!" Vivian Lowell fumed. "Noelle, don’t worry, I’ll get back at her for you! You’re the future lady of the Celestar Commercial Center. Why should you be afraid of her!"

Noelle Lockwood felt a surge of glee, but she put on a hesitant expression. "I don’t think that’s a good idea..."

"What’s not good about it? Noelle, that bitch doesn’t have any friends. If I get close to her, she’ll be eating out of the palm of my hand! Just you wait, I’ll make sure that bitch is thoroughly humiliated!"

After saying her piece, Vivian Lowell immediately ran downstairs.

"Yara Lockwood, it really is you!"

Estelle Lockwood was leaning against a corner, fiddling with her phone, when she heard a woman’s voice. Her eyebrow twitched. "Vivian Lowell."

Vivian Lowell felt a wave of nausea just looking at Yara Lockwood’s face, which so closely resembled Estelle Lockwood’s. Her tone was condescending. "I’m here to apologize to you!"

Estelle Lockwood tapped her phone a couple of times before looking up at her. "Apologize?"

Though her words were an apology, Vivian Lowell’s expression remained as arrogant as ever. "I misunderstood you before, thinking you plagiarized Noelle. I didn’t realize the perfume was your own creation. It was my mistake."

She said it as if Estelle Lockwood was supposed to be eternally grateful now that Vivian Lowell had acknowledged her mistake.

Estelle Lockwood glanced at her phone again. Henry Kendrick had sent a rather interesting audio recording.

And in that recording, the main perpetrator plotting against her, Vivian Lowell, was now putting on an act right in front of her.

Estelle Lockwood replied calmly, "Mm, I accept."

Vivian Lowell hadn’t expected it to be so easy, and immediately pressed her advantage. "In that case, why don’t we be friends! I heard Miss Lockwood hasn’t made any friends since returning to the country."

Estelle Lockwood’s expression was languid. "Sure. Miss Lowell is indeed my first ’friend’."

Vivian Lowell scoffed inwardly. ’This woman is so easy to manipulate! Just like the Estelle Lockwood of the past.’

Vivian Lowell suddenly noticed the necklace around Estelle Lockwood’s neck, and a greedy glint appeared in her eyes. "Since we’re friends now, there should be a gift to mark the occasion, right? You should choose carefully. I think that necklace of yours looks pretty good!"

Estelle Lockwood snapped her head around to look at her.

Her gaze was so cold and sharp that Vivian Lowell’s heart leaped, as if all her schemes had been seen through.

But in the next moment, Estelle Lockwood nodded. "You have a point. But this necklace is old, after all. I couldn’t possibly give you something used."

Vivian Lowell’s eyes lit up at her words, and she instantly forgot her earlier unease. "Oh, Yara Lockwood, you’re too kind! In that case, come with me to that boutique over there first!"

’I’m going to bleed Yara Lockwood dry in a little while and teach her a lesson!’

’How dare Yara Lockwood wrong Noelle? She’s just like the old Estelle Lockwood. Both of them deserve to die!’

Estelle Lockwood pretended not to see the greed and calculation in Vivian Lowell’s eyes and gave a light nod. "Mm, let’s go."

...

In the lounge upstairs, Nathaniel Sloan narrowed his eyes.