Estelle Lockwood asked the store manager to ring her up, casually taking out a black card and handing it over.
Nathaniel Sloan’s throat tightened. He stepped forward and took the black card from her. "I’ll pay."
"That won’t do." Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow. "I can’t be a greedy woman and let Mr. Sloan get the wrong idea. It’s just a few articles of clothing. I can pay for them myself."
Nathaniel Sloan’s heart skipped a beat. An indescribable emotion spread through his chest as he insisted, "I’ll pay."
Estelle Lockwood’s eyes darkened. "I have my own money. I said I’ll do it myself. Don’t you understand?"
Henry Kendrick had once said she was a little hedgehog, and she really was.
Until she truly opened her heart to someone, she would draw a clear line between herself and them, regardless of their relationship.
Whether they were husband and wife or family, until Estelle Lockwood accepted him... she would keep all her assets and her life completely separate.
Only when Estelle Lockwood fell in love with someone and accepted them, when the hedgehog was willing to show its soft belly, would she allow herself to be playful and affectionate.
In the past, she had prepared three meals a day for Nathaniel Sloan, treated his headaches, and secretly bought him ties and cufflinks.
She thought they were husband and wife, that they were family, and that this little hedgehog could finally turn over and show its belly.
So she had wanted to be playful; she had wanted Nathaniel Sloan to buy her a necklace.
It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford the necklace—it wasn’t even expensive. She had taken on several perfumery jobs at the time, and the cufflinks she had bought for Nathaniel Sloan had cost more than that necklace.
She just wanted her husband to give her a gift.
She just wanted to receive a gift from her significant other during their romance and marriage. She longed for that small, pleasant surprise.
So she had playfully thrown herself into his arms and said, ’Nathaniel, this is so pretty. I like it. Will you buy it for me?’
Nathaniel Sloan had put down his wine glass, his gaze indifferent. He glanced at the price and said dismissively, ’Short on money?’
Estelle Lockwood had been about to shake her head.
But Nathaniel Sloan had continued, ’Haven’t I given you enough? Why so greedy? I guess Noelle was right. You really did end up asking me for something.’
Stunned, Estelle Lockwood had asked, ’Nathaniel... what do you mean?’
Nathaniel Sloan shot her a sidelong glance. ’I married you on grandfather’s orders and have given you and the Lockwood Family more than enough. Ask for less. Don’t let them all say you’re greedy and a gold-digger, hmm?’
Later, Estelle Lockwood found out that Nathaniel Sloan had been at a party before that day.
At the party, Noelle Lockwood had casually remarked that ever since Estelle Lockwood returned to the Lockwood family, she acted as if they owed her something. She claimed that even though the family provided for her every need, she was never satisfied and insisted on Mr. Lockwood buying her luxury watches, fancy cars, and designer goods. She had even made a bet with Nathaniel that Estelle would ask him for a gift when he got home.
And the rich young masters at the party also gossiped that Estelle Lockwood, the supposed "true heiress," was nothing but a gold digger who was lazy, good-for-nothing, and only knew how to spend men’s money.
Estelle Lockwood desperately wanted to explain that she had done no such thing. She hadn’t asked the Lockwood family or Nathaniel for any of those things. She had only...
But no one would have listened.
So from then on, Estelle Lockwood never asked Nathaniel Sloan for anything again. Their assets were kept completely separate. He used his money, and she only spent her own.
In those two years, he had barely spent any money on her, his wife, yet he showered Noelle Lockwood with gifts and resources.
Her thoughts snapped back to the present. The more Estelle Lockwood thought about it, the angrier she became. ’That bastard!’
She shot Nathaniel Sloan a venomous glare and said sarcastically, "First you pursue me, now you’re trying to spend money on me. What exactly are you trying to do? Just say it. I wouldn’t dare spend Mr. Sloan’s money. Who knows what kind of rumors would start if word got out."
Nathaniel Sloan’s lips formed a tight line.
Estelle Lockwood had already swiped her card decisively. She glanced at Nathaniel Sloan out of the corner of her eye. "Do as you please, Mr. Sloan. I have other things to attend to."
Nathaniel Sloan suddenly asked, "What would you do if I insisted on giving you something?"
Estelle Lockwood found the question baffling.


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