The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About novel Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: I Will Protect You

Seeing that Estelle Lockwood was still walking out, several board members grew frantic. "Miss Lockwood! President Lockwood! We can talk about this!"

"That’s right, President Lockwood. Please, come back. The contract has already been drafted. Don’t be angry, please, calm down."

Estelle Lockwood turned back, a look of confusion on her face. "Come back? Why don’t you ask Mrs. Sloan first if she’ll even allow me to? It would be so awkward if I came back only for her to tell me to get lost again."

The board members frantically shot Nathaniel Sloan meaningful glances.

Nathaniel Sloan’s tone left no room for doubt. "I’m the one you’re partnering with. President Lockwood, you don’t need to listen to anyone else’s opinion."

Estelle Lockwood let out a laugh, then slowly made her way back.

Laura Jennings nearly died from anger. ’Isn’t he just saying that I’m part of that "anyone else"?!’

Gritting her teeth, she rushed forward. "No, absolutely not! Nathaniel, she already agreed not to partner with us, so why do you insist on going through with it? This woman has sinister intentions!"

A nearly imperceptible flicker of disgust flashed in Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes. "Evernight and Star have signed a contract," he said coolly. "Breaking it requires payment of a cancellation penalty."

Laura Jennings maintained her haughty demeanor. "It’s just a small cancellation penalty. Can’t you afford it? Or are you saying you’d rather defy me, your mother, than cut ties with this woman? Do you know that because you’ve been so close with her, Noelle has been crying!"

Everyone in the company turned to look, struggling to understand why President Sloan’s mother, the dignified Mrs. Sloan, was behaving like a fishwife screaming in the street.

Nathaniel Sloan didn’t even bat an eyelid. "This partnership has an initial investment of one billion, with potential returns of around three billion. The cancellation penalty is five hundred million."

"Are you telling me, Mother, that I should throw away four and a half billion all because of Noelle Lockwood’s tears?"

Nathaniel Sloan scoffed coolly, "What kind of tears are worth that much?"

The entire Evernight Tower instantly fell into a deathly silence.

The assistants didn’t dare to speak, while the look of disdain in the board members’ eyes grew even more intense.

Laura Jennings’s expression froze. Apparently stunned by the "four and a half billion," her voice dropped significantly as she stammered,

"N-No, that’s impossible! What kind of partnership could be worth so much? Nathaniel, you’re actually lying to me for some woman! After all the suffering I went through giving birth to you, after raising you through so much hardship..."

"Mrs. Sloan!" one of the board members, having reached his limit, suddenly shouted,

"Haven’t you made enough of a scene! You really think Nathaniel would lie to you? Who do you think you are? Take a good look at yourself. What about you is even worth lying to?"

"Do you have any idea how many people are eyeing this partnership? The Kingston Group is one of them! Four and a half billion is a conservative estimate. The real returns from this collaboration will be even greater!"

The other board members couldn’t watch any longer either. "Where do you think the money you spend every day comes from? It’s all earned by Nathaniel! All you do from dawn till dusk is throw your weight around using the fact that you’re his mother. The Sloan Family’s reputation is in tatters because of people like you!"

"Noelle Lockwood’s tears? Don’t think we don’t know that you’ve always favored her. What did she do, save your life in a previous one?"

Having said their piece, the board members, fearing Estelle Lockwood might storm off in a rage, quickly adopted a placating tone. "President Lockwood, you don’t need to pay her any mind. Shall we head upstairs?"

"Yes, President Lockwood. It’s an honor to be working with Star..."

The board members’ completely different attitudes toward Laura Jennings and Estelle Lockwood infuriated Laura to no end. "Nathaniel, what is the meaning of this? You’re doing this for her..."

"Luke White, have someone escort Mother home," Nathaniel Sloan interrupted coolly.

Luke White nodded respectfully before firmly taking Laura Jennings by the arm. His smile didn’t reach his eyes. "Mrs. Sloan, please."

Laura Jennings was practically thrown out of Evernight Tower, her body trembling with a rage so intense she could barely breathe.

Noelle Lockwood, who had been watching from the sidelines for a long time, finally made her move. Feigning a recent arrival, she hurried forward in a panic. "Mrs. Sloan, are you all right?"

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify