"Take a few days to think about it. Afterward, whatever you decide... I’ll support you."
Estelle Lockwood listened to Nathaniel Sloan’s words with a calm demeanor. "Okay, I understand."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "So, what do you want to do?"
"I want to meet this Young Mr. Yeats," Estelle replied.
Nathaniel chuckled and nodded. "Alright. I’ll arrange it."
Meanwhile, Claire Yeats stormed out of the banquet in a huff, abruptly colliding with someone right outside the doors. Unable to maintain her usual poised and haughty facade, Claire snapped, "Who is it? Are you blind?!"
Laura Jennings was ready to curse the person out, but upon recognizing who it was, her eyes flashed with calculation. She had come today because she heard Miss Yeats was here, hoping to try her luck. She never expected such a perfect coincidence!
Laura immediately plastered on a fawning smile. "Oh, my apologies, Miss Yeats! It was all my fault. Are you hurt?"
Seeing her subservient attitude, Claire’s expression softened slightly. "Who are you?"
"Miss Yeats, I am the wife of the Sloan Group’s chairman." Laura coughed lightly. She wasn’t stupid; she knew exactly when dropping Nathaniel’s name would give her an advantage. "I’m also the mother of the chairman of Evernight International."
Claire paused. "You’re Nathaniel Sloan’s mother?"
Though she hated to admit it, Laura obviously had to nod right now, her face full of sycophantic smiles. "Yes, I am."
Claire’s eyes flickered as she turned the thought over in her mind.
Seizing the opportunity, Laura asked obsequiously, "Miss Yeats, is there a specific reason you and Young Mr. Yeats came to Crestfall this time?"
Honestly, Laura just wanted to ask directly if they were here to look for the long-lost Miss Yeats.
Claire’s face turned icy. What a sore subject to bring up! She was already endlessly frustrated over this true Miss Yeats matter, and now this Laura Jennings just had to mention it to her face. Having grown up spoiled and pampered in the Yeats family, she had never once imagined her position could be usurped.
Old Mr. Yeats’s biological younger brother had died early but left behind a daughter. That daughter had also died early, but against all odds, she too had left behind a child! Quentin Yeats had come specifically for this child.
If the child was a boy, fine. But if it was a girl... what would happen to her? The main branch of the Yeats family had no girls. If she returned, wouldn’t the family treat her like royalty? But the one being pampered right now was clearly her! Why did this obnoxious girl have to come crawling back to the Yeats family?! Moreover, her eldest brother had come personally this time, which was enough to prove how highly the Yeats family valued that long-lost heiress. But what gave her the right?!
Claire had originally wanted to investigate who the person was, but the Yeats family kept her completely in the dark. They told her there was no need for her to know right now and that she would naturally meet her when she returned.
Seeing Claire stay silent, Laura couldn’t hold back any longer. "Miss Yeats, I heard the Yeats family is looking for their long-lost Miss Yeats. I wonder if you know Estel—"
"Shut your mouth!" Claire roared, glaring viciously at Laura. "Who the hell do you think you are to come and mock me?! Take a look in the mirror! Even if the true Miss Yeats returns, I will still be the most favored daughter of the Yeats family!
"Forget it. I have nothing to say to someone like you. Get lost!"
Laura watched in utter bewilderment as Claire stormed off. If Liam Sloan had been here, he definitely would have called it a display of impotent rage. Honestly, how could she lose her composure so easily?
This was truly the most innocent Laura had ever been. After all, she had merely wanted to find out if Estelle Lockwood was actually the long-lost Miss Yeats. Who knew that the moment she opened her mouth, Claire would completely snap? Not only had she failed to fish out any information, but she had also gotten yelled at for nothing.
After walking away, Claire’s expression inevitably turned panicked, and she made a phone call to her parents.
"Mom, Dad, Quentin even came to Crestfall! It seems he’s taking this very seriously. What should we do?! What is Grandpa saying about all this?"
Third Aunt Yeats complained tearfully over the phone, "Your grandfather is dead set on bringing her back. If you ask me, she’s been out there for over twenty years. What’s the point of looking for her now?"
Claire grew even more afraid.
Third Uncle Yeats chimed in, "We’ll talk to your grandfather again. Don’t panic."
Hanging up the phone, Third Uncle Yeats let out a cough and walked into the main residence. Although the Yeats family was a massive clan, they couldn’t possibly all live under one roof. He had come to the main residence today under the guise of visiting Old Mr. Yeats.
Third Uncle Yeats put on a smiling face. "Uncle, how has your health been lately?"
Old Mr. Yeats replied flatly, "What is it?"
Without even a word of pleasantry, Third Uncle Yeats’s smile stiffened slightly. "It’s nothing really. Claire just said she missed you, so she asked me to come check on you."
Old Mr. Yeats kept his eyes closed. "Mhm. Let her miss me."
Third Uncle Yeats fell silent.
Third Aunt Yeats nudged her husband. Face full of smiles, Third Uncle Yeats asked in a feigned casual tone, "By the way, Quentin went to Crestfall as well. Have you found any leads on Eleanor’s child?"
Old Mr. Yeats kept his eyes firmly shut. The Yeats family had numerous heirs and a complex web of connections, but one’s own biological siblings were ultimately the closest. He had a younger brother, three years his junior, who had never shown any interest in politics or business since childhood. However, he was exceptionally gifted in painting, so the Yeats family simply let him be.
During one of his travels, he announced he had found the love of his life. Yet, right when they were discussing wedding dates, tragedy struck. He and his lover were forced apart, and he was killed instantly in a plane crash. Overcome with grief, Old Mr. Yeats had gone to his brother’s lover to look for his brother’s belongings, only to find a baby girl instead.
Old Mr. Yeats had been stunned on the spot and immediately asked where the girl had come from. His assistant explained that a woman had abandoned her at the Yeats family’s doorstep. Instantly, Old Mr. Yeats felt a telepathic connection—he knew this girl was his brother’s own flesh and blood.
Consequently, Old Mr. Yeats arranged for a DNA test, which confirmed their blood relation. He named the girl Eleanor Yeats. When Eleanor grew up, she fell in love with a man. However, while she was giving birth, they suffered retaliation from the Yeats family’s enemies.
The enemies snatched the newborn baby. Eleanor, having just given birth, was too weak to give chase. Thus, the child’s father—the man Eleanor loved—volunteered to go with the enemies for the sake of the child. But this could only protect the child for a moment, not a lifetime. Initially, Old Mr. Yeats waited for that man to return, but as the years went by, no matter how hard they searched, there was no trace of him. Old Mr. Yeats ultimately assumed that both he and the child must have died.
But later on, he received news! The man from all those years ago had found a chance to escape. To get the child to safety, he had drawn the kidnappers away himself, allowing the baby to be successfully taken in by kind strangers. The man might not have survived, but the child had lived!
Therefore, Old Mr. Yeats mobilized all of his forces to search. That was Eleanor’s child, and he had to find her! And this very investigation had led them straight to Estelle Lockwood.
Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Old Mr. Yeats slowly opened his eyes and asked Third Uncle Yeats, "What exactly are you trying to say?"