The caller was his younger brother, Laura Jennings’s other son. The two weren’t particularly close, but they weren’t distant either. He was currently in charge of acquiring shares in the Lockwood Group.

’Is he calling me because the Lockwood Group acquisition isn’t going smoothly?’

Nathaniel Sloan answered and heard Liam Sloan say, "Bro, I have a friend who’s also interested in the Lockwood Group. Do you have time to come over?"

Nathaniel Sloan frowned at his words.

’Someone else is interested in the Lockwood Group? How could anyone be interested in a company like that? What terrible judgment.’

...

On the other side, Liam Sloan hung up and said to Estelle Lockwood, "My apologies, Miss Lockwood. My brother has had his eye on the Lockwood Group for a while now. When he gets here, you two can discuss it."

Estelle Lockwood was curious. ’Who else would want to acquire shares in the Lockwood Group?’

The Lockwood Group had been on a steady decline for years and was on the verge of collapse. She was only acquiring it to make things difficult for the Lockwoods.

And yet, someone else had already made a move to acquire it first.

It wasn’t that she was looking down on anyone, but she couldn’t believe someone was actually interested in a shell company like the Lockwood Group.

’That person must either be out of their mind or have terrible taste.’

...

Nathaniel Sloan hung up the phone. Zane Grant asked, "You’re going to acquire the Lockwood Group?"

"Yeah."

"Why? The Lockwood Group isn’t worth it."

Nathaniel Sloan paused as he was getting into the car and said flatly, "The Lockwood Group originally belonged to Estelle Lockwood."

Because the Lockwood Group had originally belonged to Estelle Lockwood, he was going to acquire it.

Zane Grant was speechless. ’I guess that’s a valid reason... His wife’s property ending up in Noelle Lockwood’s hands is indeed intolerable. Even if he acquires it just to let it collect dust, he can’t let anyone else have it.’

’But what is that woman on the other end of the line who wants to acquire the Lockwood Group thinking?’

"By the way, that paternity test... are you just going to let it go?" Zane Grant asked, his chest tightening as he recalled the Sloans’ attitude earlier.

’A grandmother doubting her own grandson and insulting her deceased daughter-in-law... what kind of mess is this?’

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression was calm, but his eyes were bone-chillingly cold. "Of course we’re not just going to let it go."

Zane Grant opened his mouth, wanting to ask Nathaniel Sloan what he planned to do next.

But on second thought, ’Nathaniel cares most about Christian. Now that Christian’s identity has been questioned... Laura Jennings, the biological mother he already shares little affection with, probably won’t get off easy.’

Ignoring the mess back at the villa, Nathaniel Sloan drove to his destination.

...

「Azure River Law Firm.」

Estelle Lockwood had returned to the country specifically to get revenge on the Lockwood Group, and acquiring its shares had long been part of her plan.

She hadn’t expected to get stuck on the final step.

The young man in front of her was named Liam Sloan. He looked unreliable on the surface, but he was actually a lawyer.

When Estelle Lockwood was still abroad, she had crossed paths with him over an infringement case and had helped him out. She never thought she would run into him here after returning to the country.

Liam Sloan still owed Estelle Lockwood a favor and felt quite embarrassed. "Yara, don’t worry. When my brother gets here, I’ll do my best to mediate. I won’t let you get the short end of the stick!"

The corner of Estelle Lockwood’s mouth twitched. "If I may be so bold... why does your brother want to acquire the Lockwood Group?"

Liam Sloan also knew that while the Lockwood Group looked impressive on the outside, it was rotten to the core. Taking it over would just be inheriting a complete mess.

He rubbed his nose. "Ah, there’s something you don’t know. My brother is acquiring the Lockwood Group for my sister-in-law."

Estelle Lockwood froze. "Sister-in-law?"

Liam Sloan really didn’t want to admit his brother was lovesick, so he said tactfully, "Yeah. Actually, my sister-in-law took an interest in the Lockwood Group, and my brother immediately prepared to acquire it without a second thought. No one could talk him out of it!"

’So that’s how it is... This is going to be a problem.’

A man that deeply in love would naturally do anything to fulfill his wife’s wishes. Besides, from what Mia had said, Estelle Lockwood had determined that this CEO was definitely not short on cash.

’Under these circumstances, how could she possibly get her hands on the Lockwood Group?’

While Estelle Lockwood was lost in thought, Liam Sloan on the other side seemed to get hooked, eager to share every detail of his brother and sister-in-law’s epic love story.

"To be honest, I’ve never met my sister-in-law, but for my brother to be so devoted to her, she must be a real beauty! I heard that back then, my brother defied everyone’s objections to marry her and even had a falling out with our mother!"

Estelle Lockwood’s mind was racing, trying to figure out how to negotiate later. She wasn’t paying attention to what Liam Sloan was saying at all and replied perfunctorily, "How touching."

"Right? You think it’s touching, too! I heard my sister-in-law came from a poor background. Back then, besides my grandfather and aunt, everyone else was against it. But my brother said he wouldn’t marry anyone but her in this lifetime!"

Estelle Lockwood played along, "Mhm, an epic love story."

Just then, footsteps could be heard from outside the door.

Absorbed in their own worlds, neither of them heard it.

Liam Sloan talked until his mouth was dry. He suddenly remembered that when he’d first met Yara Lockwood, she had two little ones with her. A business partner had told him that although Yara Lockwood was married, her husband was a scumbag, and she was having a hard time raising the children on her own.

Realizing this, Liam Sloan felt he was being terribly insensitive!

’Miss Lockwood is in an unhappy marriage, yet here I am, praising the epic love story of my brother and his wife. This isn’t right. I need to be more considerate of Yara’s feelings.’

So, Liam Sloan asked, "Miss Lockwood, how are things with you and your husband? Are you divorced?"

Estelle Lockwood’s train of thought was interrupted. She seemed a bit confused. "Hmm?"

Liam Sloan said, "I know you married the wrong man, Miss Lockwood. That scumbag husband of yours abandoned his wife and children. If you need any help, you can come to me. I specialize in divorce cases!"

"Men these days are terrible. We absolutely cannot let that scumbag get away with a single thing!"

Estelle Lockwood paused in the middle of peeling an orange. "You specialize in divorce cases?"

"That’s right!" Liam Sloan’s eyes lit up. "I’ve handled all kinds of divorce cases. Don’t be afraid, Miss Lockwood. When facing a scumbag, you have to be brave enough to say ’no’ and file for divorce!"

Liam Sloan switched into work mode in a second, pulling out a pen and paper. He even started using formal language. "You can tell me the specifics of your situation. The date you and the other party were married, the male party’s contributions to your pregnancy, childbirth, and child-rearing after marriage... I’ll need to take detailed notes here."

Estelle Lockwood was stunned.

Seeing her silence, Liam Sloan grew indignant. "Don’t tell me there were none? Miss Lockwood, your husband is a real piece of work! He neglected you when you were pregnant, ignored the child after it was born, and didn’t even pay basic child support? I’d love to see a scumbag like that utterly ruined—"

CLICK.

Just then, a hand closed around the doorknob.

Nathaniel Sloan raised an eyebrow, the smile vanishing from his eyes. He cast a meaningful glance at the law firm’s nameplate.

’...Liam Sloan, you’ve done well.’

Nathaniel Sloan pushed the door right open.

Liam Sloan was right in the middle of his passionate tirade when he suddenly heard a click. He turned his head and immediately said, "Miss Lockwood, my brother’s here. Bro! I was just advising Miss Lockwood to get a divorce. Her husband is practically a deadbeat, don’t you think she should leave him—"

Before he could finish, Estelle Lockwood had already looked up, her eyes meeting those of Nathaniel Sloan, who had just walked in.

...

...

The air seemed to freeze, and Estelle Lockwood’s expression stiffened.

’Wait... the ’bro’ Liam Sloan was talking about is Nathaniel Sloan?!’