Chapter 156: Dog Bites Dog, Who Is the Culprit?

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Dog Bites Dog, Who Is the Culprit?

How could Rose Lowell not know who had started the fire back then? But she had raised Noelle since she was a baby; of course she had feelings for the girl! If the truth came out, Noelle would be ruined! Rose’s face was filled with panic. "You can’t... you can’t..."

But Eleanor Vance merely snapped her fingers. The next moment, the security footage began playing on the large screen! It showed Noelle going to see Estelle. Shortly after Noelle stepped out, the delivery room burst into flames! Yet, Noelle acted as if nothing had happened. She didn’t even glance back as she walked away. Who would believe she had nothing to do with that fire?

Noelle’s breath caught, and her heart leaped into her throat as her adrenaline spiked. Large beads of sweat rolled down her face. "What do I do? What do I do?" she panicked. "Why is there security footage? It’s been five years! Why does this still exist?! I am a major celebrity. I am the eldest daughter of the Lockwood family. I cannot admit to this..."

Tears welled up in Noelle’s eyes as she shook her head helplessly. "Mrs. Kendrick, I don’t understand what you mean. When I went to the delivery room, I just wanted to visit my sister. I was worried she might do something rash all by herself, so I went out of my way to keep her company. How is it that my good intentions are now being treated as a crime in your eyes?"

Seeing that things were taking a turn for the worse, Laura Jennings hurriedly planted her hands on her hips and shielded Noelle behind her. She lashed out, "You think you can frame Noelle with just a video? What are you scheming?! Even if Estelle didn’t start that fire herself, she had it coming! She deserved to die!!"

Nathaniel Sloan’s expression instantly turned icy.

Eleanor, however, let out a scoff. "Mrs. Sloan, you’re protecting Noelle so fiercely, it really makes one wonder if you had a hand in starting that fire, too.

"After all, besides the Lockwood family, you were the only other person at the hospital. And when the fire broke out, you were the first to clap and cheer...

"Now we have the footage and the witnesses. Even Rose doesn’t dare claim Noelle is innocent, yet you insist on it. Why are you so certain? Could it be that you were the arsonist?"

The room fell completely silent at Eleanor’s words. Noelle’s eyes flickered with a calculating gleam.

Laura hadn’t expected this to be tied back to her at all and was left entirely dumbfounded. A moment later, when she finally processed the accusation, her face flushed red with rage. "Nonsense! Nathaniel, are you just going to stand there and watch your mother be slandered?!"

Nathaniel’s gaze was so freezing cold that it forced Laura to take two steps back. She screamed frantically, "Fine! Fine! You’re teaming up with outsiders to frame me! Are you even human?!"

"They have proof, yet this Mrs. Sloan insists on defending Noelle. Isn’t it perfectly normal for her to be questioned now?" someone in the audience murmured.

Laura immediately roared, her face twisting into a hideous sneer. "Noelle is so kind! How could she possibly start a fire to kill Estelle?! If you ask me, Estelle brought it upon herself, the damned wench..."

"Since no one wants to confess, take them all back to the police station for interrogation," Nathaniel said flatly.

Laura was instantly horrified. "Nathaniel, what are you saying? You’re going to let these police officers interrogate me?!"

Estelle brushed back her hair, looking on with amusement. "Mrs. Sloan, if you’re innocent, you’ll naturally be released without charge. What are you so afraid of?"

Laura’s face grew redder. Puffing out her chest, she yelled, "I didn’t do anything wrong to begin with! And neither did Noelle! You’re all just spouting nonsense!"

Estelle chuckled, her placid gaze drifting over to Noelle. "Is that so? Do you think the same, Miss Lockwood?"

Eleanor also smirked. "Allow me to remind you that since the police are already here, my words have merit. Miss Lockwood, I’m sure you’ve heard that leniency comes to those who confess, while those who resist face severe punishment, right? If you ask me, you might as well plead guilty."

The crowd turned their attention to Noelle, whispering among themselves.

"Yeah, I bet Noelle started that fire. If there’s anyone in the world who wanted Estelle gone, it’s definitely her."

"Noelle committed arson and murder, and then Rose helped her destroy the evidence. That makes perfect sense."

"Noelle stole that girl’s identity for eighteen years, and then she still tried to murder her. How vicious!"

"Is something wrong with Laura’s head? It’s obvious Noelle did it, yet she’s out here protecting a murderer..."

Noelle clenched her fists, cursing Estelle hundreds of times over in her head! "What else can I do now? Is there any way out of this?" she wondered frantically.

Suddenly, Noelle’s eyes flashed as an idea leaped into her mind.

Laura was still covering her ears and screaming, "It wasn’t Noelle! It wasn’t Noelle! You bitches, I want you all to die!!"

"Aunt Jennings," Noelle suddenly called out, her eyes brimming with tears.

Before Laura could react, Noelle broke down into loud sobs. "Aunt Jennings, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry! I wanted to take the fall for you, but I can’t go against my conscience anymore... Things have already come to this. We are the ones who wronged my sister. Just confess!"

A deathly silence fell over the venue. Everyone stared at Noelle in stunned disbelief.

Laura was dazed for a moment, thinking she had misheard. "Noelle, w-what did you say?"

Tears streamed down Noelle’s face as she cried uncontrollably. "Aunt Jennings, you were the one who gave me a package back then and told me to take it when I visited my sister. I had no idea the package was filled with accelerants. I never expected it to start a fire...

"I’ve felt so guilty for years, and now, I really can’t hide it anymore!

"It’s my fault my sister was hurt. My conscience won’t give me peace, so I have to tell the truth. Aunt Jennings, please don’t blame me..."

Turning to Eleanor and the police, Noelle said, "When Aunt Jennings said she wanted my sister dead back then, I thought she was joking. When she asked me to give that package to my sister, I just thought she was showing her care. I truly never expected things to turn out this way...

"But I never wanted to endanger my sister’s life! I’m willing to cooperate with the investigation. Please, take me back to the police station..."

It took Laura three full minutes to finally process what was happening. Was Noelle pushing all the blame onto her?! She had just been screaming herself hoarse trying to defend the girl!

Laura spoke up subconsciously, "Noelle, how could you do this? No, it has nothing to do with me..."

Weeping, Noelle lowered her eyes submissively. "There are many things others don’t know, but I am well aware of them. I am willing to go back to the police station with you and explain everything in detail.

"I wronged my sister. I hid the identity of the murderer, and I am so deeply sorry for that... But on one hand, it was the aunt who watched me grow up, and on the other, it was my sister who had just returned home. At the time, my judgment was just completely clouded...

"I am willing to confess now. Aunt Jennings ordered me to visit my sister, and she was the one who set the fire. I hope this delayed justice can finally give my sister some closure..."

Laura felt as though she had been struck by lightning. She staggered, falling hard to the floor with a heavy THUD.

She hadn’t done it! She hadn’t!

Never in her wildest dreams could she have imagined that Noelle, the girl she loved most, would be the one to single-handedly pin the crime on her head!