Chapter 157: The Truth Is Revealed, Yara Is Estelle

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: The Truth Is Revealed, Yara Is Estelle

The police moved forward to apprehend her. Laura Jennings backed away continuously, screaming in panic, "Get lost! Get lost! Noelle, why are you talking nonsense!"

Noelle Lockwood willingly surrendered to the police, tears welling in her eyes. "Aunt Laura, we can’t keep making mistakes."

Laura felt as if her entire world had collapsed. She glared venomously at Nathaniel Sloan. "They’re slandering your mother, and you’re just standing there like a corpse without reacting at all! Hurry up and get me out of here! I’m innocent! And even if I really did kill Estelle Lockwood, she had it coming! Ahhh!"

Nathaniel merely gave the police officers an indifferent nod.

Soon enough, Laura was shoved into a police car, which sped away with its sirens wailing.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. The reporters Noelle had arranged didn’t know what to do. They had been invited by Noelle to brutally trample Estelle into the dirt while elevating the fake heiress. But now? Noelle had been taken to the police station herself. Should they even continue their coverage?

RING RING RING...

At that moment, Rose Lowell and Austin Lockwood’s phones began ringing frantically!

Austin absentmindedly answered a call, and a business partner’s voice came from the other end. "President Lockwood, about that collaboration we discussed last time... it’s a bit inconvenient now..."

"Ms. Lowell, our SE is a high-end luxury brand. Our spokesperson needs to have a top-tier image and temperament, with absolutely no scandals. Now that Miss Lockwood is in the police station..."

"Ms. Lowell, regarding that lead actress role you negotiated for Noelle Lockwood last time... there’s really nothing we can do. The investors don’t dare risk it! Now that Miss Lockwood has been taken in, it would be fine if she’s released without charge, but what if she really is connected to that fire?"

"We really aren’t targeting Noelle Lockwood, but look at what’s happening. You dote on the fake heiress and don’t care whether the real one lives or dies. The netizens are reacting very strongly. That variety show focuses on a gentle and kind persona, which really doesn’t fit Noelle anymore..."

"President Lockwood, the reason I collaborated with the Lockwood Group in the first place was because I saw how well you and your wife treated your daughter. I’m a doting father myself, so I figured our two families would have a lot in common! Who knew the daughter you loved was an adopted daughter, while you hit, scolded, and wished death upon your biological daughter? My wife says you’re too ruthless. We can’t work together."

"Austin Lockwood! I must have been blind for eight lifetimes to work with you! Handle your two daughters’ mess yourself!"

The scoldings were endless. They couldn’t even keep up with answering the calls. Austin and Rose’s faces turned ashen. Their partnerships were gone. Their investments were gone. Noelle’s lead roles, variety shows, and movies were all gone...

"President Lockwood!" A subordinate ran over in a panic. "The shareholders have major complaints about Miss Noelle. Right now... right now, many people are selling off their shares at low prices! We can’t control it anymore..."

Right there on the scene, a shareholder pointed a finger squarely at Rose’s nose and cursed, "When the true heiress returned home, we told you not to be biased! But look at what you did! You’ve caused such a huge mess! Are you happy now?!"

"President Lockwood, take a good look at your wonderful wife and your wonderful adopted daughter!"

"Ah!!" When had Rose ever been scolded while being pointed at like this? Her blood boiled, and a wave of dizziness washed over her. Thinking back to Noelle’s aggrieved gaze before she got into the police car, she immediately shrieked, "Estelle Lockwood! It’s all because of you! It’s all you! Why did you have to come back alive?! You ruined Noelle! I want you to pay with your life!"

Without a second thought, she lunged forward and raised her hand, aiming a vicious slap right at Estelle’s face.

Nathaniel seized her wrist in an iron grip.

The scene instantly fell dead silent. Nathaniel’s gaze grew increasingly cold and sharp. He enunciated every word, each one smashing heavily into Austin and Rose’s hearts.

"Ms. Lowell, your biological daughter’s innocence was proven just fifteen minutes ago. After the truth came to light, the very first thing you do is question why Estelle is still alive." His expression was indifferent, yet utterly oppressive. "Noelle Lockwood brought this upon herself, and you abandoned your biological daughter. Yet you’re the ones acting wronged? President Lockwood, there shouldn’t be such twisted logic in this world, wouldn’t you agree?"

After Nathaniel finished speaking, he abruptly let go. Rose collapsed to the ground like a falling leaf.

The surrounding crowd finally snapped back to their senses. Everyone had heard Rose scream "Estelle Lockwood" at Yara Lockwood just now. No one present was an idiot. Connecting the dots, they instantly guessed the truth.

"Yara Lockwood is Estelle Lockwood?"

"Looking at President Lockwood and Mrs. Lockwood, they must have known for a long time!"

"Of course they did, otherwise why would Rose yell that at Yara? These parents are a joke. Their biological daughter returned home after suffering so much, and not only did they not feel sorry for her, but they also enabled their adopted daughter’s murderous greed. Now that their biological daughter isn’t dead, they’ve started playing dead and pretending not to know her. It’s hilarious!"

"Their biological daughter is standing right here, yet they hypocritically held a memorial service for her. Who are they trying to disgust?"

"Wasn’t there an incident before where Noelle plagiarized Yara’s work? I bet the Lockwood Family knew her identity back then, which is why they tried every trick in the book to kill Yara. They were terrified that their precious adopted daughter would be stained by even the slightest blemish!"

"No wonder the Lockwood Family has always targeted Yara. For the sake of their adopted daughter, these people have lost all their humanity!"

Rose’s face flushed red, then turned pale. Amidst the crowd’s undisguised contempt, she suddenly snapped out of her daze. She panicked, wondering what she had just said and how she could have blurted out her inner thoughts. What should she do now? Noelle was still at the police station, and now...

"Estelle!" At that exact moment, Austin put on the facade of a loving father and quickly stepped forward, his voice choking with feigned emotion. "Estelle... I can’t believe it’s really you. I never expected you to still be alive... It’s good that you’re alive. It’s good that you’re alive..."

He then turned his head and angrily rebuked Rose. "It’s one thing for you to favor Noelle normally, but now that Estelle is back, you’re still acting like this! I know you actually love both of your daughters and just don’t know how to express it, but you need to make that clear to Estelle. It doesn’t matter if outsiders misunderstand you, but you can’t let our daughter misunderstand you!"

Rose jolted as if struck by lightning and scrambled up from the ground. "Right, right. How... how could I not love my daughter? I just... I just don’t know how to express it! Estelle, Mom really loves you. Now that you’re alive, Mom is happier than anyone else..."

Nathaniel slightly lowered his gaze and glanced at Estelle.

Estelle raised an eyebrow, speaking casually, "Is that so? It turns out you two ’love’ me very much. Then how come I’ve been back for so long, yet I haven’t seen either of you welcome me home?"

The veins on Rose’s forehead bulged. Her first instinct was to hurl a torrent of abuse, but Austin fiercely pinched her wrist.

Austin squeezed out a hypocritical smile. "Estelle, it’s not that Mom and Dad didn’t want to bring you home. It’s just that things have been a bit chaotic at the house, so it wasn’t the right time before. But now... now it’s fine. The Lockwood home will always be your home. We all welcome you back."

Estelle paused for a moment before suddenly flashing a profound, meaningful smile.