Chapter 177: Let the Lockwood Family and Noelle Lockwood Fight Like Dogs, So No One Has It Easy

Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Let the Lockwood Family and Noelle Lockwood Fight Like Dogs, So No One Has It Easy

In the car, Rose Lowell stubbornly insisted, "Just look at how sensible our Noelle is. Who exactly are you trying to disgust by bringing Estelle Lockwood back?"

Austin Lockwood kept a stern face. "Then what do you want? Do you have any idea what people out there are saying? You might not care about your dignity, but I care about mine! If the Lockwood Group goes bankrupt, our entire family will be left starving in the Borealands!"

Of course, Rose knew that. She had just spoken out of turn, her heart filled with bitter resentment.

She gritted her teeth. "Fine, she can come back, but let’s get one thing straight. If she bullies Noelle like she did seven years ago, I definitely won’t let it slide! The eldest daughter of the Lockwood Family must be Noelle. Trash like Estelle isn’t worthy of the Lockwood name!"

Noelle Lockwood lowered her eyes and smiled silently. Everything was going exactly as she had predicted.

Even if Estelle came back alive, she would never get her hands on the Lockwood Family. As long as they could coax Estelle this time, the family could use the Sloan Family’s influence to make a comeback. And she, the beloved Lockwood daughter, would still crush Estelle under her heel. Once the Lockwoods became the new elite of Crestfall again, who would care that she, the heir, was a fake heiress?

Austin, however, secretly frowned. He felt that Rose was being far too optimistic. It was one thing whether Estelle even wanted to come home, but why did they just assume that as long as they showed up at her door, Estelle would drop all her grievances and return to the Lockwood Family with them?

Rose couldn’t care less. "When she came back seven years ago, wasn’t she desperate for her parents’ love? We just need to toss her a few crumbs of affection, and she’ll wag her tail like a lapdog. What are you so worried about?"

Austin furrowed his brows slightly. He wondered if it would really be that simple, as Estelle had clearly changed so much. But no matter what, they were her biological parents. Surely she would give them at least that much respect, wouldn’t she?

The news that the Lockwood couple had come looking for their daughter spread throughout Star Tower in a flash.

Rose strutted haughtily into the corporate lobby, acting as if she already owned the place. However, the employees bustling back and forth didn’t even spare them a single glance.

Noelle’s expression turned ugly. She was a massive star! In the past, whenever she went out, she was always surrounded by an adoring entourage. Now, even these lowly office workers dared to ignore her?!

Rose gritted her teeth. "What is Estelle playing at? Giving us the cold shoulder? If we take back such an ill-bred daughter, the Lockwood Family will be utterly humiliated!"

"Keep your voice down!" Austin had barely finished scolding her when he spotted Estelle walking toward them.

He immediately broke into a smile, his expression changing so fast he could have performed on stage right then and there. "Estelle, you’re here!"

Estelle didn’t say a word. Her assistant immediately spoke up to complain, "President Lockwood, it’s these people. They don’t have an appointment, and they refuse to identify themselves. They’ve just been hanging around the lobby interrupting our work."

Estelle cast a sidelong glance at the group.

Rose instantly flew into a rage. They had waited half an hour for Estelle, and not only had she taken her sweet time, but her assistant was now making snide remarks?! "Estelle Lockwood, is this how you treat your own parents?!"

The assistant feigned surprise. "What parents? You are President Lockwood and Mrs. Lockwood?"

Rose was just about to curse her out for being an absolute fool, but then the assistant started apologizing profusely. Only, the content of her apology sounded incredibly bizarre.

"I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry! I didn’t recognize you at first, and it just didn’t cross my mind. After all, who would have thought that President Lockwood and Mrs. Lockwood would actually have the nerve to show up at your door, President Lockwood? I really didn’t do it on purpose. I just never imagined that there could be people this shameless in the world."

Rose choked on her words, her eyes bulging with fury. "You—!"

Austin gripped Rose’s wrist tightly and forced a stiff smile onto his face. "Estelle, we’re here to bring you home. You will always be our daughter!"

Rose let out a huff. "Estelle, I know you crave a mother’s love. If you can just be a little more obedient, I wouldn’t mind caring for you. Pack your things; you’re coming home with us right now. Oh, and when you have a moment, put a word in with the media. Don’t go causing trouble for the family just because you’re throwing a tantrum!"

Estelle clicked her tongue. So they were revealing their true colors already? The disgust in the couple’s eyes was plain as day. They acted as if giving her the title of a ’Lockwood heiress’ was some immense privilege. If she refused, it would mean she was ungrateful.

Well, she just so happened to be that ungrateful.

"If you want me to return to the Lockwood Family, fine." Estelle slowly raised her hand and pointed. "But what do you two plan to do about Miss Noelle here?"

The air instantly fell dead silent. Noelle’s face turned completely pale. She swayed on her feet, tears quickly welling up in her eyes.

Rose’s heart immediately ached for her. Instinctively puffing out her chest, she prepared to scream at Estelle. "Even if Noelle isn’t our biological child, she’s better than one! I can’t believe you want to—"

Austin immediately clamped his hand over her mouth and gave Estelle an awkward smile. "Estelle, Noelle is a good girl. Her being there won’t affect you. You don’t need to be jealous of her. Just take pity on her and let her stay."

Jealous? Estelle laughed. Plagiarism, arson, intentionally tripping to frame her, attempting to murder her child, posing as Christian’s savior... Even after the truth about all these things had come to light, this couple still believed that Noelle was some kind-hearted, pitiful victim, and that everything Estelle had done was out of ’jealousy’ toward her.

When she couldn’t reason with people, Estelle generally preferred to just teach them a harsh lesson. Austin and Rose probably felt that since Noelle hadn’t entirely bankrupted the Lockwood Family yet, their adopted daughter was still completely flawless. Fine, then she would just find a way to make the Lockwoods and Noelle tear each other to pieces. None of them were going to have it easy.

Estelle leaned back against the sofa and smoothed her hair. "That’s exactly what President Lockwood said last time. He brought me back, and I didn’t even survive two years. When it comes to matters of life and death, it’s best to be a bit more cautious. Wouldn’t you agree, President Lockwood?"

The assistant nodded in agreement. "Exactly. A reunion is a reunion, so why bring the adopted daughter—the fake heiress—along? Don’t tell me there are still people who don’t know that Noelle Lockwood nearly burned the real heiress to death? No way. Surely not?"

The employees in the lobby began to whisper amongst themselves.

Austin’s face flushed red. He felt a surge of suffocating frustration, but he still forced a placating smile. "Estelle! That fire had nothing to do with Noelle. Laura Jennings already confessed to starting it! Noelle made a mistake, but... but she never wanted to kill you!

"Noelle has already been to the police station and realized her errors. She’s willing to coexist peacefully with you from now on. I know you’re a kind-hearted child, and you sisters will support each other in the future, right? We’ll make it up to you, too..."

For a moment, the assistant couldn’t believe there were people this shameless in the world. She was rendered completely speechless.

Estelle chuckled softly. "Make it up to me... Really?"

Rose was seething with hatred on the inside, but when she thought of Austin, as well as the warnings from Old Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood, she had no choice but to lower her eyes and hurriedly agree. "Of course... of course it’s true..."