Chapter 178: When Rose Lowell Is Unhappy, She Is Happy

Chapter 178: Chapter 178: When Rose Lowell Is Unhappy, She Is Happy

Rose Lowell somehow put on an award-winning performance. Tears flowed freely as she said, "Estelle, to us, you are the most important person. Come home with us!"

Estelle Lockwood’s eyes shifted gracefully. After a long moment, she smiled with a faint trace of mockery. "Sure."

At Evernight International.

Luke White leaned over and said, "Sir, Mrs. Sloan is about to return to the Lockwood family with President Lockwood."

Nathaniel Sloan looked at the medical records from Rose’s delivery, his expression unreadable. "Have you found out about Noelle Lockwood’s background yet?"

It was hard to imagine that Rose could be Estelle’s biological mother. No matter how one looked at it, Rose’s daughter seemed more likely to be Noelle.

Luke replied, "Noelle and Rose Lowell truly have no blood relation, and she is indeed an adopted daughter. Sir, why are you looking into this?"

A dangerous smile played at the corners of Nathaniel’s lips. Rose had only given birth to one daughter, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was an "invisible person" who looked exactly like Estelle.

For instance, when Estelle’s life hung in the balance in the fire, someone had sent him a video. In the video, a woman with the exact same face as Estelle said she wanted to commit suicide.

Or, when Noelle and Estelle attended a banquet, Estelle was treated like a servant by Noelle and mocked by everyone. Yet, someone who looked just like Estelle video-called him, saying she was having a great time at the banquet.

Nathaniel pressed his lips into a thin line. Did the Lockwood family not know about these things? Or rather, was this "Estelle" who sent him the videos just an imposter hired by the Lockwoods and Noelle?

His gaze turned indifferent. "Keep a close eye on the Lockwood family."

"Yes, sir," Luke replied.

Nathaniel continued, "Just make sure Estelle doesn’t kill anyone. There are still things we need to investigate through the Lockwoods."

"..." Luke was bewildered.

Outside Star Tower.

Under the watchful eyes of all the employees, Estelle leisurely followed Austin Lockwood and Rose to their car. However, a minor mishap occurred when it was time to get in.

The Lockwood family had arrived in a luxury car. The seats were spacious, but they were few in number. A regular sedan could squeeze in five people, but luxury cars of this caliber prioritized comfort over capacity. So, despite the vehicle’s massive and lavish appearance, it could only seat four people.

The driver sat behind the wheel, and Austin was already in the passenger seat. Rose, paying no mind to the logistics, slid into the back. That left only the left-hand seat in the back available.

However, neither Estelle nor Noelle had gotten in yet.

After getting in, Rose urged them to hurry. Seeing that Noelle hadn’t boarded, she glanced out the window and finally realized the problem. But this seat in the luxury car had always belonged to Noelle. Therefore, without a second thought, Rose stated as if it were a matter of course:

"Noelle, you get in first. Estelle, you know where the Lockwood family’s villa is, right? Find a car yourself..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Estelle stepped ahead of Noelle, pulled the car door open, slipped inside, and locked the door all in one smooth motion, effectively shutting Noelle out.

Noelle’s expression stiffened.

Her words cut off, Rose choked on her breath. Her face darkened as she snapped, "What are you doing!"

Estelle replied nonchalantly, "Aren’t we going home? Let’s go."

"I told Noelle to get in first! Don’t you have your own car? Do you not know the way to the Lockwood family’s home? Just drive yourself back!"

The more Rose thought about it, the angrier she became. Or perhaps she assumed Estelle couldn’t escape her grasp and would obediently play the role of the Lockwood family’s daughter. Her anger erupted instantly. "I told you to get out! Can’t you understand human speech? Get the hell out!"

Estelle suddenly curled her lips into a deeper, meaningful smile. "Ms. Lowell, you’re asking me to get out? But... aren’t you here to bring me, the true daughter, home? Why are you taking Noelle back now and leaving me, the true daughter, behind?"

Estelle emphasized the words "true daughter." Everyone around them heard it clearly, and their gazes toward Rose and Noelle filled with even greater disdain.

Austin cursed inwardly, sensing trouble, but unfortunately, Estelle was one step ahead again.

She raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on her lips. "Ms. Lowell, you say I’m your biological daughter and that you would never show favoritism toward Noelle, yet here you are, asking me to give up my seat to her. It seems that in your hearts, a biological daughter still can’t compare to an adopted daughter. Do you think that because I didn’t grow up in the Lockwood family, I’m unworthy of riding in the Lockwood family’s car?"

Pausing, Estelle shifted the topic. "Or perhaps... the two of you made such a big show of coming to bring me home just to control public opinion and stabilize the Lockwood Group’s stock market? Are you trying to market a deep sisterly bond between Noelle and me, so everyone will forget how you helped her fake my suicide?"

The scene fell into dead silence.

For a moment, the expressions on the faces of Noelle, Austin, and Rose were incredibly ugly.

Two minutes passed before Noelle was the first to react. She bit her lip and shook her head weakly and helplessly. "Mom, Estelle is right. I’m just an adopted daughter. I don’t have the right to sit in the same car as you. You guys go back first. Don’t worry about me..."

Rose’s heart ached terribly. She was about to speak up, but Estelle had already nodded in satisfaction.

"Ms. Lowell, look how self-aware your adopted daughter is. She knows she’s unworthy. Since she’s said so herself, you as parents can’t force your adopted daughter to get in the car, right? Alright, let’s drive."

After Estelle finished speaking, both Austin and Rose gaped, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Finding a comfortable spot in the seat, Estelle waved at Noelle outside the window and said with a beaming smile, "Goodbye, Noelle! It can’t be helped. Who told you to just be an adopted daughter? We’re all family, so let’s not bicker over these little things."

Once upon a time, Rose had done the exact same thing. She had taken Noelle into the car and left her own biological daughter stranded outside to find her own way home. Back then, Noelle had tossed out a parting remark:

"Goodbye, Estelle! Even though I’m an adopted daughter, everyone accepts me more. Just take the loss. We’re all family, so let’s not bicker over these little things."

Noelle’s face flushed and paled in turns.

She cursed inwardly, "Bitch!!"

She felt as if everyone around was mocking her. How dare these lowly peasants mock her? She was the eldest daughter of the Lockwood family! What did these Star employees amount to? Weren’t they just working for someone else?!

Suppressing her anger and embarrassment, Noelle forced a smile as if she had suffered a monumental grievance. Her voice choked with emotion, she said, "Dad, Mom, it’s fine. You guys go ahead. I know I’m not worthy. I can make it back on my own..."

Rose felt immensely pained. Noelle was so obedient and sensible, yet she had to be bullied by Estelle. But for the sake of the Lockwood family, she could only endure it for now. Once the Lockwood family made a comeback, she would definitely make Estelle pay!

Estelle leisurely watched the scenery outside the window, unable to help but sigh in her heart. Although the Lockwood family was on the verge of bankruptcy, they sure knew how to enjoy life. This top-tier luxury car had an initial market value of over eighty million. Now, with the Lockwood family heavily in debt from all sides, they hadn’t sold their cars or houses. Instead, they chose to "sell their daughter." Tsk, tsk.

Over forty minutes later, the driver spoke up. "President Lockwood, Mrs. Lockwood, we have arrived."

Estelle opened her eyes. The Lockwood family’s villa, which she hadn’t seen for a long time, once again came into view.

The first time she came to the Lockwood family’s villa, she had harbored expectations of family. She had been cautious and trembling with anxiety, only to find an uncrossable chasm between herself and the adopted daughter, Noelle. She had been obedient, neither fighting nor competing, yet she had still nearly lost her life.

Coming to the Lockwood family’s villa for the second time, however, Estelle simply curled her lips slightly. She caught a glimpse of Rose’s face from the corner of her eye, which had turned a furious shade of purple. Estelle let out a soft chuckle.

Excellent. If Rose was in a bad mood, then she was in a great one.