Chapter 179: You Still Plan to Shamelessly Stay in the Lockwood Family?

Chapter 179: Chapter 179: You Still Plan to Shamelessly Stay in the Lockwood Family?

Right at that moment, Noelle Lockwood returned in another car.

The moment she stepped out of the vehicle, she tucked away her sinister expression and plastered on a smile. "Estelle, you haven’t been back in so long. You probably don’t even remember what our home looks like, do you?"

Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow.

Acting as if nothing had happened earlier, Noelle feigned a bashful look. "The family had the whole place remodeled just for me, so the layout has completely changed. If there’s anything you’re not used to, Estelle, you must tell me. Just treat this place like your own home."

Estelle couldn’t help but wonder what Noelle’s face was made of. How could she be so shamelessly thick-skinned?

She still remembered the first time she came to the Lockwood villa at eighteen years old.

Dressed in ordinary, worn-out clothes and clutching a single bag, she had looked up to see Rose Lowell walking arm-in-arm with Noelle. They had stood at the top of the high steps, staring down at Estelle.

Then, the aristocratic-looking woman cast a contemptuous glance her way and parted her lips impatiently. "Alright, since you’re back, just behave yourself."

After that, Noelle had walked over. She seemed friendly but was utterly condescending, her tone dripping with ostentation. "Estelle, there are people cleaning the house every day. It’s spotless, so looking like that...

"Looking like that, you’d better go take a shower and change your clothes first."

Even though Estelle was the biological daughter of this family, she had been treated with disgust and barred from the door by the adopted daughter.

Meanwhile, Noelle had worn the exquisite clothes the Lockwood family prepared for her and sported expensive jewelry. She deliberately walked right next to Estelle, creating a stark, humiliating contrast between them.

One was the apple of the Lockwood family’s eye; the other was just a stray "country bumpkin."

Now, seven years later, Estelle replied with a hint of indifferent surprise. "Treat it like my own home? Miss Lockwood, what an interesting choice of words. This *is* my home. Why would I need to ’treat’ it as such?"

Noelle’s expression stiffened, though she quickly tried to cover it up. "I’m just worried you won’t be used to staying here, Estelle. We’ll be living together from now on, so if you’re ever dissatisfied with anything, you can always—"

"There’s no need to trouble yourself," Estelle cut in. "However, there is one thing I’m rather curious about."

A faint, mocking smile touched Estelle’s lips. "Why would we be living together from now on? Noelle, you have no blood ties to the Lockwood family. Seven years ago, Ms. Lowell claimed you were still young, which was why they kept you here. But now that Miss Lockwood is more than capable of living independently, could it be...

"...that you plan to shamelessly overstay your welcome in the Lockwood family?"

She remembered Noelle’s words from the past. "Sister, you always upset Mom and Dad. They’ve been mocked so much just because you came home. If you have any self-awareness at all, you should move out. Even though you’re their biological daughter, I’m the little princess they hold dear. Don’t you think it’s a bit shameless for you to stay in the Lockwood family? Stop being such a parasite. Don’t make Mom and Dad disappointed in you again."

As Estelle’s words hung in the air, a deathly silence descended upon the Lockwood villa.

The servants hastily lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly.

Rose Lowell erupted in fury. "Estelle Lockwood, what is the meaning of this?! I told you to get along with Noelle, yet you insist on doing everything in your power to drive her away! Are you trying to put me in an early grave? Do you know nothing of filial piety?!"

Estelle remained perfectly composed. "It’s precisely because I respect my elders that I suggested sending Noelle away.

"After all, I am your biological daughter, so I should be the one to honor you. But Noelle is someone else’s biological daughter, isn’t she? Could you really bear to keep Noelle separated from her true mother, Ms. Lowell? Or does Noelle intend to remain the pampered eldest daughter of the Lockwood family while callously abandoning the woman who actually gave birth to her?"

Everyone present was dumbfounded by Estelle’s speech.

Rose was absolutely livid. She couldn’t believe such twisted logic!

"Y-You quit spouting nonsense! Noelle doesn’t need to honor that useless biological mother of hers..."

Estelle nodded in mock realization. "I see. It seems Ms. Lowell also believes that a useless biological mother doesn’t deserve any filial piety. I understand completely. I will follow your example and refrain from honoring you in the future."

Rose nearly choked on her own breath. "You... you..."

Estelle’s lips curled into a half-smile.

In truth, she was genuinely curious about the identity of Noelle’s biological mother. The Lockwood family had always told the public that they adopted Noelle to fill the void after they "lost" their biological daughter, Estelle.

However, Noelle was brought into the Lockwood household on the exact same day Estelle went missing. Could it really be such a coincidence?

"Mom." Biting her lower lip, Noelle rubbed Rose’s back, consoling her like a model daughter. Only when Rose had calmed down did she turn to look at Estelle, her eyes brimming with disapproval.

"Estelle, no matter what rifts exist between us, we are family at the end of the day. We share in each other’s glory, and we suffer each other’s downfalls.

"So, I hope you can let go of your prejudice against me. I don’t mind suffering a little grievance, but we can’t keep breaking Mom and Dad’s hearts..."

As Noelle spoke, a subtle smirk graced her lips.

She figured Estelle had to be seething with anger right now.

But what could be done about it? It wasn’t her fault that Estelle had been born unlucky and abandoned right from the start. And it wasn’t her fault she was blessed enough to be brought into the Lockwood family by Rose to live a life of luxury.

"Alright."

To everyone’s surprise, Estelle accepted the remark with utter serenity. "It’s just an extra mouth to feed, anyway. Miss Lockwood eats so little—less than the dog I used to raise, in fact. It’s not like the Lockwood family can’t afford to keep you."

Noelle’s eyes widened in fury as she glared daggers at Estelle.

Was she calling her a dog?!

Right on cue, Austin Lockwood stepped forward to play the emotional card. "Estelle, since you’re finally home, Dad is going to throw a grand banquet for you soon. I’ll introduce you to all the Lockwood Group’s partners and investors. In the meantime, why don’t you stay here at the Lockwood family home for the next few days? What do you say?"

Estelle cast a sidelong glance at him, amused by how eager he was. She ran a hand through her hair. "Sure. But if you want me to stay here, where is my room?"

Noelle’s eyes darted thoughtfully before she stepped forward with a sugary smile. "Mom, Dad, I knew my sister was coming back, so I’ve already prepared a room for her. I’ll take her there right now."

Austin nodded, beaming with relief. "Noelle is so sensible. Alright then. Estelle, go on and follow Noelle."

His words were laden with underlying implications. "While you’re staying at the Lockwood family home, make sure you let Star know so they won’t worry, alright?"

If the public learned that Estelle was living at the Lockwood family home, they would naturally assume she had forgiven her family. This would spare the Lockwoods from further public backlash and effectively salvage their reputation.

"I’ll decide that after I see the room," Estelle replied nonchalantly. "Lead the way, dear sister."

Meanwhile, in the parking garage of Evernight International.

Nathaniel Sloan ducked into the back of his luxury vehicle. As the door pulled shut, Luke White turned around from the driver’s seat and asked respectfully, "Where to, Sir?"

Nathaniel crossed his legs and rested his intertwined fingers on his lap. "The Lockwood family," he replied lazily.