Chapter 180: Causing Trouble for the Lockwood Family

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Causing Trouble for the Lockwood Family

At the Lockwood estate.

Under Austin Lockwood’s gratified gaze, Noelle Lockwood led Estelle Lockwood to see her so-called room.

The Lockwood villa was massive, boasting three above-ground floors and two basement levels, topped with an open-air pool and a garden on the roof.

The room with the best view in the entire villa was on the third floor. Not only was it luxurious and equipped with a huge terrace, but the suite itself also included a living room, a walk-in closet, a dressing room, a vanity area, a lounge, and a bedroom. Totalling two to three hundred square meters, it was the epitome of extravagance.

This was the room Rose Lowell had given to Noelle.

Meanwhile, Rose and Austin occupied the second floor. It was equally expansive—the entire floor was dedicated to a single master suite, complete with a private study and other amenities.

Down on the first floor were various guest rooms. While not as large as the master suites, they were fully furnished with everything one could need.

However, Noelle kept walking down, leading Estelle to the first basement level.

Noelle pushed open the door to a basement room and said cheerfully, "Estelle, this is your old room. Mom and Dad missed you so much that they haven’t touched a thing! You were used to it before, so you might as well keep staying here!

"I handpicked all the decorations in here. If there’s anything you don’t like, just tell me. Don’t be polite!

"Oh, by the way, the layout of the basement is still the same as before. The maid’s room is right next to yours, and the nanny’s room is next to that. If you need anything, you can just go straight to them."

Looking at the room that had belonged to her seven years ago, Estelle chuckled softly. Noelle’s tricks hadn’t changed one bit. Pulling the exact same stunt again—what made Noelle think she would be as submissive as she was seven years ago?

Back then, when she first returned to the Lockwood family, she wasn’t given a room that befitted her status. Instead, Noelle had dragged her down to the basement to live with the servants.

Even if a typical wealthy family disliked their biological child, they would at least keep up appearances. The Lockwoods, however, hadn’t even bothered to pretend, instead demanding her unwavering gratitude.

"That’s enough! You came from the countryside, and you’re filthy. If you live with us, you’d probably infect us with your bad luck. Letting you stay in the basement is already Noelle doing you a favor!"

"Estelle, the family recently invested in a project, so our liquid funds are a bit tight. That’s why the daily necessities we bought for you are on the cheaper side... Oh, what am I saying? The things I consider cheap are probably things you’d only get to use once in a lifetime."

"Look at my rug, Estelle! It cost seven figures! Even though the family is short on cash, Mom and Dad just couldn’t bear to let me suffer... What? Estelle, I’m not trying to lecture you, but I’ve been used to this kind of life since I was little. If I used cheap things, I’d feel uncomfortable all over. But you’re different! You grew up enduring hardship, so there shouldn’t be any difference to you whether you use a mattress that costs ten thousand or one that costs a few hundred, right?"

"I’ve always had to use the best since I was a child. I’m sorry, you’ll just have to make do. But the basement is already the best choice for you anyway."

"Don’t even think about the big room upstairs. My parents prepared that specifically for me."

"Estelle, be sensible. You came back later. Don’t you understand the rule of ’first come, first served’? Besides, you’re the older sister; you should yield to your younger sister in everything. Noelle isn’t our biological daughter, which is already hard enough on her, yet you’re trying to steal her room?!"

In the present, Noelle’s voice pulled Estelle out of her thoughts. "Are you satisfied? If so, you can rest for a bit..."

Estelle snapped back to reality. Seven years ago, she had desperately yearned for familial affection and had never even thought about taking Noelle’s room. Yet Noelle had gone crying to their parents, and Rose had slapped Estelle hard across the face without even bothering to ask what had happened.

Now, looking at this basement nanny’s room once more, her smile remained bright. "Show me the other rooms."

The fake smile plastered on Noelle’s face stiffened. "Estelle, do you not like it? It’s already really nice down here. If you want to change, there aren’t any..."

Estelle raised an eyebrow. "Since you said I could choose as I please, does that mean I can’t change it if I’m not satisfied?" She nodded. "Then I’ll go tell Chairman Lockwood. I’ll come back and stay when the Lockwood family finally has a spare room."

"Estelle!" Noelle panicked inwardly but quickly forced out another smile. "Of course there are other rooms. I’ll take you."

Estelle tilted her chin up slightly. "Lead the way."

Noelle clenched her fists, her expression turning dark. Her eyes darted around as she continued down the basement hallway. "Estelle, there are two more rooms over here. The previous nanny, Ms. Carter, has already retired, so her room is vacant. Do you want to see if you like it?

"Ms. Carter was practically half a butler to us, a senior servant. Her room is much nicer than a standard maid’s room. I’m sure you’ll love it!"

Estelle almost laughed out loud. "Noelle, there’s something I don’t quite understand. Could you explain it to me?"

Before Noelle could speak, Estelle clicked her tongue in mock wonder. "I don’t really get what kind of fetish Chairman Lockwood and Ms. Lowell have. Leaving the upstairs vacant to live in the basement... it’s truly baffling."

Tears reflexively welled up in Noelle’s eyes as she accused Estelle, "What do you mean by that? What do you mean Mom and Dad have a weird fetish? Mom and Dad feel guilty toward you, but that doesn’t give you the right to mock and slander them! They don’t have any special fetish at all..."

"If they don’t have a special fetish, why are they living in the basement?" Estelle asked, looking genuinely perplexed.

Noelle had no idea what kind of crazy spell had come over Estelle. Biting her lip, she said aggrievedly, "What nonsense are you spouting? When did Mom and Dad ever like living in the basement..."

"Oh?" Estelle feigned even more surprise. "Since Chairman Lockwood and Ms. Lowell don’t like living in the basement, why did you arrange a basement servant’s quarters for me?

"Seven years ago, you said that because I returned so suddenly, no room was prepared for me, so I had to stay in the basement temporarily. Seven years later, the Lockwood family has long known about my existence as their biological daughter. Could it be that there’s still no room available, and I have to live in the basement?"

Estelle spoke nonchalantly, "If living in the basement is a hobby of the Family Heads, then as their daughter, it wouldn’t be a big deal for me to join them. However, from what you’re saying, Chairman Lockwood and Ms. Lowell are living comfortably in the master suite. So, why was my room arranged down here?"

Her tone held a hint of a smile, but the amusement didn’t reach her eyes. She continued carelessly, "Is it because you’re jealous of my status as the true daughter? So you shoved me into the basement just to highlight your own nobility?"

Noelle choked on her words, looking as if she had just suffered an immense humiliation.

Meanwhile.

The Lockwood family’s butler rushed into the study. "Chairman Lockwood, Madam, Mr. Sloan is here to visit!"

Austin’s eyes lit up. He thought to himself that placating Estelle had really worked—just look, Nathaniel Sloan was already at their door!

"Quick, invite him in!"