Chapter 181: Taking Noelle Lockwood’s Room, Mr. Sloan Comes for the Face-Slap

Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Taking Noelle Lockwood’s Room, Mr. Sloan Comes for the Face-Slap

Meanwhile, in the basement.

Noelle gnashed her teeth. Forcing a stiff smile, she said, "Estelle, how could you think that..."

Estelle nodded. "Then take me upstairs to see the rooms."

Noelle’s smile remained frozen in place. "But there really are no empty rooms upstairs. Estelle, you can’t possibly stay in a guest room. What would we do when guests come over?"

Estelle’s smile faded. Looking as if she could see right through her, she chuckled softly. "We’re just taking a look. What are you so afraid of, Noelle?"

Noelle almost lost her composure. She wondered what Estelle meant by that. Did she want to steal her room?

But she quickly relaxed. Even if Estelle wanted to take it, Mom and Dad would never allow it!

So, there was no harm in letting Estelle die of envy.

At this thought, Noelle offered a shy smile and volunteered, "The second floor is Mom and Dad’s room. So, Estelle, I’ll take you up to the third floor."

Estelle raised an eyebrow. "Let’s go."

Estelle had never been to the third floor of the Lockwoods’ villa. She had often heard people mention how luxurious it was, and seeing it now, she realized the rumors were entirely true.

The plush, seven-figure rug, the extravagant chandelier, and the magnificent leather bed all highlighted the extravagance of Noelle’s lifestyle and how deeply the Lockwood family doted on her. Compared to her nanny’s quarters, the difference was like night and day.

Noelle introduced the space with a boastful tone. "This room has the best view and the best natural light in the entire villa. There’s a terrace outside the window, too. I had the butler plant a lot of roses out there, and everyone says they look beautiful."

"Is that so? It really is nice," Estelle nodded.

Lowering her gaze to hide the dark, smug gleam in her eyes, Noelle showed off the entire room. She flaunted the spacious sitting area, the massive walk-in closet, and the sheer volume of luxury clothes, bags, and jewelry housed within. Finally, she put on an apologetic face. "I’m sorry, Estelle. I got carried away and talked too much. Let’s go look at the other..."

"It’s perfect. I’ll take this one." Estelle interrupted her with enthusiasm, looking thoroughly satisfied. "You spent so much time introducing this room, Noelle, which means you think highly of it too. Then this is the one."

Noelle’s expression stiffened, and tears quickly welled up in her eyes. "Estelle, you must be mistaken... This is my room. There are no other rooms on the third floor. If you want to live up here, just wait a couple of days. I’ll empty out one of my closets and convert it into a room for you..."

"Noelle." Estelle raised her eyes, her gaze piercing and cold. "If you’re going to beg someone, you should look the part. I said I want this room. Do you understand?"

Noelle was furious. She was only trying to show off! How dare Estelle push her luck like this!

"Estelle..."

"What’s going on? Have you still not picked a room?" Austin and Rose hurried upstairs, looking extremely displeased. Frowning at Estelle, Austin scolded, "How long has it been? Can you stop dawdling?"

Before Estelle could reply, Noelle spoke up in a weak, delicate voice. "Mom, Estelle didn’t like the room I arranged for her, so it took a little longer."

Austin was just about to ask if they had finally chosen a room when he heard Noelle’s tearful voice. Lowering her head, she choked out, "Estelle took a liking to my room. I was just getting ready to move out."

Instantly, Austin and Rose shot glares of utter displeasure directly at Estelle.

Rose knew the Lockwood family currently relied on Estelle to salvage their reputation and that they shouldn’t offend her right now. However, having lived as a person of high status for decades, she didn’t hesitate to snap angrily. "Haven’t I told you before? Noelle is younger than you. As the older sibling, you should accommodate her! But what did you do? You just got home and you’re already trying to steal her room! Are you planning to run completely wild in the future?"

Noelle bit her lower lip.

Estelle smiled. "So, does that mean you don’t plan on letting me stay here, Ms. Lowell?"

"What else?" Rose replied as if it were obvious. "Noelle already arranged everything for you. How could you let her good intentions go to waste!"

Estelle’s lips curled into a faint, helpless smile. "Alright."

Rose looked satisfied.

"Chairman Lockwood, I have my own house now. I don’t need the Lockwood family to offer me a servant’s room as charity. If you and Ms. Lowell aren’t sincere about acknowledging me, then let’s forget it. Out of sight, out of mind. I’ll contact my driver to take me back to Imperial Crest right now." Estelle took out her phone as she spoke.

Rose’s smile froze.

Austin frowned. "What servant’s room?"

Poised to make a call, Estelle looked up in surprise. "Did you not know, Chairman Lockwood? The room Noelle arranged for me is a servant’s room in the basement. She said that because you dote on her, the entire third floor belongs to her. Since she couldn’t spare a room for me, I have to live with the servants.

"Earlier, I thought Noelle had taken it upon herself to do this, but seeing as Ms. Lowell agrees, this must be your shared intention." Estelle shook her head helplessly. "Chairman Lockwood, I am truly sorry, but I’ve never been one to make things difficult for myself. Though I can understand your thought process—after all, in your eyes, your biological daughter is inferior to your adopted one—and that’s perfectly fine.

"However, the outside world is watching the Lockwood family closely, yet you... sigh. I don’t know what this will look like when word gets out, but I’m afraid the public uproar will escalate even further." With that, Estelle calmly headed downstairs. "Then I will take my leave, Chairman Lockwood..."

Before she could finish, Austin’s face changed drastically. "Wait!"

Estelle stopped in her tracks.

Austin took a deep breath, as if mustering every ounce of his strength to placate this daughter he so deeply despised. "Estelle, you are our biological daughter. Of course you should stay in the best room. The room on the third floor was meant for you all along."

Austin glared at Noelle and hinted, "Noelle, move out and give your room to Estelle."

Trembling all over, Noelle bit her lower lip hard. With red, tear-streaked eyes, she looked as though she had suffered a terrible shock and might faint at any moment. "I know... I know. It’s all my fault. I’ll give it to her..."

Why? Why! She had lived here for over twenty years! Why should she have to give it up for Estelle? She was the true young lady of this family. Who the hell did this latecomer, Estelle, think she was?

Rose was completely dumbfounded. Having long forgotten Old Mr. Lockwood’s warnings, she spoke up hastily, her tone sharp and demanding. "Estelle, don’t go too far. Noelle has lived in this room for over twenty years, and you think you can just snatch it away? Can’t you be a bit more sensible? What’s wrong with the servant’s room in the basement? When you came home seven years ago, didn’t you stay in a servant’s room?!"

As her voice faded, a dead silence fell over the surroundings.

Rose genuinely saw no issue with her words. In her eyes, Noelle deserved the best. As for Estelle, she was just an insignificant weed that could survive anywhere. So what if she had to live with the servants?

Austin felt his vision go dark. He instinctively wanted to cover Rose’s mouth and placate Estelle. "Estelle..."

"So Ms. Lowell still remembers what happened seven years ago."

A deep, slightly raspy male voice drifted over calmly, rich and resonant like a cello. Along with it came the sound of elegant footsteps. Everyone instinctively turned around.

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes were indifferent. He slowly raised his eyelids, his icy gaze looking as if it could pierce straight through Rose.