Chapter 238: "Was It You Who Orchestrated All of This, or Was It Noelle Lockwood.

Chapter 238: Chapter 238: "Was It You Who Orchestrated All of This, or Was It Noelle Lockwood.

At the Winslows’ villa, the livestream was still ongoing.

Nathaniel Sloan raised his eyes coldly. "Kian, perhaps you can ask Noelle Lockwood if she’s willing to help clear your name."

Kian Winslow was baffled. "Clear my name? About what? Nathaniel, we’ve been brothers for so many years. Don’t tell me you’re going to cut ties with me over a woman like Estelle Lockwood? That’s taking it too far!

"I just wanted to help Noelle! She’s so pitiful, and she wanted to get close to the children, so of course I had to help!"

"Mia, don’t cry," Christian suddenly spoke up.

His words made everyone turn around immediately, only to see tears welling up in Mia’s eyes. "Christian, I hate Aunt Noelle!"

Christian knew exactly what Mia was trying to do. Before he could even steer the conversation further, Kian furrowed his brows.

"This is exactly why Noelle had to beg me for help! Just look at yourselves. Not only are you ungrateful, but you even hate her now. What has she ever done to wrong you?!"

In the livestream, the viewers filling the comments section were left speechless.

Christian sighed softly, putting on the incredibly sensible facade of a little manipulator. "Uncle Winslow, listen to yourself. Does that even sound like something a decent human being would say?

"At the time, I told you that Daddy and Mommy were still waiting for us, and I asked you to at least let us inform them, but you refused.

"You forced us into the car, ignoring Mia’s pleas. I was afraid you would hurt my younger siblings, so I had no choice but to compromise, living in fear the entire way. And yet, you claim that everything you did was for Aunt Noelle.

"Mia was terrified and felt so wronged, which is why she complained a little, but you... With you acting like this, how are we supposed to accept Aunt Noelle’s ’kindness’?"

These words left Kian utterly dumbfounded. So after all that, it was his fault?

Nathaniel remained calm. "Kian, I’m sure you’re aware that the kindergarten has security cameras. Do you want to watch the footage of you taking Mia and the others away?"

Kian immediately retorted, "I’m your friend. So what if I took your kids away..."

Nathaniel nodded faintly. "If using the guise of friendship gives you the right to threaten my children, then I would rather not have you as a friend."

Right at that moment, an official verified account named Crestfall Kindergarten suddenly posted a surveillance video.

In the video, the Sloan family’s chauffeur was waiting outside the kindergarten. The three little ones walked out after finishing their classroom duties, only to be blocked by several bodyguards.

There were four bodyguards accompanying Kian. Each was tall and burly, creating an incredibly intimidating presence as they towered over the three children.

[So Noelle Lockwood claims she wants to mend her relationship with the kids, but uses methods like this to intimidate them?]

[What do you mean intimidate?! Our Noelle just cares too much about the children!]

[Heh, the kids were begging not to be taken away, and this Young Mr. Winslow completely ignored them. How can you even say she cares about the children? If you ask me, Noelle Lockwood actually planned to threaten and intimidate those three kids. Judging by how they speak, they don’t seem like unreasonable brats at all. Why would they intentionally scheme against Noelle Lockwood?]

[They’re only five years old. To those saying they intentionally set a trap to frame Noelle Lockwood, wake up.]

[But who said Kian Winslow intentionally intimidated them? Those three kids must be lying. How could Estelle Lockwood’s kids be any good? I could tell at a glance that they’re just little bastards...]

The next moment, everyone realized the surveillance footage had audio as Kian spoke in the video.

"Little ones, come to my house as guests.

"You won’t? Say you won’t one more time?

"Give Nathaniel a call. Tell him his son is in my hands.

"Don’t let them run away! What if they go back and tattle!

"Stop wasting time and just take them away!"

Following that, the bodyguards stepped forward. Christian stood protectively in front of his younger siblings, and in order to appease Kian, he could only grit his teeth and agree.

The live chat instantly exploded.

[I saw the young master’s face turn completely pale!]

[This is absolutely kidnapping! Just listen to what Kian Winslow said. ’Your son is in my hands, what if they tattle?’ Noelle Lockwood fans, tell me this isn’t kidnapping!]

[That’s why I said it was totally justified for the police car to take Noelle Lockwood away!]

Her fans argued back fiercely, [Nonsense! Our Noelle has already been released!]

[Then explain what’s going on with Kian Winslow! Noelle Lockwood told him she wanted to mend the relationship, and then he just went and kidnapped them? Young Mr. Winslow isn’t an idiot, is he? How is this called mending a relationship?]

[Case closed. This is definitely Noelle Lockwood orchestrating everything herself. First, she gets someone to kidnap the kids, then deliberately puts on a show pretending she suffered a massive injustice, and finally buys online trolls to manipulate public opinion.]

[I knew it! From the start, when Estelle Lockwood lost her children, she was the most frantic. Yet there were actually people scolding her for not looking after her kids and saying she didn’t deserve to be a mother. I previously thought those people were out of their minds, but thinking back on it now, they were probably all paid trolls!]

[Noelle Lockwood’s move was incredibly vicious. If Estelle Lockwood hadn’t been so quick-witted, Noelle would have become the most innocent victim right now. Instead, those three kids and Mrs. Sloan suffered such a huge scare and were still going to be cursed at!]

[Heh, are Rose Lowell and Austin Lockwood any better? Their adopted daughter instigated the kidnapping of their biological grandchildren, and those two old geezers still tried to cover for her.]

[Explain! Noelle Lockwood must give an explanation! This matter can’t just be brushed aside!]

Noelle’s fans were truly infuriated. They had finally found an opportunity and were on the verge of clearing Noelle’s name, but then Estelle had to start a livestream!

And this Kian Winslow—was he out of his mind?!

Noelle gritted her teeth, her face deathly pale. This livestream was completely beyond her expectations. She hadn’t even anticipated that Kian would publicly admit she was the one who told him to "kidnap" the children!

Heaven knew she hadn’t told him to kidnap those three little bastards at all. Kian was truly sick in the head!

She panicked, wondering what she was supposed to do now. Everyone out there was saying she was putting on a show and harboring malicious intentions, and she had no idea how to explain it...

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Noelle. She still had one more trick up her sleeve!

All she had to do was push all the blame onto Kian! She would just claim that Kian and Estelle had a personal grudge, letting him take the fall. Since she knew absolutely nothing, everything would be perfectly resolved! Kian liked her so much; he would definitely be willing to sacrifice everything for her!

As for what would happen to Kian... he was Nathaniel’s friend and hadn’t caused any actual harm to the children anyway. At worst, he would be scolded by netizens for a couple of days, and the Winslow Group’s stocks would drop a bit, right? She would be sure to comfort him thoroughly later. For Kian to be able to sacrifice himself for her was his honor!

At this thought, Noelle’s eyes darted around. "Mom, we’re going to the Winslows’ villa right now!"

At the Winslows’ villa.

Kian’s lips trembled after Nathaniel finished speaking calmly. "Nathaniel, you..."

"Someone must give me an explanation for this matter," Nathaniel interrupted, his voice unhurried yet carrying an immense sense of intimidation. "Kian, perhaps you should check the news."

Kian froze. The news?

Before he could react, Nathaniel had already shifted his gaze, exuding an overwhelming pressure.

"Although you claim you only wanted to invite Christian over as a guest, Noelle Lockwood stated on Weibo that the children were kidnapped.

"Was it you who orchestrated all of this, or was it Noelle Lockwood?

"Kian, take your pick."