Chapter 242: What’s the Deal with the Life-Saving Favor?

Chapter 242: Chapter 242: What’s the Deal with the Life-Saving Favor?

After Noelle Lockwood left, Estelle Lockwood thanked Mrs. Winslow and took the three children back to Imperial Crest.

On the way back, she naturally saw the trending topics online.

"Your savior... Mr. Sloan, so Noelle actually saved your life once?"

Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze shifted slightly. He rolled down the car window, letting the cool breeze drift in. Hearing her question, he admitted frankly, "Yes."

Estelle said pointedly, "You’re just admitting it like that? Aren’t you worried she’ll leverage that favor to demand things from you?"

"The debt has already been repaid," Nathaniel replied mildly.

After a moment’s thought, Estelle understood. Indeed, the debt was paid in full.

The Lockwood family’s past favoritism had been built on this very excuse: "Estelle, Noelle saved Nathaniel’s life. He only supports our family for her sake. We owe our current success entirely to Noelle. How could we play favorites and disappoint her?"

Rose Lowell was always saying, "Noelle is the Lockwood family’s lucky star. Without her, there would be no Lockwood family today..."

But Estelle only chuckled coldly.

Would Noelle really save someone? It wasn’t that she looked down on the woman, but given Noelle’s personality, she only ever did things that benefited herself. Unless she had known beforehand that the man was Nathaniel, why would she ever stoop to saving a stranger?

"I naturally had my doubts as well," Nathaniel said. "But my subsequent investigation confirmed that the person who saved me indeed had the last name Lockwood."

Later on, the Lockwoods had "accidentally" come into contact with Laura Jennings and mentioned how "kindhearted Noelle had saved a man in a small town over there." Word of this eventually reached Nathaniel’s ears.

He had asked Noelle many questions, and she had answered every single one. Whether it was where she had rescued him or when she had found him, her answers were completely methodical and flawless.

When Nathaniel was rescued, he had been temporarily blinded. He hadn’t seen the girl’s face, but judging by her voice, it was unmistakably Noelle.

Estelle tsked. Everything matched up? Could Noelle really have been that kindhearted? Curious, she asked, "How did you end up getting hurt in the first place? Was it the Sloans?"

Nathaniel’s lips curved upward slightly. "Not quite. The Sloans wouldn’t be so obvious. After all, many people knew my relationship with the family was strained back then. If something happened to me, they would be the first suspects."

Estelle’s eyes shifted thoughtfully. "But your death would have benefited them, which is why, after you were saved, they surprisingly never pursued the culprit. Was it that they couldn’t pursue it, didn’t want to, or... did the Sloans know about the assassination attempt all along?" She had pretty much pieced it together. "In that case..."

Nathaniel nodded. "Yes, you guessed it. The ones who wanted me dead were the Lancaster family.

"The assassins were sent by Chairman Lancaster. I ran all the way into the mountains, near a private horse ranch, and that was where I was saved."

A horse ranch? In the mountains?

Something tugged at Estelle’s mind. Vague memories churned in her head, but in the end, she couldn’t recall anything concrete.

Over a decade ago, Nathaniel hadn’t fully taken control of the Sloan Group yet. He was worried that if Chairman Lancaster found out he had been rescued, the Chairman would vent his anger on the girl who saved him. For the first few years, he didn’t search for his savior.

It wasn’t until ten years ago that he heard Noelle inadvertently mention the past.

However, at this moment, Nathaniel also had his doubts. Was Noelle truly his savior? Back then, the scandal of the fake heiress hadn’t broken out yet. Noelle was still bearing the title of the true Lockwood heiress. Why would she have gone to such a remote, small town?

Perhaps this so-called life-saving grace was a calculated scheme from start to finish.

***

At the Lockwood family home, Austin Lockwood’s jaw clenched. "Dad! You know full well about Noelle’s identity. But listening to the nonsense Kian Winslow spouted today... I feel so sorry for Noelle!"

Old Mr. Lockwood had just finished dealing with the police and still hadn’t completely cleared Noelle of her charges. Hearing this, he sneered, "You’re still thinking of officially acknowledging a piece of trash like Noelle into the family? Austin, why are you so useless? You’re inferior to your brother in every possible way!"

Austin glared furiously.

How did the old man have the nerve to lecture him? If Old Mr. Lockwood hadn’t been jealous of his own biological brother, he wouldn’t have competed with the late Old Mr. Lockwood over everything, nor would he constantly compare Austin to the late old man’s son!

And now, it was happening all over again with Noelle and Estelle...

Noelle was clearly his biological daughter! Even though she was an illegitimate child and Rose didn’t know the truth, Rose loved her so much that she would definitely accept her. Yet Old Mr. Lockwood forbade him from making Noelle’s true identity public!

God knew how furious Austin was when he heard Kian call Noelle a fake heiress and claim she was being petty because Estelle hadn’t stolen her parents!

"Enough, calm down," Old Mr. Lockwood said slowly. "Don’t we still have the life-saving favor? Nathaniel won’t be completely heartless toward the person who saved his life."

Austin’s expression stiffened. "But... but we can’t keep using that to demand things from him. Nathaniel has already lost his patience with Noelle. Besides, the person who actually saved him was... You know Rose has a loose tongue. I’m worried that, just in case..."

Old Mr. Lockwood, however, remained incredibly calm. "What are you panicking for? If you don’t speak, I don’t speak, and Noelle doesn’t speak, who else is going to reveal the truth? Even Rose doesn’t know. To this day, she still thinks Noelle saved Nathaniel. Even if he interrogated Rose, she would only tell him what she believes is the truth."

Austin felt a little reassured. Right. Rose didn’t know the truth. The narrative that Noelle had saved Nathaniel was orchestrated by the Lockwoods. Noelle had fraudulently claimed the credit that belonged to his true savior, and that true savior was...

"You take this matter to your grave. Do you understand?!" Old Mr. Lockwood suddenly snapped sharply.

The name "Estelle" that had been on the tip of Austin’s tongue was abruptly swallowed back down.

Old Mr. Lockwood spoke coldly, "Austin, banish any thoughts of using Estelle to curry favor with Nathaniel again. I’ve told you before, Estelle’s only purpose in this life is to be a stepping stone for the Lockwoods. Even if Noelle is exposed as a fraud, we can absolutely never reveal Estelle!"

Austin’s eyes darted away evasively.

Looking at him, Old Mr. Lockwood was consumed by a fit of anger. He couldn’t help but think of that stunningly brilliant young man. He was the exact same age as Austin, sharing the same bloodline, so why was he so exceptional? Was it simply because that young man was *his* son?

He had already taken control of the Lockwood family. Why was he still being overshadowed by his own biological brother?!

Fortunately, his brother was now dead, and his brother’s son was dead too. And for the first twenty-some years of her life, Estelle had successfully served as Noelle’s stepping stone. Although a minor hiccup had occurred recently, the outcome would not change no matter what!

Old Mr. Lockwood narrowed his eyes. "Have we managed to contact the people in Britain?"

***

Back at Imperial Crest, Estelle received a call from Penelope Sullivan. "Estelle, a major client wants you to personally design a set of jewelry for them."

Curious, Estelle asked, "What major client?"

"I heard it’s a Prince from Britain," Penelope said. "He’s very influential."