Chapter 252: The Orphanage and the Truth of the Past

Chapter 252: Chapter 252: The Orphanage and the Truth of the Past

After Estelle finished her barrage of questions, Austin was visibly at a loss for words. "I... this..."

"Don’t tell me Chairman Lockwood hasn’t thought it through yet?" Estelle feigned surprise. "If you haven’t, shouldn’t you make all the arrangements first before notifying me?"

Austin could no longer maintain his smile. "Estelle, you’re right. How about this? I’ll go book a hotel first. I will definitely hold the grandest homecoming banquet for you, and I will invite everyone from the Lockwood Group!"

"What about the reporters?" Estelle asked slowly.

Austin gave an awkward laugh. "Of course, of course. Since we are announcing your identity to the public, everything must be perfect. Don’t worry, from now on, you are the sole daughter and eldest young lady of the Lockwood family!"

Estelle hummed in acknowledgment. "And what are Noelle and Ms. Lowell’s opinions on this?"

"Of course they..."

Rose wanted to curse her out, but Noelle held her back. Speaking into the phone, Noelle said, "Estelle, Mom and I have no objections, of course. We warmly welcome you home..."

Austin quickly added, "Yes, Estelle, just come."

Estelle gave a noncommittal hum. "I’ll think about it."

As soon as the call ended, Rose couldn’t hold back anymore. "Pah! She’s got some nerve! What kind of attitude is that?"

Austin frowned. "Enough. Can you rein in your temper for the next few days? If you ask me, Estelle’s reluctance to return is all because of you, her mother. Find some time to apologize to her. We must get her to attend the banquet before next week!"

"Why should I..."

"Do you want that two billion or not?" Austin’s face was taut.

Rose’s voice was instantly silenced, as if someone had hit the mute button.

Austin continued, "If Estelle refuses to come, just wait for Princess Avery to make trouble for you!"

Rose’s lips twitched, but she said nothing.

Noelle interjected, "Mom, there will be reporters and the rest of the Lockwoods there. If Estelle doesn’t show up, what will we do? Dad is right. Now is not the time to be petty."

Rose was finally convinced. "Fine, fine, fine. I’ll go."

Meanwhile, Estelle smiled faintly. "Chairman Lockwood is certainly sparing no expense. A homecoming banquet... He probably wants to force me to marry Reno right there at the banquet, in front of all the cameras."

Nathaniel said, "Since he’s marrying off his ’biological daughter,’ let’s go."

Estelle was taken aback. "Go where?"

"The orphanage. Let’s go."

Estelle never expected Nathaniel to bring her to this particular orphanage. After being abandoned by the Lockwoods, she had lived here for a period of time. In truth, her memories of that time were hazy. Everything she knew came from Grandpa. He had told her that he found her in this very orphanage and adopted her.

"Back then, Rose also adopted Noelle from this orphanage," Nathaniel stated calmly. "Noelle’s birth time is very close to yours. According to Rose, Noelle was abandoned right after birth. Only after a fortune-teller calculated her astrological birth chart and confirmed she was the Lockwood family’s ’Lucky Star’ did Rose bring her home. This matter seems to have absolutely nothing to do with Austin, but what if..." Nathaniel scoffed. "What if Noelle was sent here by Austin himself?"

As the two walked up to the orphanage entrance, they heard voices conversing inside.

"Director Carson, I’ll send the funds and supplies over when the time comes."

"Thank you, thank you so much! The children will definitely appreciate this!"

Estelle saw a man who looked like a successful businessman making a donation to the orphanage. Only after the man left did Director Carson notice Estelle and Nathaniel.

The couple’s attire and aura were extraordinary. Director Carson asked, "Are you two... looking to adopt a child?"

Estelle’s lips curved into a smile. "Director Carson."

Director Carson looked at the complete stranger with some confusion. "Miss, do you know me?"

Estelle nodded. "Yes. I left this orphanage when I was a child. I’m here specifically to thank you."

Director Carson was completely bewildered. She thought for a long time but couldn’t recall who this woman was. A child from her orphanage?

Estelle’s memories of the orphanage were indeed sparse. As far back as she could remember, she had always been with Grandpa. She had never doubted that she was his biological granddaughter. But one time, when they were passing by this orphanage, Director Carson rushed out and called her name. That was how Estelle found out she was actually an orphan.

She had been heartbroken for quite a while because she truly loved Grandpa. Even though he couldn’t afford enough food or warm clothes for himself during that time, he always tried his best to give her the best. So, after learning she was an orphan, she had considered leaving him—just so she wouldn’t be a burden. Grandpa was only middle-aged back then, but his hair had turned gray at the temples from the stress of taking care of her. It felt incredibly wrong for her, a child with no blood relation to him, to drag him down like that.

In the end, it was Grandpa who told her that regardless of blood ties, their coming together as grandfather and granddaughter was destiny.

Pulling her thoughts back to the present, Estelle realized something. Thinking about it now, wasn’t it strange that Director Carson had suddenly rushed out, called her name, and exposed her true identity as an orphan all those years ago? Moreover, she was just a baby when she left. How did Director Carson recognize her at a single glance back then, yet after staring at her for so long today, she couldn’t remember who she was?

Estelle feigned confusion. "Director, have you still not remembered?"

Director Carson was genuinely puzzled. "You are... I’m getting old. I really can’t recall."

"Alright, it seems you’ve truly forgotten. I stayed in the orphanage for over half a year, and when I left, I was barely a year old," Estelle said slowly.

Director Carson playfully scolded her, "Oh, you child! You were only one when you left, and they say girls change completely as they grow up. How could I possibly remember you so clearly?"

"In other words, you couldn’t tell much from how I looked as a toddler?"

The director sighed helplessly. "At one year old, you were just a baby. If you were malnourished and grew a bit slowly, you probably couldn’t even walk or talk yet. How could anyone recognize you from that?"

"I see..." Estelle tilted her head inquisitively. "If that’s the case, then how were you able to recognize me when I was ten?"

Director Carson chuckled, thinking the girl was quite endearing. But just as she was about to speak, she realized the significance of that specific age—ten years old. Something suddenly dawned on her, and her face turned deathly pale.

"Do you remember now, Director Carson?" Estelle smiled brightly. "Normally, a one-year-old and a ten-year-old look vastly different. How did you recognize me from a distance with just one glance? Back then, you were just shopping at the supermarket. With just one look, you chased me out of the store. I actually thought I had left such a deep impression on you that you’d remember me no matter how much I changed."

After saying this, Estelle looked at Director Carson with a half-smile.

Director Carson’s lips trembled as she pointed a shaky finger at Estelle. "Y-You... You are..."