Chapter 256: Rose Lowell’s Unspeakable Predicament

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Rose Lowell’s Unspeakable Predicament

Princess Avery said appreciatively, "Even though you’re a fake heiress, you certainly are ruthless enough."

She knew her son had played many women to death, and Noelle Lockwood definitely knew it too. For Noelle to still expect her son to marry Estelle Lockwood under these circumstances was indeed ruthless.

Noelle’s face paled, her body swaying as if she might collapse. "Princess... I didn’t mean to hurt Estelle..."

Princess Avery sneered. "It’s such a pity that someone like you can’t be my daughter-in-law."

Noelle really didn’t want to hear the word "daughter-in-law" anymore. Who would ever want to be her daughter-in-law! Knowing she couldn’t hide the truth, she explained, "Princess, it’s true that I gave Estelle’s photo to Mr. Reno, but I only did it for her own good. You might not know this, but Estelle’s current husband, Mr. Nathaniel Sloan, has always loved me... She is completely miserable married to him.

"Estelle has never had a true confidant by her side. That’s why I wanted to introduce her to Mr. Reno. I just know Mr. Reno will give Estelle the happiness she deserves."

Princess Avery liked smart people like her. It was best not to spell things out too clearly.

Using a voice full of envy, Noelle said, "I’m sure Estelle will be overjoyed to marry Mr. Reno. She will undoubtedly be the happiest woman in the world!"

Estelle Lockwood had just walked through the door when she caught Noelle’s words. Beside her, the reporters’ eyes flickered with interest as they recorded everything.

There weren’t too many guests at the manor today, but everyone who needed to be there had arrived. Estelle swept her gaze across the room and nodded in satisfaction. All of the Lockwood family’s relatives—Noelle’s extended aunts and uncles—were gathered together under one roof. Perfect.

Today, Estelle was out for blood and total humiliation. She was going to expose Noelle’s true identity in public. Of course, Austin Lockwood could try to deny it, but with so many Lockwood relatives present, someone was bound to know the inside story.

"Miss... Estelle."

A low, hoarse male voice suddenly came from beside her. Nathaniel Sloan was in disguise, wearing a bodyguard’s uniform. His broad shoulders and long legs drew quite a few lingering stares as he stood by her side.

He lowered his voice, sending a tingling sensation down Estelle’s ear. "Everything is arranged. Have fun to your heart’s content."

Estelle raised an eyebrow. "You said it."

"Yes, I did."

"Estelle."

Just then, Austin walked out from inside the house. He hadn’t even managed to put on a welcoming smile when he spotted the two "bodyguards" beside Estelle. His smile instantly vanished, and he asked with a stern face, "Who are they?"

"My bodyguards," Estelle replied nonchalantly.

"Nonsense!" Austin barked, terrified that Estelle had discovered his plot. "What kind of proper behavior is bringing bodyguards to your own home? People who don’t know any better will think the Lockwood family is mistreating you!"

Refusing to back down an inch, Estelle shrugged. "Chairman Lockwood, I returned to the Lockwood family when I was eighteen. Since this recognition banquet has been delayed for so many years, it’s inevitable that I’d suspect you have ulterior motives. Bringing a couple of bodyguards is perfectly reasonable, don’t you think?"

Austin’s face stiffened.

Estelle tilted her head. "Besides, aren’t all the guests here today ’our own people’? Even if I brought bodyguards, outsiders wouldn’t know. No one is going to accuse you of ’mistreating me.’ Unless..."

She paused, her tone turning meaningful. "Unless Chairman Lockwood is planning to do something shady today, and that’s why you won’t allow me to have bodyguards?"

Right on cue, the Bodyguard Sloan chimed in, "Miss Estelle, since it’s not safe here, perhaps we should head back first."

Saying that, Estelle turned as if to leave.

"Estelle!" Austin panicked, quickly plastering a hypocritical smile onto his face. "It’s fine, it’s fine. Keep your bodyguards. I suppose I went too far in the past, which is why you’re so guarded now. It’s all my fault. Come on, hurry inside."

Estelle curled her lips. "Alright. Since Chairman Lockwood is inviting me so earnestly, I’ll do you this favor."

Austin secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness. Estelle was indeed smart enough to guess what he was up to, but clearly not smart enough to stay away. She actually dared to come inside even after guessing his intentions? She was still too young and far too overconfident!

"Estelle, my darling daughter!" Rose Lowell suddenly lunged forward from the sidelines. She must have just taken an acting class, because her performance had improved significantly—she even managed to squeeze out two tears from the corners of her eyes.

Rose wailed, "It’s all our fault, my sweet girl. I’m so sorry. BOOHOO. Let me get a good look at you.

"I’ve finally figured it out. You are our biological daughter. As for Noelle, she’s merely an adopted daughter. How could an adopted daughter ever be more important than my own flesh and blood? I was so horribly wrong before. Estelle, please forgive me!"

Behind Rose trailed quite a few Lockwood relatives, who all began chiming in at once.

"Rose just wasn’t thinking straight before. It’s not too late for her to repent now."

"Exactly. There are no overnight grudges between a mother and daughter. Oh my, just watching them makes me feel emotional."

"That’s right. No matter how good Noelle is, she’s still just an adopted daughter. Unlike Estelle, who carries your actual bloodline."

Rose sobbed uncontrollably.

Estelle’s lips quirked up into a faint smirk as she glanced at the reporters lingering on the periphery. Ah, she understood now.

Austin had mentioned earlier that the press was only allowed to film and report from the perimeter. Therefore, Rose had intentionally made an appearance at the entrance, putting on a show of "acknowledging and correcting her mistakes" specifically for the cameras to capture. Ordinary reporters wouldn’t be able to film what was about to happen inside the manor. Because of this, the public would only ever know that Rose and Austin had sincerely apologized. As for anything else that happened, who would care?

Even if word got out, people would just brush it off. They would reason that as biological parents who already felt immense guilt toward their real daughter, they would never throw her into a fire pit. Thus, arranging for Estelle to marry Reno must have been for a good reason; they certainly wouldn’t mistreat their own flesh and blood.

This was the exact narrative Rose was trying to portray. Since she wanted to put on a show so badly, Estelle was more than happy to oblige.

"Ms. Lowell, are you saying I’m your biological daughter? And that Noelle is just an adopted daughter?" Estelle asked.

Rose silently cursed the ungrateful bitch in her heart, yet she maintained her sorrowful expression. "Yes, Estelle. I really know I was wrong."

"Oh... then does Ms. Lowell happen to remember that you have a jade bracelet?"

Rose and Noelle’s faces stiffened in unison.

Estelle spoke in a leisurely drawl, "Seven years ago, when I was eighteen and had just returned to the Lockwood family, Noelle showed it off to me. She told me that the bracelet was originally meant for your biological daughter. But since I had a bad fate and was left wandering outside, the jade bracelet was given to her instead. She even told me not to be jealous."

The reporters’ expressions turned subtle. This Noelle Lockwood was truly shameless. It was one thing to accept a gift meant for the real daughter, but why on earth did she have to go flaunt it in front of the actual daughter’s face?

Admiring Rose’s increasingly ugly expression, Estelle feigned ignorance and asked, "Now that Ms. Lowell admits to her mistakes, shouldn’t you give that bracelet back to me?"

Rose was speechless. She wanted nothing more than to strangle Estelle to death!

She wanted to scream and curse—what gave Estelle the right to slander Noelle? Noelle was so kindhearted! In the past, she had always taken the best care of Estelle, while Estelle constantly relied on her status as the true heiress to bully Noelle at every turn. How could Noelle ever bully Estelle? Flaunting a bracelet? Noelle was so pure; she could never do such a thing!

But right now, with so many eyes staring at her and Austin’s silent threat lingering nearby, Rose could only force an awkward laugh. "Well, this... it’s been so many years. Noelle has gotten used to wearing that bracelet..."

"Sigh. It seems Ms. Lowell isn’t sincere at all," Estelle said, shaking her head.