Chapter 258: You Want to Be My Concubine?

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: You Want to Be My Concubine?

Estelle Lockwood, Noelle Lockwood, and the affairs of the Lockwood family were not widely known to the public.

When Noelle retired from the entertainment industry, some people knew it was because of the arson incident, but the public outcry was quickly suppressed. All trending searches were taken down, leaving only a few of Noelle’s hardcore fans in the know.

Thus, everyone was shocked to see Noelle in Best Actor Arthur Kendrick’s live stream right now.

[Is Noelle Lockwood making a comeback?]

[Is she going to be in Arthur Kendrick’s new movie?]

[Wait, no. The woman sitting across from Noelle is Estelle Lockwood, right? The true heiress of the Lockwood family!]

[Oh, yeah! The whole true and fake heiress drama with Noelle was a huge deal. So this isn’t a movie shoot? This is the Lockwood family?]

[Hold on... if that’s Estelle, didn’t she already get married? What’s this about a betrothal gift?]

At Lockwood Manor.

Old Mr. Lockwood, naturally unaware of the hidden cameras and the ongoing live stream, chuckled at Estelle’s question. "Estelle, what a question... Well, since you asked, I won’t hide it from you."

He patted the empty seat beside him. A rotund figure immediately bounded up. The man’s hideous appearance sent a collective shudder through the entire live stream, yet Old Mr. Lockwood spoke as if he were bestowing a grand blessing.

"Estelle, we have arranged a marriage for you. Come, meet your future husband."

Mr. Reno panted heavily and drooled, his eyes gleaming with greedy lust as he reached out to grab Estelle’s hand.

Estelle unhurriedly pushed his hand away, causing Mr. Reno to lunge at empty air.

A sudden silence fell over the room.

Mr. Reno let out a piercing scream.

Princess Avery furrowed her brow. "Old Mr. Lockwood."

The smile on Old Mr. Lockwood’s face faded slightly. "Estelle, what is the meaning of this? Mr. Reno is your future husband, the man you will spend the rest of your life with. Why are you hiding from him?"

Estelle raised an eyebrow. "Do I need to remind you again? I am already married, Old Mr. Lockwood."

Rose Lowell hurriedly chimed in. "Oh, Estelle, getting married doesn’t mean you can’t get a divorce! It’s your good luck that Mr. Reno has taken a fancy to you. Besides, we’ve already accepted the betrothal gift—two billion! You have to marry him whether you want to or not!"

Estelle nodded. "I see. So Chairman Lockwood and Ms. Lowell were finally willing to welcome their ’biological daughter’ home just to sell me off for two billion."

Rose’s face darkened instantly. "What kind of nonsense is that? We’re doing this for your own good. A marriage without your parents’ blessing won’t last. Don’t you understand? You and Nathaniel aren’t a good match. Forget about those three kids, too. You and Mr. Reno will have plenty more children in the future."

Nathaniel’s expression grew grim, but he was currently playing the role of a bodyguard. He couldn’t ruin Estelle’s plan.

Princess Avery’s gaze was contemptuous, as if Estelle was entirely beneath her notice. Curving her red lips, she said, "Enough, Estelle. Your biological parents have already accepted my betrothal gift. According to the customs of Britain, you are already a member of Avery Manor.

"My son is a fine-looking man, more than good enough for you. What could you possibly be dissatisfied with? Now, pack your things. You’re leaving with us today. Oh, right, you’re currently married, aren’t you? Hurry up and get a divorce. My son doesn’t mind that you’re a second-hand woman, so you’d best know what’s good for you."

Rose couldn’t help but gulp. She whispered a reminder, "Princess, we agreed earlier..."

"Oh, right." Princess Avery finally remembered and added, "Your mother mentioned that you own a company and a studio under your name. Let me think, what was it called... Star, right? If you’re going to be our daughter-in-law, you can’t be showing your face in public. You’ll stop all this work from now on. A designer? A chairman? Tsk, tsk. It’s embarrassing just to say it out loud.

"Let’s do this. I’ll make the arrangements. You’ll transfer your shares in Star to my son, and the rest will be distributed to the Lockwood family. Consider it repaying them for their kindness in raising you."

The eyes of the Lockwoods gleamed with greed.

Estelle thought, "As expected. These people have no bottom line. They actually have the nerve to talk about repaying kindness." She found a chair and sat down, a mocking half-smile on her face.

"I didn’t expect that neither Old Mr. Lockwood nor Princess Avery would know how to do basic math. It’s fine. I can calculate it for you," Estelle said. "Since you’ve already investigated and found out I’m the chairman of Star... you don’t actually think Star’s market value is a mere two billion, do you? You want all the shares under my name for a measly two billion. Princess Avery, you’re just bullying the Lockwoods for being bad at math, aren’t you?"

Austin’s cheek twitched. He hadn’t expected Estelle to have so much money!

Princess Avery sneered. "So what? Estelle, kindly get your facts straight! My son is the eldest son of an esteemed Prince. He was born superior to others! Let alone wanting your shares, even if he wanted the entire Lockwood family—even all of Innerland—everyone would have to respectfully offer it up to him. His status is incomparably noble!

"It is your blessing that my son has taken a fancy to you. I advise you not to be ungrateful." Princess Avery slowly shifted her gaze to Old Mr. Lockwood. "Old Mr. Lockwood, it’s not that I’m being unkind. It’s just that even if you kept Estelle here, she wouldn’t share her equity with the Lockwood family anyway. By letting her marry my son, the Lockwood family also gets to reap some benefits, don’t you agree?"

Old Mr. Lockwood laughed heartily. "Of course, of course. Since we have already accepted the betrothal gift, we will not go back on our word."

Meanwhile, the live stream chat was in absolute shock.

[This is literally selling their daughter!!]

[Estelle is already married, yet they’re forcing her to divorce and remarry just because they accepted a betrothal gift! How is this any different from human trafficking!]

[I already hate this Princess Avery just by looking at her!]

However, some of Noelle’s fans mingled in, trying to muddy the waters.

[Maybe the truth is different from what we’re seeing.]

[Yeah, don’t judge until you know the whole story.]

Many anxious people tried to call Austin, but they couldn’t get through.

The shareholders of the Lockwood Group were panicking. If this daughter-selling scandal were confirmed, the Lockwood Group would be finished! As a result, the shareholders hurriedly drove toward the manor. Unfortunately, the estate was far from Crestfall Downtown; even driving at top speed, it would take at least two hours!

Back at the manor.

After finishing her piece, Princess Avery didn’t wait for Estelle’s response. She laid down the final verdict. "Son, Estelle is yours now."

Mr. Reno giggled foolishly and lunged forward.

With a swift kick from Estelle, Reno crashed hard onto the floor!

"Estelle!!" Princess Avery flew into a rage. "Old Mr. Lockwood! Chairman Lockwood! I only lowered myself to negotiate this marriage because my son likes her! What is the meaning of your daughter’s behavior?!"

Old Mr. Lockwood’s face darkened. "Estelle, the Princess is right. Don’t be ungrateful."

"It’s not that I’m ungrateful. I just have a question I’m rather curious about," Estelle asked at a leisurely pace. "Since all of you know that I’m married yet still came to propose... Well, although our country practices monogamy, I know there are quite a few countries in the world that allow polygamy or polyandry.

"I’m not sure which category Britain falls under? If Britain also permits polyandry... could it be, Mr. Reno, that you want to be my concubine?"

Nathaniel was speechless.

Austin failed to process her words for a moment, looking thoroughly confused.