Chapter 270: The Fate of the Lockwood Family

Chapter 270: Chapter 270: The Fate of the Lockwood Family

And her... what kind of fate awaited her? Marrying Mr. Reno would at least offer a sliver of hope, but if she went to prison, she would be completely ruined!

Panic instantly seized Noelle. "I’ll marry him! I’ll marry him! Princess Avery, I’ll marry him right now!"

Caleb dropped his act completely. On his aged face, a pair of sinister, old eyes glared fixedly at Estelle. "Estelle! I’m your grandfather, for heaven’s sake! How could you be so heartless!"

Estelle laughed. She looked Caleb up and down. "Old Mr. Lockwood, were you just thinking that once the Lockwoods get their hands on that money, you’d make my life a living hell? After all, it’s my own fault for knowing so many of the Lockwood family’s secrets, isn’t it?"

Caleb’s expression turned sinister and ferocious.

Estelle shrugged. "It’s a pity you don’t have that chance anymore. After all, Caleb, everything you’ve done has been completely exposed. My true parentage, Noelle’s parentage, the ruined lives of Phoebe Hale and her grandfather, the ugly true colors of the Lockwood family, and Princess Avery’s unreasonable behavior... all of it... was broadcast live."

Tilting her head, Estelle added, "By the way, Old Mr. Lockwood, you must be wondering why your subordinates only called to warn you now, after the live stream has been going on for so long."

Caleb had already thought of the worst possible answer.

Smiling sweetly, Estelle suggested, "Perhaps Old Mr. Lockwood should go outside and take a look?"

Just outside Lockwood Manor, the police had already surrounded the premises.

Caleb was no fool; he realized that no matter how he looked at it, he was finished. Not just him, but the entire Lockwood family, everyone...

Old Mr. Lockwood’s teeth ground together with a grating sound. "Estelle, I underestimated you... Fine, fine! Even if my Lockwood family is finished, I won’t let you off easy!"

It was unclear what crossed Caleb’s mind, but an exaggerated smile suddenly appeared on his face. He burst into loud laughter, the deep wrinkles on his face creasing further. "Estelle, aren’t you curious about how Austin and I stole you away, how we swapped your life, and why we chose you of all people?!"

Nathaniel’s eyes flickered in sudden surprise.

No one around them moved a muscle, and the viewers in the live stream were equally shocked.

[What does that mean? They stole Estelle on purpose?]

[They didn’t just randomly steal a baby girl to cover up the truth—they deliberately targeted Estelle?]

[Could it be that Old Mr. Lockwood had a grudge against Estelle’s parents?]

Old Mr. Lockwood grew more agitated the more he thought about it. "Hahaha! Don’t you want to know? Let me go, and I’ll tell you! Estelle, I raised you for two years, didn’t I? Your grandfather did you a favor, so don’t bite the hand that fed you!"

Estelle’s expression remained perfectly calm.

After throwing an impotent fit of rage for a moment, Caleb saw that Estelle showed no reaction, which only infuriated him further. "Estelle! I’m talking to you! Are you really not the least bit curious?!"

"Curious about what?" Estelle countered with a half-smile. "Curious about why you stole me? Curious about why you targeted me? I didn’t know before, but now, I think I’ve guessed a thing or two."

She asked in a slow, deliberate drawl, "Old Mr. Lockwood, to be honest... you and I aren’t completely unrelated by blood, are we?"

Silence fell over the scene once more.

Estelle’s tone was composed. "Old Mr. Lockwood, you must have another brother... Oh, I’m guessing it’s your older brother."

Old Mr. Lockwood’s face stiffened.

"Your older brother was two years older than you and better than you in every way," Estelle continued. "You were jealous and disgusted, harboring a deep-seated grudge—"

"Shut up! You’re talking nonsense!" Caleb suddenly roared, seemingly losing his mind. "I’m an only child! I don’t have an older brother! If you don’t believe me, ask them!"

Estelle’s lips curled upwards. "Then it seems I was mistaken. Old Mr. Lockwood is an only child and never had an older brother... But if that’s the case, I don’t understand. I don’t even know who my biological parents are, yet judging by your implications, you have a feud with them and took your revenge out on me.

"How about this? Tell me who my parents are and what they did. Perhaps they really did you wrong, and stealing me was justifiable?"

Listening to Estelle’s glaring sarcasm, Caleb’s lips trembled.

Losing interest in continuing the conversation, Estelle said, "Alright, this farce ends here. Old Mr. Lockwood, today might just be the last time we ever see each other. Goodbye."

Why was it the last time? Because... because he was going to prison. No, no, no, perhaps he would get the death penalty. After all... after all...

Finally, at that moment, an assistant broke through the encirclement and rushed in frantically. "Chairman Lockwood! Old Mr. Lockwood... Estelle has sued the Lockwood family! It’s over... everything is over!"

The moment this live stream had begun, the Lockwood family’s fate was sealed.

The Lockwood Group was being simultaneously sued by Estelle, Nathaniel, and the Kendrick Family. Murder, arson, human trafficking, theft, commercial crimes... the list of charges piled up endlessly.

Caleb’s legs gave way.

Why had things turned out this way? Why?!

Noelle broke out in a cold sweat. It felt as though a cruel hand was tightly squeezing her heart, sending chills down her spine and leaving her unable to breathe.

She was the favored daughter of heaven... In the past, all the flowers and applause had belonged to her. But now, everyone was cursing her as a tramp, saying she had brought this upon herself, that the wages of her sins was death...

Rose panicked as well. She originally came from a humble background, but after clinging to Austin, she had enjoyed twenty years of a good life. She had finally managed to drive away that jinx, Estelle, and now she was actually going to prison!

She didn’t want this!

The relatives of the Lockwood family fell into a state of panic too. The company going bankrupt was a minor issue, but they were accomplices—they would go to prison as well!

Everyone had become like headless flies. Suddenly, someone glared fiercely at Noelle, realizing something, and shrieked, "Noelle! It’s you! It’s your fault! If you hadn’t committed arson and hurt people five years ago, if you hadn’t contacted Mr. Reno, why would Estelle have started a live stream? Why would we be ruined?! It’s all your fault!"

It was as if Caleb had a sudden epiphany as well. "Noelle, it’s you! It’s your fault!

"If it weren’t for you, why would I have targeted Estelle? It’s all because of you!"

Third Aunt Lockwood rushed to Noelle’s side, delivering several harsh slaps to her face. SLAP! SLAP! "Apologize! Noelle, apologize to Estelle right now! This is all your fault! Hurry up and apologize!"

Third Aunt Lockwood kicked Noelle hard in the back of the knee. With a loud THUD, Noelle fell to the ground on her knees.

Next, Third Aunt Lockwood grabbed her by the hair and repeatedly smashed her head against the floor. THUD! THUD! THUD!

"Es... Estelle... look, Noelle has apologized to you..."

Estelle laughed.

So, the Lockwoods actually knew the word "apologize." So, the Lockwoods also knew just how despicable and utterly shameful their actions were.

Yet, even now, the Lockwood family still felt that all the blame lay solely on Noelle. Even Old Mr. Lockwood believed that if it hadn’t been for Noelle, the family wouldn’t have met with such a disaster.

They simply hadn’t realized their own wrongdoings.