Chapter 518: Come, Kneel Down and Kowtow to Me 3 Times

Chapter 518: Chapter 518: Come, Kneel Down and Kowtow to Me 3 Times

Estelle Lockwood propped her chin on one hand, waiting with interest for Zion Yeats to continue. However, to her surprise, he trailed off. Still wanting more, she asked, "Is that it?"

Zion choked on his words. "That’s... that’s it. Estelle, you..."

Estelle chuckled. "Does Old Mr. Yeats know what it means if I say it was just a joke and admit that Claire did nothing wrong?"

Zion looked confused. "Know... know what?"

"The Yeats know perfectly well whether Claire intended to frame me or not," Estelle said mildly. "If I admit it wasn’t her fault, then why did Benjamin Carter come looking for me? Are you also going to make me admit that Benjamin and I really are friends?

"After all, if I don’t admit to being friends with him, what happens when people ask why Claire gave him my room number without even confirming our relationship? They’d think she harbored malicious intentions. How would the Yeats Family handle that then?

"Would you force me to post on Twitter again? Make me confess again? By the time I’m forced to become ’friends’ with Benjamin, wouldn’t that just give me a motive for seducing him? We’d be going in circles right back to square one, just to dump the dirty water back on me. Is that your plan?"

"Estelle!" Zion was getting angry. "Stop this nonsense. That’s not what we meant. Claire... Claire is innocent too..."

"Old Mr. Yeats, that’s hilarious. If Claire really were innocent, why would you all be in such a panic?" Estelle retorted. "The public isn’t blind. If she were innocent, wouldn’t anyone be able to tell? Why the rush to come to me, the victim, and force me to forgive her?"

Zion stumbled back two steps, looking hurt. He didn’t... he didn’t mean that! He hadn’t done this maliciously; he only hoped for peace in the family...

"Estelle, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. But Uncle Yeats is only doing this for the good of the Yeats Family." Tears streamed down Claire’s face as she spoke pitifully, "Many companies signed partnerships with the Yeats Group because of my reputation. If my reputation is ruined, the five billion the Yeats Family invested will also..."

"Estelle, let me apologize to you privately, okay? I can get on my knees and kowtow to you, as long as you spare the Yeats Family..." As she spoke, she made a move to kneel.

Old Mrs. Yeats glared daggers at Estelle, seemingly unable to bear seeing her precious granddaughter act so subserviently.

Estelle raised an eyebrow. "I see. Your reputation is tied to the Yeats Family, so it can’t be ruined. Even though I’m the victim, I have to consider the big picture and forgive you."

Claire’s eyes darted around as she feigned weakness. "I didn’t mean that... I just felt that since you are also a part of the Yeats Family..."

"Don’t you find that hilarious?" Estelle scoffed. "If I really were a part of the Yeats Family, they wouldn’t have repeatedly backed me into a corner for your sake. And now, after I finally proved my innocence, they want me to let the main culprit off the hook and take the fall for you.

"Tsk, I’m no member of the Yeats Family. I’m more like their enemy. Ah..." Estelle tapped her temple. "Could it be that I really am the Yeats Family’s enemy? My mother suddenly left the Yeats Family at twenty, taking nothing with her. Was she being hunted down by the Yeats Family? Instead of living out his life as the Family Head, my grandfather died an unnatural death, leaving only my mother behind to become an outsider to the Yeats Family. So speaking of which..."

"Estelle!!!" Zion suddenly interrupted. He gritted his teeth, impatience tinting his brow. "Claire didn’t do it on purpose. How many times do I have to tell you before you understand? The Yeats Group is already going downhill right now. Can’t you be a little more sensible? For the sake of the big picture, we wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice however many people it takes. We’ve all prepared ourselves to make sacrifices. Why can’t you?"

Claire smirked inwardly. Yes, exactly like this. Leave Estelle with no place to reason. Even the Yeats Family would throw her under the bus like a worn-out shoe.

"Fine," Estelle nodded. "I forgive her."

The group heaved a sigh of relief.

Old Mrs. Yeats took on a high-and-mighty tone. "You little bitch, don’t forget your Twitter post! Post it right now! Say that everything was your fault and that you were just jealous of Claire!"

"Alright," Estelle agreed with a nod.

Claire blanked for a moment, not expecting Estelle to compromise so quickly. Her eyes darted around, and she feigned a wronged tone, "Estelle..."

"Kneel," Estelle said calmly.

Claire’s pathetic act caught in her throat. Her expression stiffened drastically. "Wh-what?"

Estelle was drafting the Twitter post. Right as she was about to press send, she suddenly looked up. Her eyes held a smile and a profound gaze. "Didn’t Claire just say that she could get on her knees and kowtow to earn my forgiveness? Kneel."

The room fell dead silent.

Old Mrs. Yeats’s face changed drastically as she lunged forward. "Estelle Lockwood! Don’t push your luck!!"

"Oh... Old Mrs. Yeats wants to hit me?" Estelle tilted her head. "Then I’ll call for help. Mr. Lynch is right outside."

Old Mrs. Yeats’s words choked in her throat.

Estelle sighed. "Old Mr. Yeats, you know how hard and unjust today’s incident has been for me. If I hadn’t proven my innocence, my life would have been ruined. Meanwhile, Claire is the perpetrator, the main culprit, yet all she has to do is shed a couple of tears, and you want me to take the blame for her. If others found out about this, it wouldn’t make any sense.

"But you all say we’re family. Since I’m supposedly part of the Yeats Family, I am indeed willing to do the Yeats Family a favor. However, I can’t just swallow this grievance for nothing.

"So this is perfect. Miss Yeats said she’d be willing to do anything as long as I spare the Yeats Family...

"I don’t expect Miss Yeats to do anything else, nor do I need her to give me a formal apology gift. I just need Miss Yeats to get on her knees right now, kowtow three times, and say ’I’m sorry’ three times.

"If she does that, I’ll post on Twitter exactly as the Yeats Family asked. I’ll admit that this was just a ’joke’ between us sisters and that I shouldn’t have blown things out of proportion. I’ll give the Yeats Family enough face to guarantee that your partnerships won’t be affected.

"All of this requires Miss Yeats to just kneel and kowtow three times. Is that okay, Miss Yeats?"

A deathly silence fell over the lounge. The faces of the Yeats Family members turned incredibly ugly. Old Mrs. Yeats glared daggers, Zion looked on in disbelief, and Evan Yeats was furious to the extreme.

Claire gritted her teeth so hard she felt like passing out. Kneel to Estelle? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! She had just said it casually. Who gave Estelle the right to take it literally? Had she given her an inch, only for her to take a mile?! What did she count as? Just a bitch destined to be ruined! Why should she, the eldest Miss of the Yeats Family, kneel to her?!

"Are you unwilling?" Taking in Claire’s expression, Estelle let out a faint sigh. She put away her phone and made a move to leave. "Just a moment ago, Miss Yeats said she could do anything for the Yeats Family and that the big picture came first.

"But now that it’s Miss Yeats’s own turn, she suddenly feels the big picture isn’t that important anymore.

"Very well... If that’s the case, let’s forget it. You can figure out the Yeats Family’s partnerships yourselves."