Chapter 179: You Still Plan to Shamelessly Stay in the Lockwood Family?
Chapter 179: Chapter 179: You Still Plan to Shamelessly Stay in the Lockwood Family?
Just then, Noelle Lockwood returned in another car.
The moment she stepped out, she concealed the sinister look on her face and put on a smile. "Estelle, you haven’t been back in so long. You probably don’t even remember what the house looks like, do you?"
Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow.
Noelle Lockwood acted as if nothing had happened, feigning a bashful expression. "The family redecorated the house for me, so the layout has changed quite a bit. Estelle, if there’s anything you’re not used to, you must tell me. Just treat this place as your own home."
Estelle Lockwood suddenly wondered what Noelle Lockwood’s face was made of. ’How could she be so thick-skinned?’
She still remembered the first time she came to the Lockwood Family villa, when she was eighteen.
Wearing plain, old clothes and carrying a single bag, she had looked up to see Rose Lowell with her arm linked through Noelle Lockwood’s. They stood on the high steps, looking down on Estelle Lockwood from above.
Then, the woman, looking every bit the high-society lady, had shot her a disdainful glance and parted her lips impatiently. "Alright, since you’re back, just stay out of trouble."
After she said that, Noelle Lockwood had walked over, seemingly friendly but actually condescending, her tone dripping with smugness. "Estelle, the house is cleaned by staff every day, so it’s very clean. The way you are..."
Noelle Lockwood had sized her up meaningfully. "The way you are... you should probably take a shower and change your clothes first."
She was clearly the family’s biological daughter, yet she was being disdained by the adopted daughter and barred from entering the house.
Meanwhile, Noelle Lockwood, dressed in exquisite clothes prepared for her by the Lockwood Family and wearing expensive jewelry, had deliberately walked beside Estelle Lockwood, creating an immense contrast between them.
One was the apple of the Lockwood Family’s eye; the other was a ’country bumpkin’ who had been lost to the outside world.
Seven years later, Estelle Lockwood’s voice held a hint of detached surprise as she retorted, "Treat it as my own home? Miss Lockwood, what an interesting thing to say. This *is* my home. Why would I need to ’treat it as’ such?"
Noelle Lockwood’s expression froze before she quickly explained, "I was just worried you wouldn’t be comfortable, Estelle. We’ll be living together from now on. If there’s anything you’re not satisfied with, you can..."
"Then you needn’t worry. Actually, there’s something I’m very curious about."
Estelle Lockwood wore a half-smile. "Why would I be living with you? Noelle Lockwood, you have no blood relation to the Lockwood Family. Seven years ago, Ms. Lowell said you were still young, so she wanted to keep you in the family. But now, Miss Lockwood is more than capable of living independently. Don’t tell me..."
Her tone shifted sharply. "...you still plan on shamelessly mooching off the Lockwood Family?"
’Older sister, you always make Mom and Dad unhappy. Because you came home, they’ve been ridiculed so much. If you had any self-awareness, you’d move out.’
’It’s true you’re their biological daughter, but I’m the little princess they cherish in the palm of their hands. Isn’t it shameless of you to stay in the Lockwood Family? So brazen. Don’t make Mom and Dad disappointed in you again.’
As Estelle Lockwood’s voice faded, the entire Lockwood Family villa fell into a deathly silence.
The servants all lowered their heads, not daring to breathe.
Rose Lowell immediately flew into a rage. "Estelle Lockwood, what is the meaning of this? I told you to get along with Noelle, and yet you’re trying every trick in the book to drive her away? Are you trying to kill me with anger! Do you have any idea how to show filial piety to your parents?!"
Estelle Lockwood was perfectly calm. "I am proposing that we send Noelle Lockwood away precisely because I understand filial piety."
"After all, I am your biological daughter, so I should be filial to you. But Noelle Lockwood is also someone else’s biological daughter. Is Ms. Lowell willing to keep Noelle separated from her birth mother? Or is Noelle going to continue staying in the Lockwood Family as its great young miss, abandoning her own mother?"
After Estelle Lockwood finished speaking, everyone present was stunned.
Rose Lowell was practically seething with rage.
’What is this twisted logic?!’
"Y-you, stop twisting my words... Noelle doesn’t need to be filial to that useless birth mother of hers..."
Estelle Lockwood seemed to have an epiphany and nodded. "I see. So it seems Ms. Lowell also believes that useless mothers don’t need to be shown filial piety. I understand. I will follow your wishes and no longer show you filial piety from this day forward."
Rose Lowell nearly choked. "You, you..."
Estelle Lockwood’s lips curved into a smirk.
Actually, she was very curious about who Noelle Lockwood’s birth mother was. The Lockwood Family told the public that Noelle had been adopted after their biological daughter, Estelle Lockwood, was ’lost’.
But Noelle Lockwood had arrived at the Lockwood Family home on the very day she was lost. ’Could that really be a coincidence?’
"Mom." Noelle Lockwood bit her lower lip, patting Rose Lowell’s back and comforting her like a good daughter, before turning to Estelle Lockwood, her eyes filled with disapproval.
"Estelle, no matter what friction we had before, right now, we are one family. We prosper together and we fall together."
"So, I hope you can let go of your prejudice against me. It’s nothing for me to suffer a little, but we can’t let Mom and Dad be sad anymore..."
As Noelle Lockwood spoke, her lips curled into a smile.
’Estelle Lockwood must be furious, right?’
’But what can she do? It’s just her bad luck to be abandoned right after birth. And my good luck to be brought back to the Lockwood Family by Rose Lowell to live a life of luxury, isn’t it?’
"Fine."
To everyone’s surprise, Estelle Lockwood replied calmly, "It’s just a matter of adding another pair of chopsticks. Miss Lockwood eats so little—less than the dog I raised. It’s not like the Lockwood Family can’t afford it."
Noelle Lockwood’s eyes flew wide with fury as she glared daggers at Estelle Lockwood!
’What does she mean by that? Is she comparing me to a dog?!’
Just then, Austin Lockwood came over to play the sympathy card. "Estelle, since you’re home, your father will hold a grand banquet in a few days to introduce you to the Lockwood Group’s partners and investors. For the next few days, just stay here at the Lockwood Family home. What do you think?"
Estelle Lockwood shot him a sideways glance. ’Is he really this impatient?’ She smoothed her hair. "Sure. But if you want me to stay here, where is my room?"
Noelle Lockwood’s eyes darted before she hurried forward and said sweetly, "Dad, Mom, I knew my sister was coming back, so I’ve already prepared a room for her. I’ll take her there right now."
Austin Lockwood couldn’t help but feel pleased. "Noelle is so thoughtful. Alright then, Estelle, go with Noelle."
His words were laden with insinuation. "While you’re staying at the Lockwood Family home, remember to let them know over at Star, so they don’t worry, understand?"
If the outside world knew Estelle Lockwood was living at the Lockwood Family home, they would naturally assume that Estelle had forgiven the Lockwood Family. The family would then be spared from public opinion and condemnation, allowing them to clear their name.
Estelle Lockwood replied nonchalantly, "We’ll see about that after I’ve seen the room. Let’s go, little sister."
...
「At the same time, in the garage of Evernight International.」
Nathaniel Sloan bent down and stepped into the luxury car. After he closed the door, Luke White asked respectfully, "Sir, where are you headed?"
Nathaniel Sloan crossed his legs, interlaced his fingers on his lap, and said with a lazy air, "The Lockwood Family."