Chapter 184: Christian and Zachery Swap Identities Again
Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Christian and Zachery Swap Identities Again
Austin Lockwood was still fuming when the call came in, and he almost failed to process it. "Dad, who did you say died?"
Old Mr. Lockwood’s brow was tightly furrowed.
A moment later, Austin Lockwood realized who Old Mr. Lockwood was talking about.
He said quickly, "I’ve checked. Both he and his son are dead and gone."
Old Mr. Lockwood still wasn’t reassured. "Estelle said he might still be alive. Look into it when you have a moment."
Austin Lockwood thought nothing of it. If that man hadn’t died back then, he never would have been willing to have Estelle sent back. "Estelle was raised by him," he said to his father. "Of course she doesn’t want him to be dead. It was just an offhand comment, and you actually believed it."
Old Mr. Lockwood was still worried, but on second thought, that did make sense. "Alright, you and Rose Lowell need to treat Estelle better. Don’t give anyone a reason to find fault. She is and always will be your daughter, and only your daughter, do you understand?! Especially Rose Lowell. If she lets anything slip, I’ll make her regret it!"
Austin Lockwood lowered his voice. "Of course, Dad. I’ve never told Rose Lowell the truth, either. She only believes the words of that fortune teller..."
Old Mr. Lockwood hung up, feeling that everything was still under control, and let out a huge sigh of relief.
In an instant, he was back to being the amiable old man, grabbing his fishing rod to go fishing with his friends.
While fishing, he remarked several times, "That’s right, Estelle is my only granddaughter. A child of our Lockwood Family was suffering outside while they were doting on an adopted daughter. What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Yes, you can tell Estelle takes after me just by looking at her. That’s my dear granddaughter, isn’t it!"
Meanwhile, after hanging up, Austin Lockwood also felt a little uneasy. He immediately went to find Rose Lowell, his words filled with hints she couldn’t grasp. Austin Lockwood was completely stringing her along.
"Rose, Estelle is back now, so don’t you mention anything about that fortune teller anymore!"
"If people find out you abandoned your own biological daughter because of some fortune teller, how can the Lockwood Family show its face!"
Austin Lockwood heavily emphasized the words "biological daughter."
Rose Lowell replied sheepishly, "I know, I know, I won’t say anything. But... but I wasn’t wrong back then, was I? If I hadn’t abandoned Estelle, the Lockwood Family wouldn’t have enjoyed over twenty years of prosperity..."
"Alright, alright, stop glaring at me. Estelle is my biological daughter. If it weren’t for the sake of the Lockwood Family, why would I have ever abandoned her!"
Though Rose Lowell said that, inwardly she was seething with indignation.
’Estelle Lockwood is a Jinx, plain and simple. Even I, her own mother, can’t stand her. Everyone says I favor my adopted daughter and abandoned my biological one, right? Fine. When the time is right, I’ll find an opportunity to leak this little tidbit—’
’—I didn’t abandon my biological daughter, I got rid of a Jinx!’
The moment Austin Lockwood saw the look in Rose Lowell’s eyes, he knew what she was thinking.
His goal achieved, Austin Lockwood looked away and left in a hurry.
...
「In the car.」
Nathaniel Sloan asked gently, "Why did you go see Old Mr. Lockwood?"
Estelle Lockwood shook her head. "I’m just starting to wonder... are Austin Lockwood and Rose Lowell really my biological parents?"
Nathaniel Sloan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. It wasn’t surprising that Estelle would have such doubts.
According to Mrs. Kendrick, Estelle was never an unwanted child. Her adoptive Grandpa Lockwood had adored her. The Kendrick family elders doted on her like their own granddaughter. Beyond the Kendricks, many other influential families who came to know Estelle also admired and cherished her.
The elders of these powerful families weren’t fools. They didn’t favor someone just for having a silver tongue.
In the treacherous world of high society, only sincerity could move them.
It wasn’t just the elders; the younger generation felt the same. Nearly everyone adored Estelle. Yet the Lockwoods alone cast her aside like a worn-out shoe. Even after living together for two years, it was as if they’d failed to see a single one of her strengths.
Back then, Rose Lowell often complained about her sore shoulders. Out of concern for her mother, Estelle went out of her way to learn a full set of therapeutic massage techniques.
But Rose Lowell, far from feeling touched, was disdainful. She called Estelle unpresentable and unworthy of laying a hand on her, let alone being her daughter.
When the Lockwood Group faced a crisis, Estelle stayed up all night designing a few pieces of jewelry. Austin Lockwood was very pleased when he saw them, but he immediately turned around and gave the credit to Noelle Lockwood.
Is this how biological parents act?
Even if they favored the adopted daughter, there should be a limit. And that’s not even mentioning the fact that Rose Lowell was the one who lost Estelle in the first place. Far from feeling guilty, every time Rose opened her mouth, she wondered why Estelle hadn’t just died somewhere.
No matter how you looked at it... this was not the behavior of biological parents.
Nathaniel Sloan asked, "What do you want to do?"
Estelle Lockwood rested her chin on one hand, her eyes narrowing. "First, I need to figure out the Lockwood Family’s motive. They hate and loathe me so much, yet they still insist I’m their biological daughter. What are they after?"
After saying this, Estelle suddenly had an idea. Her eyes lit up, and she said with a meaningful expression:
"Mr. Sloan, I suddenly don’t want to acquire the Lockwood Group anymore."
"I want the Lockwood Family to personally hand the Lockwood Group over to me."
"I’m the ’biological daughter,’ aren’t I? So choosing me as the heir would only be natural, right?"
She wanted to force the Lockwood Family to expose themselves.
Estelle’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. She had originally thought the Lockwood Family was just biased toward Noelle Lockwood, but now, the more she thought about it, the more horrifying it seemed.
’Perhaps Grandpa’s death is also connected to the Lockwood Family!’
...
「Two days later.」
Mrs. Kendrick called Estelle. "Estelle, your three little treasures miss you."
Estelle’s heart softened. "Okay, I’ll go get them now."
Mrs. Kendrick nodded and went to look for the three little ones, but she couldn’t find them. She grabbed a nanny and asked, and the nanny said, "The Sloan Family sent someone to pick them up."
Mrs. Kendrick immediately frowned, her voice stern as she looked at the nanny. "The Sloan Family came to pick them up, and you just handed them over? Haven’t I told you that you must inform me about anything regarding them!? How long ago were the children taken?"
"Three... three hours ago..."
The nanny avoided her gaze. She had taken a little money from Mrs. Sloan, Laura Jennings. "But... isn’t the Sloan Family their grandparents’ home? I... I thought their grandparents missed their grandchildren, so..."
Mrs. Kendrick laughed out of anger.
Three hours?
Three hours ago, the three little ones had gone upstairs for their nap, which was why Mrs. Kendrick hadn’t disturbed them.
In other words, this nanny had woken them up before they even had their nap and handed them over to Laura Jennings!
"Don’t bother coming in tomorrow. Go see the butler to settle your wages," Mrs. Kendrick interrupted.
The nanny was instantly filled with regret. "Ma’am, Ma’am, please give me another chance..."
Estelle got the gist of it from the phone. "Laura Jennings took the three little ones?"
Mrs. Kendrick grabbed her coat. "I’m going to the Sloan Family’s house right now to bring the children back."
Estelle said, "I’m coming too. It’ll take me about an hour to get there."
Mrs. Kendrick said anxiously, "It’s the same for me! Ugh, Lockwood Manor is a bit far. Estelle, don’t panic just yet. Laura Jennings and Ethan Sloan might not be right in the head, but I’m sure Iris will look after the three little ones."
Estelle sent a message to Aunt Iris, then quickly got in the car.
...
Meanwhile, Iris Sloan received Estelle’s text, sighed, and looked at Mia and ’Zachery’. "Your mommy is so worried about you. How could you let Christian go with that woman?"
Mia and ’Zachery’ exchanged a look.
’Great-Aunt Iris didn’t know, but they knew perfectly well. The one who left with that woman wasn’t Christian at all. The real Christian was pretending to be Zachery and standing right in front of her now!’