Chapter 259: How to Repay This ’Favor’?

Chapter 259: Chapter 259: How to Repay This ’Favor’?

The comments in the live stream chat went silent for a moment.

[Good question. This Mr. Reno knows Estelle Lockwood is married, so why is he so eager to get involved? Is he trying to be the other man?]

[So, Mr. Reno, eldest son of Prince Avery, you want to be the side-piece?]

[Are you prepared to wake up early and serve the legitimate husband?]

[The legitimate husband, Nathaniel Sloan, says he’s not interested.]

Back at the manor, Austin Lockwood understood what Estelle Lockwood meant and nearly choked.

"Estelle Lockwood, watch your mouth!"

But Princess Avery was already sneering. "You’re the first person to insult my son like that. You refuse to marry him, is that it? Fine. If you won’t marry him, then I’ll make the entire Lockwood Family pay with their lives!"

Rose Lowell immediately collapsed to the floor, wailing and screaming.

The Lockwood relatives also chimed in with their accusations.

"Estelle, you’re being so selfish!"

"That’s right! We’re all family. Are you just going to stand by and watch us die?"

"You can’t blame us for this. You’re the one who didn’t act like a proper wife, showing your face in public even though you’re married. That’s why Mr. Reno took an interest in you!"

Rose Lowell craned her neck stubbornly. "I don’t care! We’ve already accepted the betrothal gifts. You have to marry him! Do you want the Lockwood Family to die? Have you no conscience! I’m your mother, and you will obey my command!"

Estelle Lockwood’s gaze turned icy. "So, Ms. Lowell, you do remember that you’re my mother? In that case, have you heard about Mr. Reno’s wicked deeds?"

Princess Avery, who was standing idly to the side, let out a derisive snort. It was as if she was mocking Estelle Lockwood’s futile struggle.

’Go on, say it. What difference will it make? It’s not like the Lockwood Family is going to give up on this marriage, are they?’

Rose Lowell’s eyes darted around, her guilt obvious. "I... I don’t know..."

"That’s fine. I can tell you."

In reality, Estelle Lockwood was saying it for the audience in the live stream.

"Mr. Reno started messing around with women when he was fifteen. Over the years, he has forced himself on women a total of seven hundred and sixty-two times. Seven of those girls were driven to suicide by him. Did you know that, Ms. Lowell?"

Princess Avery frowned slightly. ’Wait, how did this Estelle Lockwood investigate things in such detail?’

Rose Lowell’s face went pale. "No..."

"It doesn’t matter if you didn’t know before. But now you do, Ms. Lowell."

Estelle Lockwood finished and looked coolly at Rose Lowell.

Rose Lowell averted her gaze, thinking to herself that Estelle Lockwood was just being dramatic.

"Estelle, how can you think that way? It was an honor for those women that Mr. Reno took an interest in them! Even if they died... it just means they weren’t fated for a life of luxury. How can you blame Mr. Reno?"

"I’m your mother. Would I ever do anything to harm you?"

[Is she insane???]

[She knows Reno drove so many people to their deaths, that he’s a disgusting, lecherous murderer, yet Rose Lowell, who calls herself a mother, still wants to sell out her own daughter!]

[And what about her biological father, Austin Lockwood, her own grandparents, Old Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood, and all those other Lockwood relatives? Don’t they all think the same way?]

[The Lockwood Family is disgusting. I’m boycotting them from now on!]

Noelle Lockwood’s fans were still trying to argue:

[Estelle Lockwood is the one taking it too far!]

[Yeah, our Noelle would never be like this! Why are you boycotting the Lockwood Family? There are good people in the family too!]

But in the next moment, Noelle Lockwood, who had no idea the live stream was on, completely shattered everyone’s rosy image of her.

Her eyes brimming with tears, she said, "Estelle, I don’t understand. What more could you be dissatisfied with? Mr. Reno is distinguished and poised. You won’t find a better man in the entire world, will you? You look down on a man this good... Estelle... what am I supposed to say about you?"

Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow. "Noelle, you really think so?"

Noelle Lockwood would never fall for scum like Reno, but right now, she deliberately let tears fall just to spite Estelle Lockwood.

"Estelle, you can’t judge a man’s character by his looks alone! All those things you mentioned... Mr. Reno will change. He truly cares about you. Can’t you see past his exterior to the beauty of his soul?"

Estelle Lockwood recorded her words, then retorted, "If Reno is so wonderful, why don’t you marry him?"

Noelle Lockwood’s face went deathly pale.

Rose Lowell shrieked instantly. "How dare you?! How dare you suggest Noelle marry him?! My Noelle was born under a lucky star! How could she be sent to her death—"

Everyone looked over. As their gazes met Estelle Lockwood’s mocking eyes, Rose Lowell’s shriek died in her throat.

Austin Lockwood sighed and stepped forward to lay down the law.

"Estelle, your mother and I know we’ve wronged you in this matter, but ultimately, it’s for your own good."

"Besides, we gave you life. The Lockwood Family has fed you and clothed you; we haven’t mistreated you. A person should know how to be grateful and repay kindness, shouldn’t they?"

"Repay kindness..." Estelle Lockwood nodded. "Alright then, I’ll settle the accounts with the Lockwood Family and see exactly what ’kindness’ I need to repay."

...

The internet was already in an uproar.

[Noelle Lockwood is the most disgusting one!!]

[Listen to the crap she’s spouting! I can’t believe she’s actually praising him. She’s completely shameless, all just to push the real daughter into this marriage!]

[Estelle Lockwood is about to settle the score... I heard a long time ago that the Lockwood Family mistreated her, the real daughter, at every turn for the sake of the fake one. And they have the nerve to say she doesn’t know how to be grateful?]

The Lockwood Group’s shareholders, while racing to the manor, were on the phone with their subordinates still outside, urging them to get into the manor and stop this live stream at once.

However, they never expected that the entrance to the manor was already surrounded by Nathaniel Sloan’s bodyguards, blocking it completely.

...

Austin Lockwood had a feeling something was off. "Estelle, we’re all family..."

"Fine, you want to settle accounts? Go ahead! Let me tell you, I’m your mother! The debt of birth is the greatest of all! If you dare try to settle accounts with me, I’ll kill you, you little monster!"

Rose Lowell was seeing red. "Besides, you’re the one who’s always plotting against my Noelle..."

"Seven years ago, on my very first day back at the Lockwood estate, Noelle Lockwood pushed me into a pond. I came down with a high fever that night, but you, Ms. Lowell, were busy comforting a completely unharmed Noelle, accusing me of ’not saving face for Noelle’ and telling me to reflect on my actions."

"After that, I had a high fever for three days and nights, and you, Ms. Lowell, stubbornly refused to take me to the hospital. When I finally came to, you said that since I didn’t die, Noelle didn’t need to apologize to me, in case she caught my ’sickness’."

Estelle Lockwood asked with a sweet smile, "Ms. Lowell, please tell me, how should I ’repay’ this ’kindness’?"

The Lockwood relatives’ gazes on Rose Lowell were now tinged with disgust. Noelle Lockwood clenched her fists, feeling as if she were on pins and needles.

Rose Lowell’s eyes darted around. "Th-that’s all..."

"To preserve Noelle Lockwood’s dignity, you, Ms. Lowell, told everyone I was just her maid. At one banquet, Noelle demanded I peel a crab for her. I accidentally cut my hand, and she slapped me twice."

"Afterward, you, Ms. Lowell, screamed at me, demanding to know why I hadn’t taken proper care of your precious daughter."

Estelle Lockwood asked again, "Pray tell, how am I to repay this ’kindness’?"