Chapter 263: A Step-by-Step Exposure

Chapter 263: Chapter 263: A Step-by-Step Exposure

The manor instantly fell silent.

Rose Lowell, terrified that Princess Avery would back out of the deal, froze for two seconds before roaring, "Mom, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Old Mrs. Lowell was stunned by her own daughter’s shouting. "I... I..."

Rose Lowell screamed, "I get it now! You were bribed by Estelle Lockwood, weren’t you!"

Old Mrs. Lowell was doing this to protect Rose Lowell! But her daughter was utterly ungrateful. Old Mrs. Lowell was on the verge of tears. "Rose, stop being so delusional! Don’t believe a word Austin Lockwood says. Estelle Lockwood... Estelle Lockwood really isn’t related to you!"

Rose Lowell didn’t understand. She took two steps back. "What... what do you all mean? What do you mean?!"

Old Mrs. Lowell said through her tears, "Rose, your daughter died long ago! Estelle Lockwood is not your daughter!"

Rose Lowell couldn’t comprehend it. ’What does she mean, my daughter died, and Estelle isn’t her?’

If Estelle wasn’t her daughter, then who’s going to marry Mr. Reno?! ’No, that’s unacceptable. Estelle Lockwood *has* to be my daughter!’

Old Mr. Lockwood stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "Mr. and Mrs. Lowell, this is a Lockwood Family recognition banquet. If you intend to cause a scene, I must ask you to leave."

"But please remember this: Estelle Lockwood is my very own granddaughter!"

Old Mr. Lowell was no match for Old Mr. Lockwood in an argument. Just then, the head nurse stepped forward to speak.

"I can prove that Miss Estelle is indeed unrelated to Ms. Lowell!"

The head nurse looked at Austin Lockwood. "Chairman Lockwood, I’m sure you still remember me!"

"You?!" Austin Lockwood shot to his feet, his face contorted. "Someone, shut her up! Gag her!"

But the head nurse remained calm and composed. "Twenty-five years ago, Ms. Lowell delivered a stillborn baby. Before Ms. Lowell regained consciousness, you, Chairman Lockwood, brought in a baby girl and bribed everyone in and around the delivery room. That baby girl was Estelle Lockwood."

The head nurse turned to Rose Lowell. "Of course, Ms. Lowell, you don’t have to believe me. But I was cautious back then and made a copy of the surveillance footage. If Ms. Lowell would like to see it—"

"Shut your mouth!!"

The head nurse nodded. "Ms. Lowell’s agitation suggests she does indeed want to see it."

CLICK. Before anyone could react, a sound began to play from the head nurse’s phone.

"Mr... Mr. Lockwood, swapping babies... I wouldn’t dare do something like that."

"What’s there to be afraid of? As long as you keep quiet, no one will ever know!"

"B-But... but won’t Mrs. Lockwood notice when she wakes up? Her biological child is dead. The baby girl you brought... what if... what if Mrs. Lockwood finds out..."

"How could she possibly know?!"

"But... but this baby girl you brought, where did she come from? From another delivery room in this hospital? No, no, no, that’s illegal! Mr. Lockwood, you stole someone else’s child! I... I can’t do this!"

"Enough nonsense. Where the baby came from is none of your business. Just shut your mouth!"

Rose Lowell whipped her head around to glare at Austin Lockwood, screaming furiously, "She’s not mine? Estelle Lockwood isn’t my daughter? Then who is going to marry Mr. Reno!"

Estelle Lockwood watched Austin Lockwood with a half-smile.

’I didn’t expect Austin Lockwood to remain so abnormally calm, even now.’

’After I returned to the Lockwood Family seven years ago, it always seemed, on the surface, that Rose Lowell and Noelle Lockwood were the ones targeting me at every turn. But in reality, without Austin Lockwood’s indulgence, his subtle suggestions... would Rose Lowell really have tried to kill me again and again, all while believing I was her own biological daughter?’

’Maybe, maybe not. No one could say for sure now.’

But one thing was certain: all the injustices Estelle had suffered in the Lockwood Family were inextricably linked to Austin Lockwood.

"Sigh. I must admit, I was the one in the wrong here."

Austin Lockwood suddenly sighed, looking at Rose Lowell with an expression of deep affection. "Rose, I’m the one who has wronged you. The truth is, Estelle Lockwood is my illegitimate daughter."

Everyone was stunned by this twist.

Initially, when it was revealed that Estelle Lockwood was not Rose Lowell’s daughter, everyone naturally assumed she wasn’t Austin Lockwood’s daughter either. In that case, the marriage contract with Princess Avery would have been void.

But now, Austin Lockwood was suddenly admitting that Estelle Lockwood was his illegitimate daughter?!

Estelle Lockwood rested her chin on her hand and chuckled. ’I knew he would pull a stunt like this. I can’t wait to see the look on his face in a moment, when both the ’biological daughter’ and ’illegitimate daughter’ lies are exposed.’

Austin Lockwood sighed to the crowd. "Back then, the child Rose gave birth to died. As it happened, I wanted to bring my illegitimate daughter, Estelle, into the family. So... I made a grave mistake in a moment of folly. I am truly sorry, Rose."

Rose Lowell was stunned for two seconds. Her first reaction wasn’t to condemn Austin Lockwood for his affair, but to express her excitement.

"Wonderful! Just wonderful! I knew that bitch couldn’t be my daughter! Of course she’s a bitch, a filthy illegitimate daughter!"

Rose Lowell’s expression grew even more venomous. "Let Estelle Lockwood marry him! The illegitimate daughter, the little bitch, can just go and die, die, die!"

Austin Lockwood said helplessly, "Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, you’ve seen it yourselves. I wronged Rose in the past, and now it’s her wish to have Estelle Lockwood marry Mr. Reno. How can I possibly object?"

"Besides, although Estelle is illegitimate, she is still my biological daughter. And isn’t the person Mr. Reno is supposed to marry my biological daughter?"

"Estelle’s birth mother is no longer around. As her father, I naturally have the right to decide her future. Princess Avery, our marriage contract still stands."

Princess Avery showed a satisfied smile.

Rose Lowell stared at Estelle Lockwood with pure malice, as if wishing she could tear her limb from limb.

’No wonder I always hated Estelle Lockwood,’ Rose thought. ’Turns out she’s just some filthy illegitimate child, the mistress’s spawn. How could she ever compare to my Noelle!’

’It’s for the best that she’s being married off. It’s her great honor to be sacrificed for the Lockwood Family!’

Having said this, Austin Lockwood smiled. "Since it has come to this, Princess Avery, you may take Estelle with you now."

Princess Avery gave a signal with her eyes, and two bodyguards stepped forward—

Nathaniel Sloan stepped in front of Estelle Lockwood.

Estelle Lockwood, legs crossed and her cheek resting on her hand, tilted her head. "Chairman Lockwood, so I’m your illegitimate daughter?"

Austin Lockwood was completely unabashed. "Yes, Estelle. I never told you before, but now you know. You can’t blame me. After all, illegitimate daughters are naturally trash, aren’t they?"

Estelle Lockwood smiled. ’Fine. I’ll remember that.’

"Chairman Lockwood..." Estelle Lockwood sighed. "You say I’m your daughter, but it seems Director Rhodes has something to say."

’Director Rhodes... Who’s that?’ Austin Lockwood wondered for a moment, and then his mind went blank with a jolt.

Director Rhodes stepped forward. As expected of an elder who had been in a position of power for many years, he had a commanding presence. Yet, as a doctor, he also naturally exuded the compassionate air of a healer.

His gaze fell upon Austin Lockwood, and for some reason, a wave of panic surged through Austin.

’No, it’s impossible... I already took care of everyone who knew!’