["Seriously! How is what the Lockwood family is doing any different from human trafficking?"]
["The Lockwoods probably don’t even know this is a live stream. Fine. I’m dying to see how low they can go!"]
Old Mr. Lockwood indeed didn’t know it was a live stream. He was the best actor in the Lockwood family. At least, Estelle Lockwood had once truly believed that her grandfather was the only person in the entire family who cared about her.
But her life had been swapped, and the source of it all was Old Mr. Lockwood!
Hearing Estelle Lockwood’s words, Old Mr. Lockwood scoffed.
"Oh, Estelle, I’ve always said you’re too naive, child."
"Yes, you’re not related to us. So what? Who’s going to believe you? You say Director Rhodes and the others are your witnesses? No, no, no, Estelle. You underestimate human nature."
Old Mr. Lockwood’s usually benevolent expression suddenly twisted into a hypocritical, vicious sneer, his tone and gestures becoming exaggerated.
"Director Rhodes, I would like you to keep this a secret. Name your price. One million? Oh, no, no, how could one million be enough? Ten million. Yes, ten million!"
Old Mr. Lockwood immediately continued, "Ten million as hush money, and I’ll give you another million just to become friends! Eleven million in total. Director Rhodes, surely you won’t refuse me this courtesy?"
"As for Director Carson and the head nurse, if you want some, that can be arranged! Money is no object. As long as Estelle gets married, money is definitely not an issue!"
Director Rhodes’s gaze remained cold.
Director Carson was so disgusted he almost threw up.
’This family... treating a woman like a piece of merchandise, their mouths filled with nothing but talk of transactions and money. It’s disgusting! Absolutely disgusting!’
After speaking, Old Mr. Lockwood turned back to Estelle Lockwood, his expression vicious. "Estelle, you wouldn’t dare disagree, would you? Hmm?!"
That last word was a roar, like some sort of savage beast—revolting and fierce.
Estelle Lockwood’s expression, however, was placid. "Old Mr. Lockwood, all this talk is pointless."
A faint smile played on her lips, her eyes glinting. "Shouldn’t you be asking Princess Avery for her opinion? What she wants is Austin Lockwood’s ’biological daughter.’ And that’s not me."
Old Mr. Lockwood’s expression froze.
Princess Avery frowned. "Old Mr. Lockwood, what is the meaning of this? We agreed from the very beginning that we wanted Austin Lockwood’s biological daughter. Are you trying to fool me with an impostor?"
"This marriage agreement is void. We’re leaving!"
Old Mr. Lockwood panicked. "Wait, wait!"
Old Mr. Lockwood said fawningly, "Your Highness, only we know the truth about Estelle’s identity. Outsiders have no idea."
"But if you suddenly call off the engagement, and word gets out, wouldn’t you be the one to lose face?"
"It’s only because Austin has no biological daughter; otherwise, we would have definitely married our biological daughter to Mr. Reno. But as it stands, Estelle is the best substitute."
Princess Avery’s brow furrowed. He had clearly hit on the main point—if she just left like this, wouldn’t it be terribly humiliating? After all, rumor had it that the "treasure" was with Austin Lockwood’s biological daughter.
She had come to Crestfall in Innerland with such fanfare, only to find out Estelle Lockwood had no connection to the Lockwood family. Wouldn’t that be broadcasting to the world that she, the great Princess Avery, had been played for a fool?
’In that case...’
Old Mr. Lockwood stroked his beard, smiling. "Estelle, you see? Princess Avery has agreed, and Mr. Reno is very satisfied with you. Just put up with it for a bit, won’t you?"
Estelle Lockwood smiled.
Unhurriedly, she said, "Old Mr. Lockwood, are you sure... that Austin Lockwood has no biological daughter?"
The air suddenly fell silent.
Princess Avery’s brow knitted. "What do you mean?"
Estelle Lockwood shifted into a more comfortable position in her chair, her voice laden with meaning. "I mean that Austin Lockwood does have a biological daughter. And she is right here."
Right here?!
’Besides Estelle Lockwood, who else is there...’
In an instant, Princess Avery’s gaze shifted to Noelle Lockwood.
Besides Estelle Lockwood, the only other woman of a suitable age was Noelle Lockwood.
’If what Estelle Lockwood says is true, then that means...’
Austin Lockwood’s face darkened at once. He stepped in front of Noelle Lockwood. "Estelle Lockwood, stop your damn nonsense!"
Rose Lowell also flew into a rage, surging forward and shrieking, "Bitch! You bitch! You just have to drag Noelle down with you, don’t you?! You bitch! AHHH—"
Rose Lowell was once again blocked by the bodyguard.
She roared like a madwoman, "Let me go! Let go! You! Bodyguard! Don’t you have any sense of right and wrong? Can’t you see that bitch Estelle Lockwood bullying my Noelle?! Let me—"
Nathaniel Sloan calmly took off his hat and wiped the makeup from the corner of his eye.
Rose Lowell froze, stumbling back two steps. "Na-Nathaniel?!"
Instantly, all eyes turned to him.
A trace of panic flashed in Old Mr. Lockwood’s eyes, but he quickly composed himself.
Noelle Lockwood wept, looking wronged and helpless. "Nathaniel..."
Nathaniel Sloan moved to shield Estelle Lockwood, his gaze indifferent as he looked at Princess Avery. He spoke words of apology, but there was not a hint of it in his eyes.
"My apologies, Princess Avery. I’ve arrived uninvited."
Old Mr. Lockwood stood up, feigning displeasure. "Nathaniel, if you wanted to come, you were welcome. Why must you..."
"As for whether Estelle Lockwood is Austin Lockwood’s biological daughter, I believe Director Carson and one other person can prove it."
Director Carson nodded. "Chairman Lockwood, if your memory serves you correctly, you should remember that you personally brought Noelle Lockwood to my orphanage."
As soon as he said this, everyone was stunned, including the other Lockwood relatives.
Even the viewers in the live stream chat were confused.
["Noelle Lockwood is Austin Lockwood’s daughter? Then why was she raised as their adopted daughter?"]
["Isn’t that just making things unnecessarily complicated for Austin Lockwood?"]
Austin Lockwood’s face was grim. "Director Carson, I suggest you think twice."
Director Carson was unafraid. "I have to register every child brought to the orphanage. Back then, Chairman Lockwood, although you repeatedly assured me that you had simply found Noelle Lockwood on the street and had absolutely no connection to her, you probably don’t know that someone else came to the orphanage after you left."
’Someone else? Who could it be?!’
Both Director Carson and Nathaniel Sloan had repeatedly mentioned this person. Austin Lockwood’s mind raced, but for the life of him, he couldn’t think of anyone who fit the description.
"That makes sense," Director Carson said with a nod. "After all, from Chairman Lockwood’s perspective, that person died long ago. How could they possibly be alive?"
The color drained from Austin Lockwood and Noelle Lockwood’s faces—
because they had both thought of the same person!
Director Carson slowly stepped aside, revealing the person behind him.
"AH!"
"What is that? A ghost!"
"My god, her face is so ugly!"
Several of the Lockwood relatives cried out and scrambled to get away.
The woman was hunched over, her face covered in extensive burn scars. One of her eyes was blind, and the other stared with searing hatred at Austin Lockwood, Rose Lowell, and... Noelle Lockwood.
At first, Austin Lockwood didn’t recognize her. He stared at the woman, and then a thought suddenly shot through his mind—’It’s... it’s her?!’