Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Nathaniel Sloan and Estelle Lockwood Arrived Together
On that ’suicide note’...
Written in Estelle Lockwood’s voice, it contained page after page of vitriol directed at Noelle Lockwood, cursing her to die. The viciousness of the language was chilling.
’How could someone curse their own sister in such a vicious tone?’
’And to even use her own death to force the Lockwood Family to drive Noelle Lockwood out!’
The note also stated that if Rose Lowell and Austin Lockwood couldn’t find it in their hearts to throw Noelle Lockwood out this time, Estelle would kill herself in front of everyone, ensuring the Lockwood Family would be scorned forever!
The onlookers couldn’t help but murmur amongst themselves. No wonder everyone said Estelle Lockwood had a vicious heart. Even though she was the true daughter of the family, no one liked her.
People had wondered about it. What kind of parents would despise their own biological daughter? Just because she had been raised elsewhere for eighteen years?
But being raised elsewhere was the parents’ fault. What did that have to do with the daughter?
That was why, back when the Lockwood Family first showed favoritism to their adopted daughter and disdain for their biological one, quite a few people had spoken up for Estelle Lockwood.
But now, it seemed the saying was true: every pitiable person has a detestable side. Estelle Lockwood might be the biological daughter, but Noelle Lockwood had lived with the Lockwood Family for many years. How could they just cast her aside?
Rose Lowell covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably. "Back then, we wronged Noelle for Estelle’s sake, but we never imagined Estelle would not only be ungrateful but would escalate her demands!"
"Everyone says we mistreated our own daughter for our adopted one, but... but it wasn’t what we wanted!"
Noelle Lockwood, as if recalling a past too painful to bear, silently shed tears.
Austin Lockwood sighed. "Fortunately, Estelle came to her senses in the end. She realized she had been too cruel to Noelle, so she left a final passage in her suicide note, hoping we would treat Noelle better in the future."
"This suicide note was found in the hospital. After she finished writing it, a fire broke out..."
Austin Lockwood’s face was etched with pain. "I know it was our fault as a family. We’re the reason Estelle felt things were so unfair, the reason she made such a terrible mistake..."
Noelle Lockwood looked fragile and wronged. "Father, it’s not your fault. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have stayed with the Lockwood Family..."
The crowd below could barely stand to listen anymore.
The pregnant woman from five years ago was especially filled with righteous indignation. "How is this your fault! It’s obviously Estelle Lockwood who was petty and narrow-minded! Using suicide to threaten her own parents—someone like that should have died long ago!"
"It would have been one thing if she just died on her own, but she had to drag the rest of us into it! She deserves to rot in hell!"
Out of the crowd’s sight, a triumphant smile crept onto Noelle Lockwood’s face.
’See, Estelle Lockwood? So what if you were still alive?’
’Now, you can only be a ’dead woman’!’
’Everything the Lockwood Family has will be mine, including Nathaniel!’
Just then, someone voiced their curiosity. "I heard Estelle Lockwood was Nathaniel Sloan’s ex-wife, right? And the biological mother of Young Mr. Sloan. How come Mr. Sloan hasn’t shown his face on the anniversary of her death?"
Noelle Lockwood bit her lip, her expression a feigned plea. "Today is the anniversary of Estelle’s death. Please, everyone, let’s not talk about these things..."
Rose Lowell sighed. "Ah, Estelle... It’s not right of me to say this now that she’s gone, but in truth, Nathaniel was forced into that marriage!"
The crowd below reacted to this new information.
"So, Mr. Sloan must have despised her too!"
"Her parents were disappointed in her, her husband despised her. Estelle Lockwood’s life really must have been meaningless."
"It seems Mr. Sloan truly cared for Miss Noelle back then. It’s all because Estelle Lockwood interfered and cruelly tore the two lovers apart!"
...
Seeing the ’suicide note’ on display, Estelle Lockwood’s smile deepened as her fingertips gently traced Nathaniel Sloan’s Adam’s apple.
"So, Mr. Sloan, this little thing... is what convinced you I ’committed suicide,’ hm?"
Nathaniel Sloan’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was hoarse, as if he were holding something back. "I’m sorry."
’Of course, that wasn’t the only piece of evidence. There was also a video of Estelle Lockwood. She’d looked into the camera, saying she couldn’t go on, crying as she begged me to take care of Noelle Lockwood.’
’I couldn’t describe the heart-wrenching pain of watching that video. I never even got to see Estelle’s body.’
’All I could do was numbly carry out her ’dying wish.’’
’Only then did the ache in my heart lessen, just a little.’
’It’s not that I never considered the possibility that Estelle was still alive.’
’I searched everywhere, but every lead ended in disappointment.’
’It’s just...’
’But there’s no point in saying any of this. It would just sound like I’m making excuses.’
Estelle Lockwood tutted, her eyes turning sultry. "An apology... But Mr. Sloan, we’re all adults here. Sometimes, apologies are useless. You need to show me some real action."
She raised her hand, her soft palm gently caressing Nathaniel Sloan’s face. "Mr. Sloan, they’re all wondering... as my ex-husband, why didn’t you attend the anniversary of my death?"
Nathaniel Sloan lowered his gaze, taking her hand in his and pressing the back of it against his cheek. "Mrs. Sloan. Not ex-husband. We’re not divorced."
Estelle Lockwood raised an eyebrow.
Before she could speak, Nathaniel Sloan continued, "Mrs. Sloan is still alive. Why would she need a death anniversary?"
Estelle Lockwood propped her chin on her hand. "That makes sense. I am still alive, so what do I need a death anniversary for?"
Nathaniel Sloan opened the car door and murmured his agreement, his expression calm. "Let’s go."
...
Listening to the crowd hurl one insult after another at Estelle Lockwood, Noelle Lockwood couldn’t help but feel a surge of glee.
She shook her head gently, her expression feigning sorrow. "Please, everyone, don’t say any more. Estelle loved Nathaniel right up until the moment she passed away. She was already so pitiful, unable to win his love."
"As for Nathaniel not being here today... it’s not that he doesn’t care about Estelle. It’s just... it’s just..."
Noelle Lockwood faltered, as if she couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.
The crowd understood, their eyes filling with disdain.
In the end, Estelle Lockwood’s life was a complete failure. On the anniversary of her death, neither her husband nor her child had bothered to show up!
"Alright, alright, let’s not talk about this anymore. Moving on..."
Noelle Lockwood put on her usual gentle and understanding expression, but as she began to speak, a cold male voice suddenly cut her off—
"I wasn’t even aware that I had cast Estelle aside like a worn-out shoe. But it seems Miss Lockwood is quite clear on the matter."
The entire venue fell silent.
That voice... was Nathaniel Sloan’s?!
Every head in the room snapped around, faces etched in shock. ’Mr. Sloan actually came to his ex-wife’s death anniversary?’
Noelle Lockwood’s expression froze and her face paled for a moment before she broke into a "pleasantly surprised" smile. "Nathaniel, you’re here! I thought you weren’t coming... Oh, I’m sorry, listen to me rambling. My sister would be so happy that you came..."
"Nathaniel, I was just about to offer incense for my sister. We explained the truth to everyone today... it’s our way of atoning for her sake. Nathaniel, please don’t blame us."
Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze was coolly indifferent; he said nothing.
Instead, a woman’s voice drifted out from behind him.
"Atoning... So, are you saying that if Estelle Lockwood could hear this from beyond the grave, she should be thanking Miss Noelle?"
Noelle Lockwood’s expression instantly froze, the smile wiped clean from her face—!!
’Estelle Lockwood?!’
