Chapter 22: Chapter 22: I Won’t Marry Anyone But Estelle
Laura Jennings was indignant. "I haven’t even—"
"Since you know that Estelle is the only one in my heart, Mother, you should understand that I will never marry anyone else in this lifetime. As for the suicide note, I am fulfilling every single wish she wrote, except for the one where she asked me to marry Noelle ."
Years ago, after Estelle committed "suicide by arson," Nathaniel had found her note.
In it, she wrote that she had let many people down. Plagued by emotional fragility and constant anxiety, she could no longer go on living. She hoped that after her death, Nathaniel would help her take care of the Lockwood family and Noelle. Furthermore, she asked that Noelle raise her child and marry her husband.
Nathaniel had never forgotten her words, but he would not marry Noelle.
Laura was displeased. "Then what do you expect Noelle to do? You can’t just leave things like this. Fine, don’t marry her, but at the very least, you have to kick Yara out..."
"Impossible," Nathaniel said flatly.
Noelle stepped in at the perfect moment. "Mrs. Sloan, it’s alright. Let’s go check on Christian first..."
She then turned to Nathaniel, looking utterly helpless. "Nathaniel, I’m truly sorry. Mrs. Sloan is just too worked up. After all, Dr. Lockwood is indeed an outsider, so it’s only natural for her to be worried."
Seeing that her son refused to listen, Laura gnashed her teeth in anger. "Fine! I’ll wait right here. I want to see exactly what kind of seductress this Yara Lockwood is!"
Laura dragged Noelle along and stormed off to the living room. Nathaniel massaged his temples.
In the living room.
Laura sat on the sofa, huffing with anger. "Tell me, Noelle, where did that seductress come from?"
Tears shimmered in Noelle’s eyes. "Mrs. Sloan, please don’t ask anymore. Nathaniel cares about her very much. He even brought back two children, and they are both connected to Yara..."
"What? There are two little bastards too?" Laura shrieked.
She was just about to march back and demand answers from Nathaniel when she suddenly touched her wrist. Her face instantly changed. "Where is my bracelet?!"
The bracelet was a creation of the internationally renowned designer, Celestar. It was incredibly rare—something money alone couldn’t buy! The designer was highly mysterious and had never made a public appearance, yet all of her pieces were fiercely sought after.
Noelle had specifically gone out of her way to buy it for her, and now it was lost?
"Search! Go find it immediately!"
Twenty minutes later, Luke White knocked on the door of Nathaniel’s study, complaining inwardly. "Mr. Sloan! Mrs. Sloan claims that Miss Mia stole her jewelry. Please go take a look quickly..."
Nathaniel’s eyes darkened.
Meanwhile, at the Star Corporation.
After a meeting, Estelle received a call from Zachery. "What’s wrong, my little cool guy? ...What did you just say?"
On the other end of the line, Zachery sounded frantic. "Mommy, that old witch is insisting that Mia stole some jewelry. But isn’t that bracelet the one you gave to Mia?"
Estelle had designed many pieces under the pseudonym "Celestar." When her latest design came out, the scarcity of the materials meant it was released as a limited edition.
As the designer, she had kept one for herself. When Mia said she liked it, she gave it to her.
Now, Laura had snatched the bracelet away and was adamantly accusing Mia of theft.
Even after five years apart, her former mother-in-law was still as fond of twisting the truth as ever!
"Mommy understands. I’ll head back right away. Can you protect Mia for me, my cool guy?"
"Don’t worry, Mommy!"
Zachery hung up the phone and immediately turned around. "Young master, we need to hurry back to the living room! What if that old wi—uh, your grandmother... what if she hits Mia?"
Just moments ago, it was Christian who had quietly pulled Zachery aside, urging him to call Estelle.
Christian nodded. "Don’t be afraid. I’ll protect Mia too."
Back in the living room.
All the servants kept their heads bowed in dead silence.
Trembling with fury, Laura clutched the bracelet and pointed right at Mia’s nose in exasperation. "A bastard is a bastard! How dare you steal from me?!"
Mia thought this woman was completely deranged.
The bracelet was clearly a gift from her mommy. She had kept it in a box by her bedside. But just now, a group of people had barged into her room, rummaged through everything, and taken it away.
And then this old witch had the nerve to accuse her of stealing!
Was there no justice in this world? Were robbers not even bothering to hide their true nature anymore?
Mia was speechless. "This is clearly mine."
Laura grew even more enraged. "You’re still trying to argue?! Do you have any idea that this bracelet is a global limited edition? You claim it’s yours? Have you no shame!"
Noelle stood to the side, anxiously trying to persuade her. "Mrs. Sloan, please don’t get too worked up. It’s possible the child saw something shiny, liked it in the moment, and just took it.
"This is probably just how Dr. Lockwood normally raises children, so..."
"You’re still speaking up for her?!" Laura’s face twisted fiercely. "I heard Yara brought you here? Whether you and Yara are mother and daughter or not, anyone associated with her is nothing but trash!"
Mia almost rolled her eyes to the back of her head.
Who was Noelle trying to disgust! What did she mean by, "this is probably just how Dr. Lockwood normally raises children"? Wasn’t she just indirectly telling the old witch that Mommy condoned theft?
But she hadn’t stolen anything!
Mia wasn’t panicked in the slightest. She had learned a bit of divination from her grandpa. Doing a quick calculation on her fingers, she figured out that the jewelry Laura had bought was actually a complete fake.
Mia curled her lips. Using a knockoff to frame someone? She wasn’t afraid of it backfiring. "Old madam, you claim I stole it. Do you have any proof? Or rather, do you have any proof to show that you actually bought this bracelet?"
"I found it in your room! How is that not proof?"
Laura sneered. "Noelle, she wants to see the purchase record. Show it to her!"
Noelle’s heart skipped a beat, and she secretly bit her lip.
She had bought a fake to begin with. If she took out the purchase record, a simple check would reveal the truth... But there was no way Mia could possibly understand these things.
"Alright, Mrs. Sloan. Just wait a moment, I’ll go get it..."
"Mia." Nathaniel walked down the stairs. His dark gaze swept past Noelle before he quickly stepped in front of Mia. Only then did he turn his head, his brows deeply furrowed.
"Mother, what are you doing?"
Laura was still fuming. "What am I doing? This little mongrel stole from me, what do you think I’m doing! You just had to bring such a poorly raised wretch into our home..."
Mia frowned solemnly. "Madam, with you constantly throwing around the word ’mongrel,’ I’d say when it comes to being poorly raised, you definitely have the upper hand."
"You—!!" Laura’s eyes widened in shock. "Look at this, Nathaniel! Not only does she steal, but she also mocks me! Kick her out! It’s either her or me in this house!"
"Mother!" Nathaniel abruptly turned around. "That’s enough!"
Laura refused to back down. "I am your mother! You’re condoning this little mongrel stealing from me! Do you even respect me as your mother anymore..."
"Accusing Mia of theft without a shred of evidence. My, what an impressive display of authority, Mrs. Sloan!"
A cold female voice interrupted Laura’s rant.
Laura subconsciously looked over, her eyes instantly flying wide open.
...Estelle? No, she didn’t look exactly like Estelle.
"You’re Yara? These two little mongrels are the children you brought? She stole my jewelry. For Nathaniel’s sake, I won’t call the police, but I must receive an apology! Since you are their guardian, you can kowtow to me twice!"
Estelle’s smile gradually turned icy. "Mia said she didn’t steal it.
"If Mrs. Sloan wants proof, I can provide it. But if it ultimately proves that Mia didn’t steal anything, and that you, Mrs. Sloan, framed her..." Estelle’s tone grew meaningful. "...Shouldn’t you be the one kneeling down and kowtowing to me?"