Chapter 252: The Orphanage and the Truth of the Past

Chapter 252: Chapter 252: The Orphanage and the Truth of the Past

After Estelle rattled off her list, Austin Lockwood was clearly at a loss for words. "I... well..."

"Don’t tell me you haven’t thought this through, Chairman Lockwood?" Estelle feigned surprise. "If you haven’t, shouldn’t you get everything arranged *before* you call to inform me?"

Austin Lockwood’s smile faltered. "Estelle, you’re right... How about this? I’ll go book a hotel right now. I’ll make sure to throw the most magnificent welcome banquet for you, and I’ll invite everyone from the Lockwood Group!"

Estelle added nonchalantly, "And the reporters?"

Austin Lockwood laughed sheepishly. "Of course, of course. Since we’re going to publicly announce your identity, everything must be perfect. Don’t worry. From now on, you’ll be the Lockwood family’s one and only daughter, the eldest young lady!"

Estelle hummed. "And what are Noelle Lockwood’s and Ms. Lowell’s opinions on this?"

"They, of course..."

Rose Lowell was about to start screaming, but Noelle Lockwood grabbed her arm. Noelle spoke into the phone, "Estelle, Mom and I have no objections, of course. We’re very happy to welcome you home..."

Austin Lockwood hastily added, "That’s right, Estelle. Just say you’ll come."

Estelle hummed. "I’ll think about it."

After the call ended, Rose Lowell couldn’t hold it in any longer. "Bah! You give her an inch, and she takes a mile! What is with that attitude!"

Austin Lockwood frowned. "That’s enough. Can you please control your temper for the next few days? If you ask me, Estelle’s reluctance to come back is all because of the kind of mother you are. Find some time to go and apologize to her. You absolutely must get her to attend the banquet before next week!"

"Why should I..."

"Do you want that two billion or not?" Austin Lockwood’s face was grim.

It was as if someone had hit the pause button on Rose Lowell’s voice.

Austin Lockwood said, "If Estelle refuses to come, you can just wait for Princess Avery to come after you!"

Rose Lowell’s lips twitched.

Noelle Lockwood said, "Mom, there will be reporters there, and all of the Lockwoods. If Estelle doesn’t show up, what will we do? Dad’s right. This isn’t the time to be petty about such things."

Rose Lowell was persuaded. "Fine, fine, fine, I’ll go."

...

Estelle gave a wry smile. "Chairman Lockwood is certainly generous. A welcome banquet... He probably wants to force me to marry Reno at the party, right in front of all the cameras."

Nathaniel Sloan said, "Since they’re so keen on marrying off their ’dear daughter,’ let’s go."

Estelle paused. "Go where?"

"To the orphanage. Let’s go."

...

Estelle hadn’t expected Nathaniel to bring her to this particular orphanage.

After she was abandoned by the Lockwood family, she had lived in this very orphanage for a time.

To be honest, she didn’t remember that time clearly. It was her grandfather who had told her about it. He said he had found her at this very orphanage and adopted her.

But...

"Back then, Rose Lowell adopted Noelle Lockwood from this same orphanage."

Nathaniel said calmly, "Noelle’s birth date is very close to yours. According to Rose Lowell, she was abandoned right after birth. After a fortune teller calculated her birth chart and determined she was the Lockwood family’s ’Lucky Star,’ Rose took her home."

"On the surface, this seems to have nothing to do with Austin Lockwood. But what if—"

Nathaniel scoffed. "What if Noelle was sent here by Austin Lockwood himself?"

As they reached the orphanage entrance, they heard people talking inside.

"Alright then, Director Carson. I’ll have the funds and supplies sent over."

"Thank you. Truly, thank you so much! The children will be so grateful to you!"

Estelle saw a man who looked like a successful businessman making a donation. Only after he left did Director Carson notice Estelle and Nathaniel.

Both their attire and their presence were out of the ordinary. Director Carson asked, "Are you two... looking to adopt a child?"

Estelle’s lips curved into a smile. "Director Carson."

Director Carson looked at the completely unfamiliar woman, puzzled. "Miss, do you know me?"

Estelle nodded. "I do. When I was a little girl, I was one of the children from this orphanage. I’ve come back today specifically to thank you."

Director Carson was completely baffled. She wracked her brain but couldn’t recall who this woman was. ’A child from my orphanage?’

Estelle truly didn’t have many memories of the orphanage. As far back as she could remember, she had been with her grandfather.

She had never considered that she wasn’t her grandfather’s biological granddaughter. But one time, while passing by this very orphanage, Director Carson had rushed out and shouted her name. That was how Estelle had found out she was an orphan.

She had been heartbroken for a long time because she truly loved her grandfather. Even though he barely had enough to eat or warm clothes to wear in those days, he had always tried his best to give her the best he could. That was why, after learning she was an orphan, she had thought about leaving—so she wouldn’t be a burden to him.

Her grandfather was still a middle-aged man, yet his temples had already turned gray from the strain of caring for her.

’It felt so wrong that she, who wasn’t even his own flesh and blood, was dragging him down.’

In the end, it was her grandfather who said, "Whether we share blood or not doesn’t matter. For us to be together, a grandfather and his granddaughter—that’s fate."

...

Estelle pulled herself from her memories. ’Thinking back on it now, it was strange, wasn’t it? How Director Carson had suddenly rushed out, called her by name, and revealed her ’orphan’ identity.’

’And besides, she was only an infant when she left the orphanage. How could Director Carson have recognized her at a glance back then, but now, after staring at her for so long, she can’t remember who she is?’

Estelle feigned a look of confusion. "Director, you still haven’t remembered me?"

Director Carson was genuinely perplexed. "You are...? I’m getting old. I really can’t recall."

"I see. It seems you really have forgotten. I was at the orphanage for over half a year. When I left, I was barely a year old."

Estelle said unhurriedly.

Director Carson clicked her tongue in gentle reproach. "Silly child, you were only a year old when you left. They say a girl changes immensely as she grows. How could I possibly remember that clearly?"

"So you’re saying you wouldn’t have been able to recognize me when I was two?"

The director said with a sigh, "At one year old, you’re still just a baby. If a child was malnourished and grew slowly, they might not even have been able to talk or walk. How could anyone possibly recognize them from that?"

"I see..."

Estelle asked, feigning confusion, "In that case, why were you able to recognize me when I was ten years old?"

Director Carson chuckled, thinking the girl was rather endearing. She opened her mouth to reply but froze as she registered the key detail—*ten years old*.

A sudden thought struck her, and her face went deathly pale.

"Remember now, Director Carson?"

Estelle smiled sweetly. "Logically speaking, there’s a huge difference between me at one year old and me at ten. How did you manage to recognize me from a distance, with just a single glance?"

"That day, you were just shopping at the supermarket. It took just one look, and you came chasing me out of the store. I actually thought you must have remembered me so clearly that you’d recognize me no matter how much I’d changed."

When Estelle finished, she watched Director Carson with that same wry smile.

But Director Carson’s lips were trembling, and she pointed a shaky finger at Estelle.

"You... you’re..."