The Triplets My Ex Never Knew About novel Chapter 264

Chapter 264: Chapter 264: Estelle Lockwood Has Nothing to Do With the Lockwood Family

Director Rhodes said, "Chairman Lockwood, you probably don’t recognize me, but I’m sure you’ve heard of my hospital."

"Crestfall Private Hospital. Does that sound familiar, Chairman Lockwood?"

The expressions on Austin Lockwood’s and Old Mr. Lockwood’s faces changed simultaneously.

"You don’t have to answer, Chairman Lockwood. But surely you’ve heard about the case of the baby girl who went missing from my hospital twenty-five years ago?"

Director Rhodes continued, "At the time, all evidence pointed to one of our staff members. Then, that staff member mysteriously disappeared, and the baby girl was never recovered. What a coincidence, wouldn’t you say, Chairman Lockwood? My hospital lost a baby girl exactly twenty-five years ago, and in that same year, you found a baby girl to take the place of Rose Lowell’s daughter?"

The implication was all too obvious.

It wasn’t just the viewers of the livestream; even the people present were starting to catch on.

Austin Lockwood’s face hardened. "I have no idea what you’re talking about! So many baby girls are born all the time. Twenty-five years ago wasn’t some special day. What does your hospital losing a baby girl have to do with me? Estelle Lockwood is my daughter. You think I wouldn’t know my own daughter?!"

"If that’s the case, then perhaps Chairman Lockwood can explain why that staff member who went missing from my hospital was in frequent contact with you before he ’fled to escape justice.’ And can you also explain why you transferred one million into his account?"

Austin Lockwood choked, his expression faltering. "He was just a friend. When a friend is in trouble, of course I’m going to help."

Director Rhodes nodded. "I see. So, Chairman Lockwood is a man of great loyalty. However, I’m sure everyone is well aware of how much one million was worth twenty-five years ago. For you to go to such lengths for a ’friend’ is truly astonishing."

Austin Lockwood didn’t catch the nuance, but Estelle did. She knew that when Director Rhodes said, "everyone is well aware," he was addressing the audience of the livestream.

Director Rhodes asked, "So, just how close were you and this friend, Chairman Lockwood, for you to give him one million?"

Austin Lockwood’s lips grew pale. "What in the world does this have to do with today’s events!"

"It has everything to do with it." Director Rhodes shook his head. "After that staff member ’fled to escape justice,’ he vanished for over two decades. However, the police recently discovered that the man died long ago. Your best friend is dead, Chairman Lockwood. Don’t you have anything to say?"

"Or perhaps, Chairman Lockwood, you’d like to know what your ’best friend’ left behind before he died?"

Austin Lockwood’s expression instantly soured.

’Dammit, what did that caregiver leave behind?!’

"It’s perfectly understandable if you don’t want to know, Chairman Lockwood. After all, this is your scandal."

Director Rhodes’s voice turned ice-cold. "He confessed everything! He detailed the entire process of how you bribed him to steal the baby girl, including the exact time and place! That baby’s mother had no connection to you whatsoever, which means there’s zero possibility she was your illegitimate daughter! Austin Lockwood, do you have any idea what the penalty is for kidnapping a child?!"

Stolen... Estelle Lockwood was stolen by Austin Lockwood?!

She wasn’t his illegitimate daughter?!

[I’m getting more and more confused...]

[If Estelle Lockwood wasn’t his illegitimate daughter, why would he spend so much money to steal her? What about her biological parents?!]

"You can’t possibly believe your two bodyguards can protect you, can you? You’re far too naive."

Old Mrs. Lowell was stunned. "You... all of you... You stole Estelle Lockwood! Are you Lockwoods even human?!"

Old Mrs. Lowell and Old Mr. Lowell still possessed a conscience, but Rose Lowell had none whatsoever.

By now, Rose Lowell was well and truly a ’Lockwood,’ her mindset perfectly aligned with the family’s. "Mom, that’s enough out of you. So what if she was stolen? That’s just her bad fortune. Otherwise, out of all the baby girls in the world, why was she the one taken?"

Old Mrs. Lowell clutched at her heart and staggered back a step. "You... you..."

’How could her daughter have turned into this? What kind of flesh-eating monsters were these Lockwoods!’

"Now, what kind of talk is that?"

Old Mr. Lockwood’s expression turned predatory, his smile sinister.

"Rose has learned her lesson after all these years. How are her parents still so naive? Haven’t you heard the saying? ’Men die in pursuit of wealth, just as birds die in pursuit of food.’ The two billion is just an appetizer. What we truly want is the Star Group in Estelle Lockwood’s hands."

"But of course, of course!" Old Mr. Lockwood suddenly grew animated, his eyes gleaming with greed.

"And I promise to split this two billion evenly with everyone! Two billion! My dear mother-in-law, don’t you want your share? I’m accepting this bride price for the good of all of us. Who cares if Estelle isn’t a real Lockwood?"

Estelle scoffed. "You’ve made your calculations quite well, Old Mr. Lockwood. The Lockwood Family reaps all the rewards, while the one sacrificed is me—a complete stranger with no ties to your family."