Free Web NovelChapter 74: Chapter 74: Revoking Noelle Lockwood’s Privileges
Zane Grant hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "But Mrs. Sloan, the Sloan family, and the Lockwood family... they probably won’t let this go."
"Besides... Nathaniel, if you reveal Christian’s identity, you’ll face a huge public backlash. I know you don’t care about that, but if people start attacking Christian... do you think he can handle it?"
In that fire five years ago, although Estelle Lockwood was the only one who died, more than twenty people—medical staff and patients—were injured.
The hospital also lost a lot of equipment, several wards were completely ruined, and the treatment of hundreds of patients was delayed, which had a profoundly negative impact.
Once it was determined that Estelle Lockwood had committed suicide by arson, nearly everyone cursed her. They cursed her to a terrible fate, said she got what she deserved, and condemned her for harming others even in death.
Given the public outcry at the time, Rose Lowell proposed they announce that Christian was Noelle Lockwood’s child. That way, even when people reviled Estelle Lockwood, it wouldn’t drag Christian into it.
Because of Noelle Lockwood’s celebrity status, the incident blew up online. It’s only been five years, so some people are bound to remember. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
If Christian’s identity were revealed now, he would surely face intense scrutiny. He might not even be able to go to kindergarten.
Besides, there was one other crucial point.
"When Noelle Lockwood found Christian, he’d been left in the fire, barely breathing. Can you tell him that? Tell him that his mother wanted to kill herself and didn’t want him to live, either? So many people saw it; you can’t hide the truth..."
"If Christian found out, how devastated would he be?"
Just as Zane Grant was sighing, Nathaniel Sloan suddenly spoke. "But Christian has grown up."
"What?" Zane Grant clearly didn’t understand.
But Nathaniel Sloan didn’t elaborate.
’Perhaps it was time he actually listened to his child’s opinion.’
’He had hidden the truth that Estelle Lockwood was his biological mother "for Christian’s own good," only for the boy to suffer under Noelle Lockwood’s care... Was that kind of "good" really good for him at all?’
...
「The next day, at Evernight International.」
The perfume launch was underway, and the entire Perfume Department was in a flurry. Their admiration for Estelle Lockwood grew by the day, while Noelle Lockwood was completely ignored.
When she heard Nathaniel was looking for her, Noelle Lockwood finally felt a sense of vindication. She walked toward the CEO’s office under the envious gazes of everyone around her.
"Nathaniel, you were looking for me? Is your headache any better?"
Noelle Lockwood walked in as if she owned the place, reaching out to give Nathaniel Sloan a massage.
Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze was cold as he looked up. He raised a hand, dismissing the secretaries, and then cut straight to the chase.
"You’ve seen how Christian acts around you. Since he doesn’t like you, you are to have less contact with him from now on. I will choose an appropriate time to reveal Christian’s identity. After that, you will no longer be his mother, but his aunt. And you are no longer to visit Imperial Crest."
Noelle Lockwood’s expression froze.
’Did I hear that right? Reveal Christian’s identity? He’s revoking my privilege to come and go from Imperial Crest as I please?!’
The only reason outsiders saw her as the future Mrs. Sloan was because of her "biological son," Christian!
"Nathaniel... isn’t this decision a bit too rash? Christian is still so young. Revealing this now won’t do him any good. Didn’t we agree at the beginning to wait until he was an adult..."
"I’m not asking for your opinion." There was no warmth in Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes.
Noelle Lockwood clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms, but her expression remained one of deep concern.
"But... Nathaniel, I’m worried Christian will be targeted. He’s so young, and he isn’t resilient enough... You know what my sister did was wrong. The people who were injured back then... they still resent her..."
Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze darkened abruptly.
Noelle Lockwood’s heart lurched. She quickly shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "Nathaniel, I don’t mean to blame my sister, of course not. I just mean that *we* can understand why she set that fire to kill herself. We can feel sorry for her."
"But outsiders—the people who were injured, whose treatments were delayed because she set that fire—they won’t understand. They’re still saying it’s good she’s dead... If we reveal Christian’s identity under these circumstances, aren’t we just giving them a new target for all that hate?"
"For all these years, the Lockwood family has been at the center of controversy because of my sister’s arson. But Mom, Dad, and I are adults. We can handle a few nasty comments. But Christian..."
Noelle Lockwood’s expression was filled with worry, as if she truly had Christian’s best interests at heart.
’But inside, she was ecstatic.’
’The hospital arson would forever be the shackle weighing Estelle Lockwood down. Even in death, she’d be reviled by millions!’
’Besides, who cared who really started the fire? Estelle Lockwood was dead, and the Lockwoods had all insisted she had suicidal tendencies. The blame for the arson naturally fell on her.’
’She was dead, anyway. What difference did one more crime to her name make?’
’But Estelle Lockwood was already dead and gone—couldn’t she have just stayed gone? Why would Nathaniel suddenly want to reveal Christian’s identity? Did someone say something to him?!’ fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
"Noelle Lockwood."
Nathaniel Sloan’s voice suddenly cut through Noelle Lockwood’s thoughts.
"I’m only Christian’s father; I can’t control his entire life. Whatever he thinks or does, my only role as his father is to support him. So, I am informing you of this: Christian no longer wants to be your son. Do I need to be any clearer?"
Noelle Lockwood said anxiously, "But he’s just a child! He can’t just make a decision like that..."
"Whatever the consequences of his decision, I will bear them. Do you have any further objections?"
"I..." Noelle Lockwood couldn’t believe it. Even after she’d said all that, Nathaniel was still going to go public!
’No... Even though she hated that little bastard Christian, he was her only ticket to marrying Nathaniel!’
Noelle Lockwood bit her lip, tears streaming down her face. "Nathaniel, since you’ve made your decision, I won’t stand in your way. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said so much. I’s just an outsider, after all..."
With that, she ran out, crying.
Once outside, Noelle Lockwood frantically made a call. "Mom, Nathaniel is casting me aside! What do I do...?"
Rose Lowell was also frantic. "What happened? Damn it! I heard that little wretch Christian Sloan has been getting close to Yara Lockwood lately. Don’t tell me Yara put him up to this!"
"Noelle, you need to find a way to make everyone sympathize with you, and at the same time, crush those two bitches, Estelle and Yara Lockwood!"
Noelle Lockwood fell into thought. ’Is there a way to kill two birds with one stone...?’
Suddenly, an idea struck her. "Mom, I’ve got it!"
After hanging up, Noelle Lockwood went straight to the Perfume Department. She pulled up a data file, secretly took a bottle of perfume, and mailed it to the Lockwood Group.
A week later, the Lockwood Group’s perfume was released, one hour ahead of Star’s.
...
Estelle Lockwood had been swamped with work lately.
This was the first perfume from the collaboration between Star and Evernight International. She had poured her heart and soul into its creation. After signing her own name in the space for the Perfumer, the fragrance went on sale right on schedule.
Her assistant complained beside her, "The Lockwood Group also launched a perfume an hour ago. They’re saying it was created by Noelle Lockwood, and her fans are buying it like crazy. What is she trying to pull? She knew we were launching today... Is she trying to pick a fight with us?"
