Chapter 124: Chapter 124: This Fire Won’t Be Hastily Closed Like the One Five Years Ago

Nathaniel Sloan’s fingertips gently brushed over her eyes and brow, coming to rest on the small scar at her temple.

The scar wasn’t obvious; her hair usually hid it from view.

Zane Grant had said it was a postoperative scar from plastic surgery, but as Nathaniel reviewed her files, he discovered the scar had two layers—meaning, she already had a scar there before the cosmetic procedure.

’How did she escape that fire five years ago? How much did she suffer? How badly was she burned that she had no choice but to get plastic surgery?’

’And five years ago, I wasn’t by her side.’

Nathaniel Sloan slowly closed his eyes. ’Estelle Lockwood...’

The two children Noelle Lockwood claimed had been ’burned to death’ were now alive and well.

The Estelle Lockwood who ’wanted to commit suicide,’ according to Noelle, returned five years later, and her first order of business was to acquire the Lockwood Group.

The Christian whom Noelle claimed she’d ’gone through hell and back’ to save, was actually disgusted by her.

The Lockwoods claimed they were never biased, yet they refused to properly investigate the fire that had supposedly killed their own daughter, instead pinning all the blame on Estelle Lockwood and hastily closing the case.

’Was Noelle Lockwood telling the truth? Did Estelle Lockwood really want to take her own life back then?’

’And...’

Nathaniel Sloan suddenly remembered the phone call he’d had with Estelle Lockwood right before the fire—

At the time, Noelle Lockwood and Laura Jennings had gone on a trip. Noelle was assaulted and became pregnant. Unaware of the father’s identity, she nevertheless insisted on keeping the child.

And to make it up to Noelle, Laura Jennings publicly declared that the child was Nathaniel Sloan’s, thereby protecting Noelle’s reputation.

Noelle Lockwood and Estelle Lockwood were pregnant at the same time and had similar due dates.

That day, Noelle Lockwood and Rose Lowell had shown up at his door in tears, claiming Estelle Lockwood had pushed Noelle down the stairs, causing a pregnancy complication and endangering the baby.

The Evernight Group headquarters was swarming with reporters, and with a major star like Noelle Lockwood showing up, the news spread like wildfire.

Online and in the real world, everyone was lambasting Estelle Lockwood, the "useless Mrs. Sloan," who took her anger out on her sister because she couldn’t win her own husband’s affection.

Nathaniel Sloan could only focus on calming Noelle Lockwood down first, so he accompanied her to the hospital.

And after that... one misstep led to a cascade of errors.

’Estelle Lockwood must have been so disappointed back then.’

She had said "goodbye" to him on the phone, and after that, they truly never met again.

If she hadn’t decided to return for revenge against Noelle and the Lockwood Family, she might never have come back. All Nathaniel Sloan would have been left with was that single word: ’goodbye.’

Nathaniel Sloan’s heart gave a sudden lurch.

"Nathaniel." KNOCK, KNOCK. Zane Grant rapped on the door from outside.

This was Zane Grant’s private luxury hospital. Estelle Lockwood had been placed in the most secluded VIP suite, where fans couldn’t possibly reach her.

"I came to check on her."

Zane Grant walked in, glanced at the medical instruments, and frowned. "Normally, she should have woken up by now. If she doesn’t come to soon, I’m worried..."

He let the sentence hang. "As for the Lockwoods, Rose Lowell is in an uproar and wants to go after Yara Lockwood, but Austin Lockwood hasn’t made a move."

Nathaniel Sloan’s eyes turned icy. "Rose Lowell certainly is fiercely protective of her daughter."

Five years ago, when Nathaniel Sloan was still pushing for an investigation, it was Rose Lowell who had gone to the police privately. She provided a pile of so-called ’evidence’ and, speaking as her mother, claimed Estelle Lockwood had long shown suicidal tendencies. She even said Estelle had talked about wanting to commit suicide by setting a fire in a crowded place. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

With no other evidence, these two so-called ’relatives,’ Rose Lowell and Noelle Lockwood, adamantly insisted that Estelle Lockwood had brought it all on herself. Adopting the posture of an arsonist’s grieving family, they went around offering ’apologies and compensation’ to everyone affected.

As a result, everyone concluded that Estelle Lockwood must have committed suicide by arson. Otherwise, why would her own mother and sister be apologizing and offering compensation?

After that, Estelle Lockwood’s reputation was destroyed in an instant. Even in death, she was reviled by the masses. Noelle Lockwood seized the opportunity, publicly claiming to be Christian’s biological mother and sanctimoniously stating it was to protect him from harm.

Zane Grant couldn’t understand what kind of spell Noelle Lockwood had cast on Rose Lowell. "Also," he added, "Mrs. Sloan isn’t one to be outdone. She caused a huge scene at Star, accusing the entire Star Group of being murderers..."

Nathaniel Sloan’s gaze darkened. "Have someone send her back to Sloan Manor. If she refuses, restrain her and drag her away."

"Also, assist the police with their investigation into the cause of the fire. The origin point was right near Estelle... I mean, Yara Lockwood and Noelle Lockwood. Find out if anyone else was near them at the time."

Nathaniel Sloan enunciated each word. "I believe she wasn’t the arsonist. Therefore, there have to be clues."

Zane Grant nodded. "Don’t worry. This time won’t be like that last fire... It won’t be so carelessly wrapped up."

After Zane Grant left, Nathaniel Sloan glanced at his phone, which was flooded with messages. He read through a report sent by Luke White, then saw a flurry of frantic texts from Laura Jennings.

Nathaniel Sloan ignored them completely, placing the phone back on the table before returning to the bedside.

She still hadn’t woken up. ’Why? Are you unwilling to wake up?’

The man leaned down gently, pressing a cherished kiss to her lips before resting his forehead against hers.

"Estelle Lockwood, wake up, please?"

...

Estelle Lockwood felt as if she were adrift in a void.

She couldn’t see anything clearly, feeling only that everyone and everything was rapidly receding from her.

Raging flames surrounded her, and she felt herself suffocating.

This was the second time she’d been engulfed in flames. The first time, she had escaped by a stroke of luck. What about this time?

Estelle Lockwood realized it was a dream, and she was trapped inside it.

The vicious faces of Rose Lowell and Noelle Lockwood appeared before her, while Laura Jennings’s disdainful insults rang in her ears.

She saw doctors, nurses, patients’ families, and strangers on the internet and on the street, all pointing and screaming at her. They asked why she set fire to a hospital. They asked if she could just die without making a mess. They asked why she hadn’t just died when the Lockwood Family abandoned her. Why did she have to come back and hurt people?

It was as if Estelle Lockwood had been transported back five years, becoming her former, cowardly self.

’What did I do wrong?’ she wanted to scream.

’I didn’t set any fire. I only returned to the Lockwood Family because I longed for a family’s love. I married Nathaniel Sloan because we had a marriage contract.’

’Noelle Lockwood usurped my place, stole my husband, and tried to burn me to death.’

’So why am I the one being blamed in the end?’

For the past five years, everyone had called her strong. She had fooled others, and she had even fooled herself.

But in the end, thrown into a fire once more, she was just as helpless and lost as ever.

Estelle Lockwood didn’t understand. In her dream, she crouched down and hugged her head. The impenetrable facade she had maintained for five years shattered in an instant. Ever since her grandfather passed away, it felt like she was utterly alone. No one would stop for her, no one would stay by her side, no one would care about her or fight for her.

...

「In the real world.」

Old Mr. Kendrick and Old Mrs. Kendrick took the first available flight. Mr. Kendrick and Mrs. Kendrick put their work on hold. Second Young Mr. Kendrick canceled two variety show appearances. All of them, without prior arrangement, rushed back to Crestfall as fast as they could.

Christian had cried his eyes red. Mia couldn’t stop whimpering. Zachery’s eyes were rimmed with red; tears streamed down his face as he argued with people online.

Nathaniel Sloan had a good idea of what was tormenting her heart.

He kept his forehead pressed against hers and spoke softly.

"Estelle Lockwood, so many people care about you. You’ve never been alone."