Zachery quietly leaned in and whispered something in Christian’s ear. Christian blinked, surprised. "Will that really work?"

Zachery puffed out his chest. "Young Master, do you still not trust me? Come on, let’s stick to the plan!"

Christian pressed his lips together. "Okay."

Meanwhile, the moment Estelle Lockwood finished speaking, a dead silence fell over the room.

The recent scandal about Noelle Lockwood’s plagiarism had caused a massive uproar.

The Lockwood Group had turned the tables with false accusations, dragging Evernight International into a public relations crisis. Although the issue was now resolved, Evernight International had ultimately suffered an unwarranted disaster.

And yet here was Laura Jennings, Nathaniel Sloan’s mother, being so chummy with the main culprit and even dining with her...

Noticing the stares from the crowd, Noelle Lockwood’s eyes reddened. "Miss Yara, I already explained back then. It was all my agent’s fault. I know you blame me, but I truly didn’t do it."

"I’ve paid the price for it, too. I never imagined you would despise me this much. Miss Yara, I don’t understand... What have I ever done to offend you?"

Noelle Lockwood painted herself as the victim. ’As long as Yara keeps pushing,’ she thought, ’everyone will definitely take my side!’

A brilliant idea suddenly struck her. "Miss Yara, you look so much like my older sister. Could it be... that you actually are my sister? Is that why you hate me so much? But even if you hate me, you can’t disrespect your elders..."

The crowd was stunned.

Quite a few people knew what had happened back then, and they immediately turned to look at Estelle Lockwood’s face... ’She really does look like her!’

It was just that the true heiress back then had been so timid and meek, always afraid to even look up. They hadn’t made the connection between her and this "Yara".

"Noelle Lockwood’s sister... wasn’t she the one who framed Noelle multiple times, attempted murder, and then killed herself by starting a fire?" 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Oh! Now that you mention it, I remember! A lot of people were injured in that fire. That woman was so reckless. Don’t tell me that’s this Yara?"

"I remember, too. As soon as the true heiress returned to the Lockwood family, she tried everything she could to frame Noelle. Noelle was always covered in bruises back then..."

"If this Yara is actually Estelle Lockwood, then I guess it makes sense that she’d hate Noelle."

"How does Estelle Lockwood have the nerve to hate Noelle? The only reason she’s not in prison is because Noelle is too kind-hearted!"

A smile finally returned to Noelle Lockwood’s face. ’This is how it should be,’ she thought. ’Whether she calls herself Yara or Estelle, anyone who gets in my way deserves to die!’

Estelle Lockwood’s expression turned cold, her gaze sharp as a knife.

Laura Jennings also had a sudden realization. "That’s right! Yara, you’re that woman from all those years ago, aren’t you! Well, well. You targeted Noelle five years ago, and you’re targeting her again now! Why didn’t I just kill you back then, you bitch!"

"The Lockwoods took you in, gave you the best of everything, and you turned around and hurt the apple of their eye! Of course you deserved to be kicked out!"

"I can’t believe you’ve held a grudge for five years, still plotting revenge against Noelle. Get out of here! This restaurant belongs to my son, and you are not welcome!"

Noelle Lockwood flashed a victorious smile, staring triumphantly at Estelle.

Estelle scanned the crowd’s faces, then let out a sudden, cold laugh. "Noelle Lockwood, I accuse you of plagiarism, and you immediately try to change the subject. Tell me, who’s the one with the guilty conscience here?"

"I was standing here minding my own business when you insisted on starting trouble. And now you’re trying to slap a label on me for ’disrespecting elders’? What, does the world revolve around you? Is everything you say law?"

Listening to their judgments about her past self, Estelle knew just how many times Noelle had used her tarnished reputation to elevate herself during the five years she’d been away from Crestfall.

’Has she gotten so used to trampling on a dead person’s name that she feels the need to squeeze out every last drop of value from it?’

Estelle’s tone was icy.

"But then again," Estelle continued, "Miss Noelle insists that I am the true Lockwood heiress and that’s why I hate you. I’m rather curious—if I really were the true heiress, why shouldn’t I hate you?"

Noelle’s eyes were red-rimmed, making her look utterly innocent. "Miss Yara, you..."

Estelle’s voice rang out, clear and forceful. "Who was it that usurped the true heiress’s life for eighteen years? Who continued to parade around with the title of ’Miss Lockwood’ even after the real one returned? Who stole the spotlight at the true heiress’s own birthday party? Who mocked the true heiress, calling her a country bumpkin?"

"Wasn’t that all you, Miss Noelle?"

"You’re a fake, with no blood ties to the Lockwood family, yet you stole everything that belonged to the true heiress. And then you have the audacity to claim that because she hates you for it, she’s the vicious one."

"Miss Lockwood, why don’t you ask everyone here... who is truly the vicious one?"

A shiver ran through Noelle as she instinctively glanced at the crowd’s expressions.

Many people were starting to see the light, their expressions growing complicated.

Before, all they knew was that the Lockwood family’s true heiress was vulgar and uncouth, which was why the family despised her.

But now, hearing Estelle’s words, people started to exchange uncertain glances.

"The true heiress was raised elsewhere, so it’s normal she wouldn’t know proper etiquette. But I remember at one banquet, Noelle feigned surprise and asked, ’Sister, you don’t even know basic etiquette?’ Thinking about it now... wow, that’s some serious ’green tea’ behavior!"

"Noelle always said she wanted to give everything back to the true heiress, but in reality, she refused to give up the title of ’Eldest Miss,’ refused to give up her position as the heir, and wouldn’t return the shares..."

"And what about the engagement? Old Mr. Sloan arranged that for Mr. Sloan and the *true* Lockwood heiress. But for years, Noelle has been hinting that she’s the rightful Mrs. Sloan, even calling the true heiress ’the mistress’. Where does she get the nerve?"

Noelle was trembling, her eyes completely red. "N-no... Miss Yara, you don’t understand the situation at all! Back then, my sister..."

"One moment you’re saying I *am* the true Lockwood heiress, and the next you’re saying I don’t understand the situation. Noelle, shouldn’t you get your story straight first?"

Estelle cut her off coolly. "Or are you just looking for any excuse to cause trouble for me?"

Noelle covered her mouth and began to sob.

Laura Jennings couldn’t stand it any longer and bellowed, "Noelle was just showing concern for you, she only wanted to say hello! Who knew you’d be so ungracious! Guards! I told you to throw her out! Is everyone deaf?!"

The manager and several waiters hurried over.

Estelle wasn’t the least bit intimidated. "When picking a fight doesn’t work, you resort to using your power to throw me out. The two of you can spare me the act about ’being concerned’ next time. It’s nauseating to watch."

"How dare you!!!" Laura Jennings was livid, pointing at Estelle and screaming abuses.

"Do you have any idea how much it costs to eat here? Can a poor doctor like you possibly afford it? Get out! Throw her out now!"

Noelle stood demurely behind Laura Jennings, head bowed and silent, as if she were heartbroken.

But Estelle knew this was one of Noelle’s favorite tricks. ’Laura Jennings is the one doing all the screaming, so she, Noelle, can remain the pure, innocent, wilting flower.’

Hah...

Just as the waiters were about to lay hands on her, a distinguished, tall figure appeared.

Nathaniel Sloan had been waiting for Estelle for a long time. When she didn’t arrive, he came out to check on the situation, only to find his mother and Noelle blocking her at the entrance.

The man frowned. He was about to speak when he suddenly saw Estelle’s lips curve into a smile.

Then, heels clicking, she walked over to him with an alluring grace, linked her arm through his, and said airily to the apoplectic Laura Jennings:

"Ms. Jennings is right. I certainly can’t afford a place like this. But... that’s what Mr. Sloan is for, isn’t it?"