Chapter 524
Chapter 524
Natalia and Magnus stepped out of the grand manor and prepared to instruct the staff to arrange for Rowell's funeral, but they were greeted by a wall of servants and bodyguards blocking the villa's entrance.
Lydia glared at Natalia with venom. “Natalia, it was your greed for the inheritance that killed Rowell. All the servants in this mansion can testify against you. Just wait until the Queen has you thrown in jail!"
Jonas couldn't help but laugh. The old lady was quite the character, pinning such a grand crime on his mother in the blink of an eye.
Magnus looked at Lydia and the servants with an icy stare. "Anyone who doesn't want to end up dead should get moving to take care of Mr. Rowell's affairs. He has passed away.”
All the servants’ eyes widened as they looked from Magnus back to Lydia.
Remembering that the Queen would be arriving soon, Lydia's fear of Magnus subsided. "Magnus, Rowell was alive and well before you arrived. Why is it that he died as soon as you showed up? You pressured him to death!"
Magnus didn't respond with words. Instead, he stepped closer to Lydia, towering over her with a chilling gaze. "Rowell was suffering from cancer, hanging on by a thread just to see my wife. Lydia, your self-directed drama is nothing short of foolish.”
Lydia stumbled backward, her gaze shifting to Natalia. "It's her. She's the one who rushed over here. She was so eager to get her hands on Rowell’s estate. When Rowell was ill before, | never saw her visit him once."
"Her intentions are crystal clear, she's here to fight over Rowell’s wealth!" Lydia declared loudly.
Faced with Lydia's accusations, Natalia trembled with rage. It was all because of this woman! Had Lydia not tormented Natalia’s mother back then, would she have ever considered taking her own life?
With fury, Natalia threw the will that Rowell had prepared into Lydia's face. "| don't want a penny of your possessions!" Lydia snatched the will, her face shaking with anger. Instinctively, she tried to tear it apart. "This worthless will. | never saw it!"
Before she could rip it, Magnus coldly interjected, "Ah, thinking of destroying it? It's useless, you know. These documents have been notarized by a lawyer, and it's not the only copy!"
Lydia's face almost turned blue. She was caught between tearing the will up and not, staring helplessly at it, speechless. "The Queen has arrived!"
The announcement of the Queen's arrival echoed from outside, and Alice hurried to Lydia's side. "Mummy, I've managed to bring the Queen over."
"Good, come here." Lydia's face regained some color as she motioned to Alice and whispered something into her ear. Alice nodded, gave Natalia a sharp glance, and quickly left the scene.
Natalia and Magnus didn't pay them any mind as they waited calmly for the Queen's presence. It seemed Lydia was willing to pull the Queen into this to prevent Natalia from claiming the estate.
Suddenly, Natalia changed her mind. She'd truly not cared for the McKinney family's wealth before, but now Lydia was guarding it so fiercely, and if Natalia didn't fight for her inheritance, she'd be letting Lydia's slander go to waste!
Having made up her mind, Natalia's gaze hardened. It was time to make Lydia, who had tormented Natalia’s mother all those years ago, pay.Material © of NôvelDrama.Org.
Magnus stood by Natalia, gently taking her hand and intertwining their fingers, silently offering her encouragement.
The Queen entered the sitting room with a commanding presence, her gaze sweeping across everyone before she took her seat and asked Lydia in a cold voice, “I've been informed that Duke Rowell has passed away, has he?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, you must deliver us justice!" Lydia sobbed crocodile tears.
Pointing accusingly at Natalia, she continued, "It's all because of her. If she hadn't come back to demand the estate from the duke, he... he might not have left us so suddenly... Your Majesty, please, you must help us!"
Natalia faced the Queen's questioning gaze without fear. "Your Majesty, it's true that | am Rowell's illegitimate daughter and our relationship has been estranged over the years.”
“However, on his deathbed, he had a change of heart and called me back, begging for my forgiveness for the mistakes of his past. He has left the entire family inheritance to me. This is the will my father handed to me just before he passed. Please, Your Majesty, take a look."
With that, Natalia approached Lydia, snatched the will from her hands, and presented it to the Queen.
The Queen examined the document closely. "Indeed, this appears to be Duke Rowell's signature."
Sensing something amiss from the Queen's tone, Lydia shrieked, "Your Majesty, signatures can be f esq The duke’ ogy to bAFelyroo ,and Prins woman is already coveting his estate. They entered his room and came out announcing his death, claiming he left them everything. How can anyone believe this?!" Please read the original content at NovelDrama.Org.
The Queen furrowed her brow slightly, turning to Natalia. "When you entered, the duke was still alive, is that correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. When | entered, my father was clinging to his last breath, longing to hear my forgiveness. Only after | told him | held no hatred in my heart did he pass away in peace." Natalia recounted the events, her eyes welling up with tears.
As soon as Natalia finished speaking, Lydia jumped in. "Listen to her, Your Majesty! She admits jahgrni@ dir der dyke Bethe her arrival, he was perfectly fine, and upon her arrival, he died. Please, Your Majesty, arrest this murderer before she brings harm to others!" Please read the original content at NovelDrama.Org.
"Silence!" A royal aide by the Queen's side glared at Lydia. "The Queen is inquiring about the matter. You have no place to speak!"
Lydia's face flushed with embarrassment and she quickly lowered her head, staying silent.
The Queen, having heard Lydia's outburst and observing Natalia, felt torn. She admired Natalia's talent; her jewelry designs were irresistible treasures.
Could such a gentle and graceful girl, brimming with spirit, ever be the one to drive her own father to his death just to seize the family fortune?
At that moment, a cry of alarm ripped through the silence from Rowell's bedroom. "Daddy? Daddy, w happene 1g yourohiyGo , why dootr' ok like this? Daddy, please, tell me who did this to you. | swear, even if it costs me my life, | will get justice for youl" Alice's sobs filled the air, her voice laced with desperation and shock. Please read the original content at NovelDrama.Org.
Her cries sent a shiver down the spines of everyone gathered in the living room, and they hurried towards Rowell's bedroom.
Stepping through the doorway, the Queen and Natalia couldn't help but gasp. Lying on the bed, Rowell's body was covered in ghastly shades of blue and black, giving him a sinister and horrifying appearance.