Chapter 133: Oh No, Luna’s in Trouble
"Forget it. That Vincent Holt is an idiot. He deserved to get thrown out!" Lana Sterling’s attitude shifted instantly.
When she was Jane Lancaster’s age, she was even more brazen. She’d blow up at anyone who provoked her.
Pauline Shaw: "..."
’Weren’t you here to put Jane Lancaster in her place? How could you switch sides so easily?’
’What a waste of my anticipation!’
Jane Lancaster simply smiled, saying nothing. She reached over to the nearby bar, picked up a fruit-flavored cocktail, and handed it to Lana Sterling.
Lana Sterling snapped out of it. ’No, I’m here to stand up for my idol. I can’t let her distract me so easily.’
"Then what about your uncle? He’s your elder, after all. Can’t you just let it go for his sake? And to say you’d have him thrown out too... Is that how a junior should speak to her elders?"
’Besides, I don’t really have any elders, so this won’t come back to bite me.’
Lana Sterling recalled Clayton Lowell’s instructions, thought for a moment, and added, "And you’re abusing your authority, borrowing Caleb Lowell’s bodyguards to kick out his own uncle. If Caleb gets angry later, don’t expect any of us to defend you."
All eyes in the room turned to Jane Lancaster.
Jane Lancaster had been so uncompromising just moments ago. Everyone had assumed she had Caleb Lowell’s backing.
But if Caleb Lowell was unaware, and Jane Lancaster had schemed to borrow the bodyguards, then the situation was entirely different.
Seeing Jane Lancaster lower her head without a word, Lana Sterling grew smug, guessing she was finally scared.
"Since you know you were wrong, you should call your uncle to apologize and ask him to come back. We can all help you convince him."
Others chimed in to persuade her.
"That’s right. Why don’t you just give him a call?"
"If you both give a little, can’t everyone just get along?"
"Your uncle is good-natured and dotes on the younger generation. He’ll definitely take the olive branch."
Jane Lancaster sighed. "Alright, I’ll call my uncle and apologize. But can I borrow your phone, Auntie Sterling? I’m afraid my uncle is so mad he won’t answer a call from me."
Pauline Shaw watched her with suspicion, doubting she was really this compliant.
Lana Sterling dialed the number. As soon as the call connected, she hurriedly said, "Shane, Jane Lancaster wants to apologize to you."
With that, she handed the phone to Jane Lancaster.
Jane Lancaster: "Uncle, are you still near the hotel?"
Clayton Lowell: "So now you realize you were wrong? Too late! I’ve already left in my car!"
’You want me to come back? Not unless you beg me!’
Jane Lancaster: "Oh, really? I thought you asked Auntie Sterling to mediate because you were too proud to admit you wanted to come back. In that case, never mind."
On the other end of the line, Clayton Lowell stared at the disconnected call, about to explode with rage.
’Too proud? Wanted to come back? What is she talking about?’
’This is outrageous! Does she think I need her to beg me?’
Clayton Lowell called back immediately. "Jane Lancaster, do you really think Caleb Lowell doesn’t have the guts to call off your engagement?"
Jane Lancaster reminded him softly, "Uncle, you’re on speakerphone. You might want to lower your voice."
’What’s the use of empty threats? If you have the guts, do something!’
Clayton Lowell, in his rage, couldn’t care less about being on speakerphone. All he wanted was to put her in her place.
"You’re just scared Caleb Lowell’s feelings for you have changed, aren’t you? Well, let me tell you, you’re right! For a long time now, all he’s felt for you is responsibility, not love! He just pities you!"
’What woman could withstand a blow like that? Does she really think I can’t get the better of her?’
Jane Lancaster looked up at Caleb Lowell. "Zion, is what Uncle said true?"
She had undeniably beautiful eyes. Her gaze, always so certain and gentle, had once illuminated the darkness in his heart.
Caleb Lowell thought of the vows they’d made, his heart stirring slightly. "No," he said with conviction.
When Clayton Lowell heard that voice, he froze. ’Caleb is there too?’
’That little bitch! How dare she set me up!’
"Caleb, she’s deliberately trying to drive a wedge between us! Don’t believe her!"
Caleb Lowell took the phone off speaker and walked aside. "Uncle, you’re not a young man anymore. Can’t you act like an elder for once?"
Clayton Lowell tried to argue, but Caleb Lowell cut him off. "If you don’t want to come to the engagement banquet tomorrow, Uncle, then you don’t have to."
Clayton Lowell’s eyes widened. Caleb was actually banning him from the engagement banquet?
’Is this what they mean by "a new wife makes you forget your own family"?’
’Bastard!!!’
Caleb Lowell hung up, walked over, and handed the phone back to Lana Sterling. "Thank you."
Jane Lancaster looked as if she was questioning her entire existence.
’How did he get here so quickly? He heard me deliberately provoke Clayton Lowell and he’s not even angry?’
’This isn’t right. Given his personality, my disrespect for an elder, combined with abusing my connection to his bodyguards to kick people out... this should have crossed a major line for him.’
’Doesn’t he love me anymore? I’ve given you more than enough excuses! You can justifiably call off the engagement!’
’Everyone would be thrilled to see it happen, and I’d become the laughingstock of our social circle.’
Caleb Lowell felt a wave of relief. ’So that’s why she’s been so extreme lately,’ he thought. ’She was afraid I didn’t love her anymore.’
Lana Sterling took back her phone, ready to explode. "How could you do that?"
She was furious. How could Jane pretend to apologize, only to turn around and stab her in the back!
’This is too much! My idol won’t speak to me for ages now.’
Caleb Lowell stepped in front of Jane Lancaster, shielding her. "She’s the guest of honor today. She can do as she pleases."
Lana Sterling was furious, but she was still intimidated by him, so she resentfully shut her mouth.
Caleb Lowell turned to look at Jane Lancaster. "Jay, if anyone gives you trouble in the future, you have to tell me immediately. After all, anyone who messes with you is messing with me."
"Also, these two bodyguards will be assigned to you from now on." ’That should put her mind at ease, right?’ he thought.
Jane Lancaster kept her head down and said nothing. Her inner voice was silent, too. He guessed she was deeply moved, just too embarrassed to cry in front of everyone.
His assistant’s phone rang again. Caleb Lowell knew he didn’t have much time.
He said to his assistant, "It’s fine. Tell them to wait ten minutes."
Jane Lancaster finally looked up. "Do you have something urgent to attend to?"
"A problem came up with a very important project. I have to get back for a meeting to deal with it. I’m afraid I can’t stay with you much longer," Caleb Lowell said gently.
Jane Lancaster: "Then you should hurry back to the office! Don’t let your work be delayed!"
Caleb Lowell: "It’s fine. It won’t hurt them to wait ten minutes. I want to spend a little more time with you."
The onlookers had expressions that screamed, ’They’re so sweet!’
Pauline Shaw looked at her cousin, but she just felt a chill run through her.
’So her cousin really would turn his back on his own family for Jane Lancaster.’
’Didn’t he see that video? Didn’t he learn the truth? How could he still be fooled by Jane Lancaster’s clumsy tricks?’
Caleb Lowell’s phone suddenly rang. "Is it your office, urging you to go back?" Jane Lancaster asked.
Just then, Caleb Lowell answered the call.
"Zion, it’s bad! Something’s happened to Luna!" Chloe Dave’s anxious voice came through the phone.
Caleb Lowell froze for a second. Just as he was about to hang up, Jane Lancaster hit the speakerphone button.
"What happened to Luna?"
"She said she was leaving for work. I went to get the car to give her a ride, but when I came back, she was gone! And her phone’s not picking up!"
"It’s a straight road with no turnoffs. I’ve looked up and down it several times, but she’s just... gone!"
A bad feeling crept into Jane Lancaster’s heart.
’This can’t be right. Wasn’t Luna Morgan supposed to be kidnapped at the engagement banquet tomorrow? Has the timeline moved up?’