Chapter 110: Too Lazy to Even Put on an Act
For some reason, Alvin Lancaster felt his face flush. His sister had just secretly praised him.
Mrs. Everett was still putting on a pitiful performance. "First Young Master, Second Young Master, it’s not that I don’t want to stay with the Lancaster family. It’s just... my daughter’s illness is far too serious..."
’She guessed that, given how soft-hearted Alvin Lancaster was, he wouldn’t just let the stolen money slide—he’d probably even give her more.’
It was too good an opportunity to pass up. She cried as if her heart was breaking. "I wasn’t going to say anything, but I never expected you already knew, Second Young Master..."
Alvin Lancaster found the scene before him utterly ridiculous.
The person he’d once trusted so much had been deceiving him all along.
"Tingting is fine. Her teacher even said today that she’s doing great." Not wanting to watch her clumsy performance any longer, he stated the facts.
"What?" Mrs. Everett looked up at him with tear-filled eyes, not quite processing what he’d said.
Jane Lancaster couldn’t help but laugh, gloating, "What my brother probably means is, he was lying to you."
Mrs. Everett was completely stunned. She stared at Alvin Lancaster in disbelief, her heart shattering into pieces.
’I worked so hard on the back mountain, and it was bad enough that he didn’t think to help, but now he’s actually ganging up with someone else to trick me?’
’Why on earth had he become like this, so cold and heartless toward me?’
"What? Are you not happy that your daughter isn’t sick?" Jane Lancaster asked, intentionally prodding her.
Mrs. Everett stared at her, and suddenly, everything clicked into place.
’It’s her! She’s the one who’s been turning Alvin Lancaster against me!’
It was hard to say whether it was the shame and fury of being exposed, or if years of hatred and resentment had finally boiled over.
Mrs. Everett snatched a decorative piece from the long dining table and hurled it at Jane Lancaster. "You bitch! Go to hell!"
The instant the object left her hand, Julian Lanscaster seized her wrist and viciously flung her aside. She and her suitcase crashed to the floor.
Alvin Lancaster’s eyes were fixed on the projectile. Worried his sister would be hurt, he threw himself in front of her to block it. The sharp corner of the object gashed his forehead, and blood streamed down his face.
That wasn’t even the worst of it. He had moved so quickly that he’d twisted his ankle again...
With a cold expression, Julian Lanscaster helped Alvin Lancaster into a chair. "Are you an idiot?"
Alvin Lancaster grimaced in pain but still managed a weak chuckle. "As long as Jay is okay, it’s fine."
He turned his head, only to see both Jane Lancaster and Mama Knight standing off to the side, not behind him at all.
Their eyes met. Jane Lancaster looked utterly speechless.
The moment she finished speaking, she’d noticed Mrs. Everett’s expression sour and had quickly pulled Mama Knight out of the way.
’Why on earth did he rush forward like that? His foot just healed! What’s he trying to prove, playing the hero? It’s not like I’m an idiot who would just sit there and let her hit me.’
Alvin Lancaster: "..."
Julian Lanscaster pressed on his brother’s ankle. When Alvin hissed in pain, Julian’s anger finally boiled over.
"Call the police!" he commanded, his expression grim.
Realizing what she’d done, Mrs. Everett finally grew frightened. "No! Second Young Master, I didn’t mean to hit *you*..."
"Shut up!" Alvin Lancaster roared. ’Her explanations are just making things worse. She’d be better off saying nothing.’
’So it would have been okay to hit my sister? Jay was nothing but kind to her today; she did nothing to offend her.’
’I was the one who tricked her and exposed her lies. Taking her anger out on my sister is completely irrational.’
’Besides, Big Brother adores Jay. It’s a good thing I was the one who got hurt. If it had been Jay, there would be absolutely no way to smooth this over.’
Alvin Lancaster said, "Big Brother, just let it go. Let her leave."
Julian Lanscaster frowned. "No. She must pay the price for what she did today."
"Big Brother, I know you can’t afford to be soft in these situations, but just this once, let me handle it, please?" Alvin Lancaster pleaded, tugging on the hem of his brother’s shirt.
Looking at the blood on his brother’s face, Julian Lanscaster relented. "Fine. But this is the only time."
Alvin Lancaster turned to Mrs. Everett. "Mrs. Everett, I won’t press charges for what you did today. Let’s just say this repays the kindness you once showed me."
Hearing that he wasn’t pressing charges, Mrs. Everett finally breathed a sigh of relief, her only thought to get out of there as quickly as possible.
But then Alvin’s tone shifted, growing serious. "However, you will return the money you stole as soon as possible. I don’t care how you do it, but you have one month to pay it all back!"
’That was money my big brother worked hard for; it doesn’t just grow on trees!’
’Why should she get to keep it? There’s no justice in that!’
In the end, Mrs. Everett left in disgrace.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to plead for mercy, but Alvin Lancaster had suddenly developed a heart of stone, leaving no room for discussion. Any further argument, and he would press charges.
Jane Lancaster watched Mrs. Everett’s retreating figure, a faint smile playing on her lips.
’She left without so much as a backward glance, not even pretending to care about my fool of a brother’s injuries. She must be in a hurry to find her backer, Caleb Lowell.’
’Then again, how did those two have a falling out? I thought their bond was as deep as a mother and son’s.’
For some reason, Alvin Lancaster felt like he’d just taken an arrow to the knee.
He wasn’t a fool. Mrs. Everett’s behavior just now had made everything perfectly clear.
After he was hurt, her only concern was whether she’d be dragged to the police station. Even his sister’s eyes showed pity when she saw his injury, but Mrs. Everett acted as if she saw nothing.
She couldn’t even be bothered to put on an act.
Mrs. Everett always claimed she had no one else in the city, that she saw him as her closest kin. She would come to him for advice on everything, saying she only trusted the "Second Young Master."
But in reality, she was secretly running to Caleb Lowell and would only ever follow his advice.
When Caleb Lowell had stayed over at the Lancaster estate before, the dining table was always laden with his favorite dishes.
What’s more, for matters big and small around the house, Mrs. Everett would never consult him, the actual master of the house, but would instead go to Caleb Lowell, a guest.
The signs had been there all along, really. He just had never dared to think too deeply about them.
—
In the end, Alvin Lancaster’s ankle swelled up, and he was forced back into his wheelchair.
Jane Lancaster stared at his ankle, looking thoughtful.
Her staring made Alvin Lancaster a little nervous. He asked tentatively, "Jay, when do you think my foot will heal?"
Jane Lancaster gave him a baffled look. "I’m not a doctor. How am I supposed to know when your foot will heal?"
’The Plot God is powerful, after all. It still managed to get his ankle injured again. That’s a relief.’
Alvin Lancaster: "???"
’What are you relieved about? Why is that a relief? Oh god, now I’m even more terrified!’
The manager of the residential complex suddenly called. He said someone had arrived to repay some money and asked if he should grant them entry.
’Could Mrs. Everett have already gotten the money together?’ Alvin Lancaster wondered. He told the manager to let them through.
Jane Lancaster had been on her way out, but seeing this, she decided she might as well stay and watch the show.
This time, it wasn’t Mrs. Everett. The two people who arrived introduced themselves as an accountant and a lawyer, hired by Felicia Everett’s new employer to repay the money on her behalf.
The crucial part was that a portion of the money they brought was in coins. They demanded that the Lancaster family count it all on the spot to confirm the amount was correct.
Everyone was dumbfounded as they watched several barrels of coins being hauled out of a car.
In this age of digital payments, this method of repayment was unheard of. And in coins, no less!
The commotion even drew the attention of the people in the neighboring villa, who stood at their doorways to watch the spectacle.
Alvin Lancaster’s face turned dark the moment he saw the barrels of coins.
Jane Lancaster, on the other hand, remained perfectly calm. "It seems Mrs. Everett and her new employer are on very good terms."
The accountant replied with a snide tone, "Naturally. Our boss isn’t like some people who get their kicks from bullying their staff."
The lawyer tugged on his arm. His face was a little pale as he repeatedly apologized, "We’re so sorry, we just didn’t have that many bills on hand. Please understand."