Everyone Can Hear My Thoughts, and Now They're Panicking

Clayton Lowell immediately perked up, as if he’d just won back a point. "You don’t even know our new housekeeper. Isn’t it a bit presumptuous to say that?"

"My new housekeeper doesn’t have a criminal record for theft, so what do I have to be on guard against? It’s not easy for her to make a living, and I’m not the type to nitpick for no reason or flaunt my authority in front of the staff just to feel important. The truth is, employers and employees should be considerate of one another. The best relationships are built on mutual effort, aren’t they?"

Jane Lancaster sighed silently. She was offering a sincere suggestion, but unfortunately, he didn’t appreciate it.

’After Mrs. Everett left, the farmer who tends the small vegetable patch said several poppy plants had somehow sprouted in the field. He called the police, and they were removed.’

’Clayton Lowell fancies himself a gentleman and usually watches his figure. For him to suddenly start eating like a madman... it’s hard not to be suspicious.’

’Then again, maybe I’m just being cynical. Mrs. Everett surely wouldn’t be that audacious, would she?’

Alvin Lancaster also thought it was likely a coincidence and that his sister’s guess was wrong.

Mrs. Everett had no reason to do such a thing. Clayton Lowell had given her refuge; he was her benefactor. Why would she try to harm him?

As long as she worked diligently and honestly, with Caleb Lowell backing her, Clayton Lowell wouldn’t dare do anything to her.

Lana Sterling had just walked in and happened to hear Clayton Lowell’s words.

She hadn’t seen her idol in so long. He seemed to have put on some weight... But that was okay, he could definitely lose it!

That day, her nephew had caused her to offend her idol, and she had been looking for a chance to apologize ever since.

Just as Clayton Lowell finished speaking to an unresponsive audience, she chimed in with a supportive smile, "I think so too. Everyone should be considerate and respectful of one another."

"It’s because you’re such a good person, Shane, that you found such a wonderful housekeeper. But there are also vicious, stupid employers out there who can’t wait to hire a bad housekeeper so they can be partners in crime."

A thought struck Clayton Lowell. He just knew Lana Sterling would take his side.

He had been giving her the cold shoulder recently, and her desperate attempts to curry favor with him couldn’t have been more obvious.

He gave Lana Sterling a gentle smile. "Lana, you’re the one who understands me best. But why did you say a vicious employer would seek out a bad housekeeper? Have you encountered a real-life case like that?"

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at Jane Lancaster and Mama Knight. They were a perfect example: a vicious employer and a stupid, boorish servant, working together as partners in crime.

Lana Sterling was ecstatic and eager to impress. "Exactly! Take Mrs. Everett from the Lancaster family—didn’t she embezzle money a while back? Her new employer even helped her antagonize the Lancasters. If that’s not being partners in crime, what is? And that employer is so stupid. How could he hire someone with sticky fingers? Isn’t he afraid of getting swindled himself?"

The smile vanished from Clayton Lowell’s face. He glared furiously at Lana Sterling!

This stupid woman! He had wanted her to criticize Jane Lancaster, and she’d turned around and called *him* stupid?

He was about to explode with rage, but Lana Sterling, caught up in her own excitement, failed to notice anything was amiss.

A socialite beside Clayton Lowell also chimed in, "Well, people like that will eventually turn on each other. It’s nothing like President Lowell and his new housekeeper—they’re like family..."

"Shut up!" Clayton Lowell couldn’t help but roar.

Jane Lancaster looked at him in surprise. "Uncle, what’s wrong?"

’Didn’t you lead her on to say that? So why are you upset now that she has?’

’Sigh, he gets triggered so easily.’

Clayton Lowell realized he had lost his composure and forced a smile. "I just mean, we’re all here to have a good time. Let’s head inside and enjoy the party."

Lana Sterling followed behind Clayton Lowell, thinking that the way her idol had just yelled "Shut up" was terrifyingly sinister.

Also, why did her idol’s back look so much... burlier? His silk shirt was stretched taut, and it was a rather unappetizing sight.

Lana Sterling secretly glanced at her phone, looking at the various artistic photos Clayton Lowell had sent her.

There were shots of him reading the Bible, playing the piano, and holding a wine glass with a suave, handsome smile... ’Mmm, his face is still handsome,’ she thought, ’and his charisma really gets to me.’

That burliness must have been an illusion!

——

As she walked, Jane Lancaster’s thoughts turned to Lana Sterling.

’From the looks of it, Lana Sterling is in the terminal stages of being love-struck.’

’Should I play the part of a master fortune-teller again and warn Jasper Sterling that his aunt is about to fall into Clayton Lowell’s trap and get cheated out of all her shares?’

Someone blocked her path. When she looked up, she saw Pauline Shaw.

The two hadn’t seen each other since the day Pauline Shaw had stormed off. Pauline’s expression was calm now, no longer as anxious and haggard as it had been a few days prior.

"Jay, what were you just thinking about? You were so lost in thought, you didn’t even hear me calling your name," Pauline Shaw teased with a smile.

Of course, she knew what Jane Lancaster was thinking. ’Pretending to be a fortune-teller... how ridiculous.’

Seeing Jane Lancaster remain silent, she added, "I bet you were thinking about my cousin. After all, your love for each other is just so sweet."

She was about to get engaged and supposedly blissfully happy herself, yet she couldn’t stand to see someone else’s relationship going so smoothly.

Alvin Lancaster greeted her, "Pauline."

Pauline Shaw smiled. "Alvin, long time no see."

The two of them used to get together often, but recently they had not only stopped seeing each other but had also gradually fallen out of touch.

In her heart, Pauline Shaw had always seen Alvin Lancaster as an older brother.

When she was little, her parents would send her to the Lancaster home every day. If Jane wasn’t there, she would have to wait.

Of the three Lancaster brothers, Julian was too aloof and Adrian was too cold; neither paid her any mind and both were hard to approach. Only Alvin had a gentle personality and would take the initiative to look after her and play with her.

In recent years, she had become more independent. To be a successful professional, she had grown accustomed to hiding her emotions.

It was only with Alvin that she could speak her mind without reservation.

She believed Alvin felt the same way about her... but after Jane’s health improved, she suddenly started monopolizing all of Alvin’s attention.

Jane Lancaster suddenly asked, "Did Auntie Yates not come today?"

Pauline Shaw replied, "My mom? It wouldn’t be appropriate for her to attend an event like this."

Jane Lancaster thought for a moment. "Has Auntie Yates been feeling any better lately?"

After Yara Yates had returned home that day, she, a woman who usually worked 365 days a year, had suddenly issued a company-wide announcement. It stated that she was unwell and needed to rest for a period, leaving people to wonder if her health had truly collapsed.

Pauline Shaw said, "My mom is fine, nothing serious. Besides, my dad is taking care of everything, so you don’t need to worry."

Jane Lancaster said earnestly, "Even if your dad is looking after her, you should still show more concern for your mom..."

"What, do you know more than the doctors? My mom is really fine!" Pauline Shaw snapped, growing impatient. "My dad has been managing the house perfectly. Our family is incredibly harmonious right now!"

Jane Lancaster still felt that something was off. "Is work going smoothly for you as well?"

Since Jane had asked, Pauline Shaw couldn’t help but raise her eyebrows smugly. "Smoothly? Exceptionally so. I’m about to be promoted to director. I misunderstood Manager Raymond before, thinking he was lining his own pockets. I truly wronged him... Turns out, Uncle Raymond is a good person."

All because of a few of Jane’s unfounded inner thoughts, she had been treating Manager Raymond like a thief for the longest time.

Yet Manager Raymond had treated her as well as ever. And just when she was preparing to resign... a breakthrough happened.

Jane Lancaster watched her for two seconds, then suddenly smiled.

’Seeing how happy she is, I suppose her relationship is going just as smoothly.’

’All her problems just resolved themselves in an instant? How could something so good actually happen in this world?’