Chapter 93: Irrational Nagging
Jane Lancaster hung up the phone, completely satisfied.
See? Why make trouble for no reason when you already knew this was the answer?
She’d gotten her hopes up for nothing, thinking she might hear something different.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Jane Lancaster got up to open it and saw Pauline Shaw and Gordon Dawson standing outside.
Pauline Shaw spoke first. "Ian and I were out shopping when we happened to see Mama Knight, so we figured you must be here too."
Her brow furrowed when she saw Willow Summers.
’Aren’t these two getting a little too close lately?’
’The last few times, they just happened to run into each other at dinners and banquets, so it was barely acceptable for them to chat. But meeting up privately like this for afternoon tea? Isn’t that a bit too intimate?’
Willow Summers stood up. "I’m going to the restroom."
She had noticed the wariness in Pauline Shaw’s eyes and decided to find an excuse to step away for a moment.
As soon as Willow left, Pauline immediately shut the door. "Jay, why are you still meeting her in private? You know she’s not a good person!"
Mama Knight countered in disagreement, "Miss Summers is a very nice person. She’s gentle, sensible, and polite."
Pauline Shaw glared at Jane Lancaster. ’See? It hasn’t even been that long, and Mama Knight has already defected to that horrible woman’s side!’
Jane Lancaster was a little baffled.
’Why are you glaring at me?’
’I’m the one who’s not a good person. I’m the greatest villainess in the whole book. Willow is the one who should be afraid of me screwing her over.’
Pauline Shaw forced herself to calm down. "Haven’t you seen the exposé accusing you of being a mistress? Aren’t you afraid Willow Summers will deliberately trick you into saying something she can post online for the netizens to judge?"
Even with all her flaws, Beverly Lynch was very generous to her close friends.
That group of friends started a business together, and their little venture actually made some money.
That little bit of money was nothing in Beverly Lynch’s eyes, but for a girl from Willow Summers’s background, it was more than enough.
Otherwise, Willow wouldn’t have been able to pull out tens of thousands to pay the bill at the restaurant last time.
Jane Lancaster said, "She wouldn’t. Besides, Willow wasn’t the one who posted it."
Pauline was about to die from anger. "She didn’t post it, but it definitely has something to do with Beverly Lynch! Can’t you see? The person who leaked this called you a homewrecker who knew what you were doing, but they clearly favor Beverly, painting her as a poor, innocent victim and making everyone sympathize with her!"
Gordon Dawson suddenly interjected, "This whole thing blew up so suddenly. Do you really believe there isn’t someone pulling the strings behind the scenes?"
Jane Lancaster glanced at him.
Gordon Dawson toyed with the lighter in his hand, a nonchalant smile on his face.
"Haven’t you ever wondered why something the Lowell and Lynch families kept secret for five years is suddenly the talk of the town? Very few people knew about the arranged marriage. The banquet that night was the source of the rumors. Nearly everyone who attended heard about it. Who was the first one to spread it?"
Jane Lancaster said, "Your analysis is spot on. The person who spread the rumor must have been an insider."
She then looked at Pauline Shaw. "You’re right, too. In this whole media storm, whoever benefited the most is the most suspicious."
"First, there’s Beverly Lynch. Second is Pauline, since many people sympathize with her for being used by her best friend. And finally, there’s Caleb Lowell. He gained the most fans out of this whole PR battle!"
Pauline Shaw’s expression froze. "What does this have to do with me? And what does it have to do with my cousin!"
Jane Lancaster said, "Don’t get so worked up. I’m just making a logical deduction, not accusing you."
’What’s she so worked up about? Didn’t she want this whole thing to be exposed?’
Pauline Shaw was annoyed. It was true she didn’t want to be Jane’s scapegoat anymore, but she would never have taken the initiative to expose the matter herself!
What kind of person did Jane take her for? After so many years of friendship, was her character really so untrustworthy?
Gordon Dawson watched their reactions, his eyes flickering, but he said nothing.
"Don’t worry, my cousin said he’ll clear this up for you," Pauline finally said, her voice flat.
Jane Lancaster smiled meaningfully. "Right, Zion will clear this up for me. I just need to wait for him to make a statement."
After a pause, she added, "Why don’t you two sit down and have some afternoon tea with us? We can wait while we eat."
Pauline was reluctant, but Gordon pulled her down into a seat.
"Sure. It’s my treat today. You good friends should sit down and have a nice chat." He waved a waiter over, asked for a menu, and ordered a few desserts and drinks.
Willow Summers, thinking enough time had passed, returned.
"Jane, if there’s nothing else, I’m going to head out," she said.
She was still a little worried, but Pauline clearly didn’t welcome her. Staying would only make things more awkward, so it was better to leave.
Pauline’s eyes were filled with scorn. "You’re just leaving like that? Not going to help Jay figure something out?"
Willow Summers ignored her, grabbing her bag to leave.
Pauline said, "Actually, there is one way. If you could persuade Beverly Lynch to publicly clarify that Jay isn’t a mistress, it would definitely be more convincing than my cousin’s clarification."
Willow Summers stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her with a frown.
Pauline continued, "But Beverly definitely won’t make a public statement. After all, public opinion is on her side. All she has to do is stay silent, and she’ll be the biggest winner."
’What is Pauline Shaw doing? Forcing Willow to pick a side? This is getting weird.’
’All I did was invite Willow to afternoon tea. Does she really have to pay such a high price for it?’
"Willow, Pauline’s just kidding. If you have something to do, you can go ahead," Jane Lancaster said, quickly giving Willow a look.
Pauline Shaw sneered. "What, you want to be friends with Jay, but you won’t even help with a small thing like this?"
She was deliberately provoking her to show Jane Lancaster just how sincere Willow Summers really was.
The answer was obvious: not at all.
Willow Summers was a textbook self-serving social climber. She’d befriend anyone who could help her climb the social ladder.
She had suddenly gotten close to Jane, and while it was true Jane wanted to use her to influence Beverly, wasn’t it also true that she was trying to get something out of Jane?
After all, Jane Lancaster had three older brothers, every single one of whom doted on their little sister.
If she used her connection to Jane to get close to Julian Lancaster, wouldn’t Willow strike it rich?
’Jane should be familiar with this kind of tactic. Wasn’t that how she used me to steal Caleb Lowell all those years ago?’
Willow Summers frowned at Pauline Shaw. "What kind of joke is this?"
"Just take it as a joke, then," Pauline said with a mocking expression. ’She can’t even stand a little test.’
Willow held her phone out in front of Pauline. "Look closely. I was already messaging Mandy to persuade her when I was outside. You think you needed to tell me to?"
Pauline stared at the chat history in disbelief. Not only had Willow tried to persuade her, but she had sent many messages.
But how was that possible?
"No, this is wrong! You’re helping Beverly! You told her that if she helped clarify, the Lancaster and Lowell families would be grateful for her magnanimity!"
Willow looked at her like she was an idiot. "I’m trying to convince her to speak up. Should I mention the downsides instead of the benefits? So tell me, do you want me to persuade her or just add fuel to the fire?"
’Pauline is really being unreasonable now. The girl already tried to help. That level of friendship is rare enough as it is.’
Jane said sincerely, "Thank you, Willow."
Even Gordon Dawson couldn’t help but speak up. "Pauline, stop making a scene."