Chapter 121: Are You Here to Persuade Me to Leave Caleb Lowell?
Although Caleb Lowell wasn’t there, the Acolyte still dutifully showed Jane Lancaster the Longevity Tablet and the sutras he had copied.
Perhaps wanting to let her examine them in detail, the Acolyte turned and left.
Jane Lancaster looked for a moment, and just as she turned to leave, Chloe Dave suddenly walked in.
"Seeing these sutras must be very moving. Zion loves you so much; he’s willing to do anything for you."
Jane Lancaster smiled and said, "Yes, I am very moved. That’s why I’ve decided to devote myself to him and never leave him."
She had guessed his intentions, so she wanted to provoke him even more.
Chloe Dave was taken aback. He hadn’t expected her to take a mile when given an inch—it was utterly shameless.
Seeing Jane Lancaster about to leave, he quickly reached out to block her path. "Wait, I have something to say to you."
Jane Lancaster said, "I don’t think we have anything to talk about. You’ve already caused trouble a few times."
After a pause, she changed her tune. "But even though you’re rude, I can’t help being magnanimous, so I won’t hold it against you. Go on, speak."
Chloe Dave: "..."
What did she mean, he caused trouble? That he was rude? She was way too good at pinning labels on people.
But now wasn’t the time to argue about this. Getting to the point was more important.
He cut straight to the chase. "Jane Lancaster, let me ask you, do you love Zion?"
Outside the door, Caleb Lowell, who had come looking for her, stopped dead in his tracks. He held his breath without realizing it.
Before Jane Lancaster could answer, Chloe Dave already had an answer. "Fine, you love him. Since that’s the case, why can’t you help him become a better person?"
’This psycho. Did I even say anything?’
Jane Lancaster deliberately pretended not to understand. "He’ll become a better person by marrying me, of course."
"Nonsense! Marrying you will just drag him into the abyss!" Chloe Dave couldn’t take it anymore. He felt like he was going to die of anger from her shamelessness before he could even get a word in.
"Do you know what everyone’s saying about you? They say you’re not good enough for Zion. That your body is already broken, you might have psychological problems, and you’ll only drag Zion down."
He thought he was being quite fair, not bringing up all the other scandals about Jane Lancaster.
Otherwise, Jane Lancaster’s reputation would only be worse.
Jane Lancaster stopped teasing him. "So you’re here to convince me to leave Caleb Lowell?"
Chloe Dave’s face was serious. "If you want what’s best for Zion, you shouldn’t drag him down. Break off the engagement yourself. If you do, I’ll be grateful to you for the rest of my life."
’What kind of freaks does Caleb Lowell keep around him? Are they still living in the Qing Dynasty or something?’
Jane Lancaster feigned curiosity. "Why would I want your gratitude? Are you going to kowtow to me? Or offer me an immense fortune?"
"Jane Lancaster, can you just have a normal conversation!" Chloe Dave was losing his patience. She was so ungrateful.
He thought for a moment and added, "I’ll help put in a good word for you with everyone."
Jane Lancaster was thoroughly disappointed. "So, nothing? Then what the hell are you even talking about!"
Chloe Dave replied, "Why are you cursing again? I’m doing this for your own good. Do you have any idea how bad your reputation is in our circle? If I speak up for you, it could help improve everyone’s impression of you."
He was very confident in his standing among his friends. As long as he spoke up, everyone would believe him.
Jane Lancaster retorted, "Would my reputation be bad if you all hadn’t intentionally slandered me? A bunch of grown men, gossiping like that. Aren’t you pathetic?"
’I’m honestly surprised. I didn’t think a hanger-on could be such a despicable jerk.’
Chloe Dave’s face reddened slightly, but he didn’t think he or his buddies were wrong. "You can only blame yourself for not being... virtuous."
He swallowed the name ’Luna’.
Jane Lancaster gave him a chilling look.
’Great. This idiot has officially pissed me off.’
"Does Caleb Lowell know you came to see me?"
Chloe Dave scoffed, "Now you’re just being lame. I thought you were a reasonable person, which is why I wanted to talk. I didn’t expect you’d just run to Zion and tattle."
Jane Lancaster replied, "You came to me for one reason: you think I’m an easy target. You want me to be the one to break the engagement and take all the blame, leaving Caleb Lowell on the moral high ground."
"If you have the guts, go to Caleb Lowell and convince him to break it off with me. Right now, he’s the one who can’t leave me, not the other way around."
Chloe Dave couldn’t stand it anymore. She was so arrogant.
"You’re lying! You’re the one shamelessly clinging to Zion! If you weren’t in the way, Zion would have realized his true feelings long ago! Do you even know who he’s been with lately?"
"Shut up!" Caleb Lowell couldn’t let this go on any longer and pushed the door open, striding in.
Seeing Caleb Lowell, the color drained from Chloe Dave’s face. "Zion, let me explain..."
"By all means. Why don’t you explain who he’s been with lately?" Julian Lancaster also walked in.
His face was calm, but a storm was brewing in his eyes. Chloe Dave remembered the previous declaration—"I’ve decided it’s you"—and his face grew even paler.
’Who else could it be? Luna Morgan, of course,’ Jane Lancaster thought to herself.
Caleb Lowell rubbed the bridge of his nose. He knew Julian Lancaster wouldn’t let this go without a clear explanation.
He questioned him sharply, "Who told you to come find Jay? And who the hell has been bad-mouthing her? Tell them to sell their shares and get the hell out!"
Chloe Dave’s heart sank. He whipped his head toward Jane Lancaster. "You did this on purpose! You knew Zion was outside and set me up!"
Caleb Lowell’s patience snapped. He slapped him across the face. "Shut up!"
He could hear all of Jane Lancaster’s inner thoughts; she clearly had no idea anyone was outside the door.
Julian Lancaster said coolly, "At the jewelry exhibition on the day I returned to the country, Mr. Dave also laid a hand on Jay."
SLAP! Caleb Lowell landed another resounding slap.
---
That evening, Caleb Lowell returned to his luxury riverside apartment.
Luna Morgan was in the kitchen making soup. Hearing the noise, she turned around with a smile. "Mr. Lowell, you’re back. Go have a seat and rest for a bit. The soup will be ready soon."
Caleb Lowell had lost a lot of weight over the past two days from being busy with the engagement party, and he seemed a bit on edge.
So she decided to make him a cooling, nourishing soup to help him look and feel better, ensuring he’d be in top form for the engagement party.
Caleb Lowell’s eyes immediately fell on the Amulet sitting on the dining table. An image of her copying sutras floated into his mind, and his heart stirred slightly.
But a moment later, his eyes were filled with nothing but cold indifference.
The engagement party was imminent. He couldn’t let Julian Lancaster discover that Luna Morgan was living here, lest it cause more trouble.
Even though he still craved the warmth and comfort she provided.
"I won’t be coming here again. Move out tomorrow."
Luna Morgan’s hand brushed against the pot, and she hissed as she was burned. But she paid the pain no mind, rushing over to ask, "Why? Is my cooking not good enough?"
A flash of pity crossed Caleb Lowell’s eyes, but he quickly hardened his tone. "Don’t burn yourself on purpose to get sympathy. You have to leave tomorrow."
With that, he turned and left.
Luna Morgan stood in the kitchen. A long time passed before she slowly sank to the floor, hugging herself.
After that one drunken night, his attitude had clearly changed so much. He would even ask her to cook for him.
Caleb Lowell didn’t stay over every day, but he would come by occasionally to have a meal with her or just drink a bowl of soup.
Even if they didn’t speak, she felt happy. She was finally no longer alone.
She knew that once Caleb Lowell got married, he wouldn’t come here anymore, so she cherished every last moment they had together.
But now, even that tiny bit of happiness was gone.