Chapter 140: The Backing to Be Tyrannical
Jane Lancaster gave him a meaningful look.
’That’s right, he cheated. And he cheated with your muse. Surprise, surprise!’
Adrian Lancaster frowned imperceptibly. His muse? A bad feeling suddenly welled up inside him.
"It’s not really cheating... it’s, it’s just a misunderstanding. And it involves Luna," Alvin Lancaster explained in a small voice.
The relaxed look in Adrian Lancaster’s eyes vanished.
Alvin Lancaster looked up and saw the bloody mark on his younger brother’s neck. "Whoa, what happened here?"
The manager quickly explained it was syrup. Alvin Lancaster tried to wipe it off, but it wouldn’t come off. He couldn’t help but apply more force.
"This syrup is way too realistic. How come it seems like there’s more of it the more I wipe...?"
Adrian Lancaster frowned and dodged his hand. "I’m going to go change."
Half an hour later, when Jane Lancaster came downstairs, all three Lancaster brothers were sitting on the sofa.
Mama Knight followed silently behind her, carrying quite a few things.
Caleb Lowell had lived with the Lancaster Family for an extended period before, and he’d left many of his things in his designated guest room.
Mama Knight had gathered and packed them all. These items, along with the gifts Caleb Lowell had given Jane Lancaster, were all to be returned to the Lowell Family.
Adrian Lancaster’s manager had left long ago. With such a huge incident happening in the Lancaster Family, how could he dare to linger?
If the engagement party had proceeded as planned, he would have had to stay for a celebratory drink, but now it was best to forget it.
Alvin Lancaster looked at his sister, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Julian Lancaster said, "Jay, are you sure you want to break off the engagement?"
After a pause, he added, "This is a serious matter. I’ve already informed Father."
Ever since falling seriously ill a few years ago, Timothy Lancaster rarely returned to the country. He had given his eldest son full authority to handle his daughter’s engagement ceremony and had no intention of attending himself.
Julian Lancaster made a video call. The other side had clearly been prepared, as the call connected quickly.
"One moment, Sir will be right here." The first person to appear on screen was someone the Lancaster siblings were all very familiar with: Butler Forbes.
He was Timothy Lancaster’s assistant and had been with him for many years. When Timothy Lancaster moved abroad, Butler Forbes’s entire family had even moved with him.
In the time since Jane had arrived, Butler Forbes would occasionally call to check in on her.
Jane Lancaster was always selective with what she told him.
At the time, Butler Forbes had remarked with emotion that the young miss had truly grown up but had also grown distant from him, his tone a little sad.
Back then, Jane Lancaster had just fobbed him off with a couple of casual lies.
’What a joke. If she wasn’t distant, was she supposed to get closer and wait to be exposed?’
’Given: Jane Lancaster is the family favorite. So why do the three Lancaster brothers put on a show of doting on their sister when they don’t really mean it?’
’Because of Timothy Lancaster, of course! He couldn’t care less about his three sons. The only one he cares about is his precious daughter.’
’Even when they were at their poorest, he would buy his daughter pretty dresses and take her out for Western food.’
All of this was backed by memory fragments from the original owner of the body. Back then, whenever Timothy Lancaster earned money from his part-time jobs, he immediately spent it on his precious daughter.
He completely forgot that he had three underage sons starving in the countryside.
’Butler Forbes was the first assistant Timothy Lancaster ever hired. Back then, he also had to double as a nanny and help raise the daughter.’
’Those two loved the original Jane the most. They were also the only two who escaped the Lancaster Family’s bankruptcy unscathed. They’re clearly smart people, so I can’t take that risk.’
Julian Lancaster discreetly glanced at Butler Forbes on the screen.
’So, could Butler Forbes and Father be the key to averting the Lancaster Family’s bankruptcy?’
Adrian Lancaster’s expression was as cool and detached as ever, his face showing no emotion, but his mind was rapidly processing the key information.
’The Lancaster Family goes bankrupt, and only Father and Butler Forbes get out unscathed. Does that mean something happens to all four of us siblings here?’
’Well, that’s just great. She’ll be going down with me.’
’Or maybe... she already met with a mishap long ago, and this one’s an imposter?’
Alvin Lancaster was so worried he felt like his hair was about to fall out. He couldn’t help but shoot several glances at his eldest brother.
Just then, the screen flickered, and another man appeared in the frame.
Timothy Lancaster was in his fifties but was very well-preserved. His eyes and brows resembled those of his four children, yet he didn’t give off a sense of approachability.
This was probably due to the sharp, commanding aura of someone in power. When he wasn’t smiling, he was imposing without being angry.
The moment Alvin Lancaster saw his father, his scalp tingled, like a mouse seeing a cat.
Even through the screen, he unconsciously sat up straight and proper.
Timothy Lancaster’s attention, however, wasn’t on him, or even on his eldest son.
"Sweetheart, come let Daddy see you." The moment he spoke, the cold, stern aura around him instantly dissipated, making him seem like just an old father who missed his precious daughter.
Julian Lancaster quickly aimed the camera at Jane Lancaster.
Jane Lancaster snapped back to reality and called out, "Dad."
Timothy Lancaster smiled. "My darling really seems to be better. Your complexion is much healthier. Now I can rest easy."
Then his smile vanished and his face darkened. "But how dare the Lowell Family not cherish such a treasure? Didn’t Caleb Lowell say that if he ever let you down, I could break his legs?"
Jane Lancaster: "...You’re coming back?"
"Does Jay want me to come back? How about I come back, break Caleb Lowell’s legs, and avenge you?" After speaking, Timothy Lancaster suddenly began to cough violently.
Butler Forbes brought over medicine and water. "Sir, you must take care of your health. Try not to get worked up lately."
Julian Lancaster: "Dad, please, you must take care of yourself."
Timothy Lancaster took the medicine and caught his breath. "Jay, Daddy will never let you be wronged. If you want to break the engagement, then break it. If anything comes up, just have your big brother handle it."
His tone was so matter-of-fact, as if it was only natural for his eldest son to do anything and everything for his daughter.
’So this is the source of the original Jane’s confidence to do as she pleased, huh? Julian wouldn’t dare refuse.’
"...I will handle this matter from Jay’s perspective," Julian Lancaster said.
Jane Lancaster: "Thanks, Dad, but I think I can handle this myself."
’Better to say that, lest he really not trust her and insist on flying back from abroad to break Caleb Lowell’s legs.’
Timothy Lancaster expressed his concern for Jane Lancaster a few more times. Jane sensed gazes on her from behind and turned to look at Alvin and Adrian Lancaster.
"Dad, Third Brother came back today." She met Adrian Lancaster’s eyes. His expression flickered, and he was just about to speak.
But Jane Lancaster shoved the phone into Alvin Lancaster’s hands. "Second Brother, say hi to Dad."
Adrian Lancaster’s hands instantly clenched into fists.
Alvin Lancaster held the phone like a hot potato. Steeling himself, he called out, "Dad," then quickly shoved the phone at Julian Lancaster. "I think Big Brother has something to say to you."
’God, he did not want to talk to his father. It was like torture every time.’
Julian Lancaster: "Dad, Chase came back and brought the violin you gave him. He was originally planning to play it at Jay’s engagement party."
He said this as he handed the phone to Adrian Lancaster.
Adrian Lancaster’s lips were set in a tight line, but his eyes held a hint of longing and filial affection. "Dad..."
"Where’s Jay? I want to see Jay again." Timothy Lancaster didn’t even look at him.