Chapter 117: At Least You Can’t Do It
Caleb Lowell followed Jane Lancaster out and, hearing Pauline’s words, shot her a cold look. "Shut up. When did you become so harsh?"
Yara Yates also felt her daughter’s comment was inappropriate. "Pauline, hurry up and apologize to your cousin."
Pauline Shaw’s face darkened. Swallowing her reluctance, she mumbled an "I’m sorry."
No one paid any mind to Rosalind Quill; she had already turned to chase after Jason Miller.
One could only imagine that since the couple had torn away all pretenses today, there would be a massive fight waiting for them back home.
The onlookers also began to disperse in twos and threes.
"Jason Miller will probably file for divorce very soon," Jasper Sterling said suddenly, standing beside Jane Lancaster.
Jane Lancaster looked up at him. They were so close she could see her own clear reflection in his peach-blossom eyes.
’Jason Miller is so shrewd. Since I leaked what happened at Regalia, he’ll definitely rush home to transfer assets before filing for divorce.’
’And Rosalind Quill is still hung up on whether he loves her or not. She’s probably going to be fleeced for everything she’s worth...’
"Oh." Her face was a mask of indifference.
’Let them get divorced. My goal was to clear the slander against Mama Knight. I have no interest in meddling with other people’s karma.’
Jasper Sterling’s gaze remained fixed on her face; it was hard to tell if he was observing her expression or simply looking at her.
Jane Lancaster felt that his gaze inexplicably made her heart race. Just as she was about to step back, she bumped into a hard chest.
Caleb Lowell raised a hand to steady her shoulder, but she deftly dodged him.
Finally free from being wedged between the two men, Jane Lancaster breathed a sigh of relief.
Jasper Sterling chuckled softly and lowered his eyes, concealing the murderous intent that had nearly spilled from them.
’Those filthy hands have touched others. How dare he think of touching Jane Lancaster?’
Caleb Lowell looked at his empty hand, a pang of emptiness echoing in his heart. He quickly suppressed the strange feeling and fixed Jasper Sterling with a probing stare.
"I wasn’t aware that Young Master Sterling was so interested in other people’s family matters."
Jasper Sterling smiled modestly. "Perhaps I’m just too upright. I can’t stand to see a heartless scumbag plot against his wife. That’s why I’ll be sending evidence of him transferring marital assets to Ms. Quill."
Caleb Lowell: "..."
’Upright, my ass! He’s just sending over the evidence because he thinks Rosalind Quill has no chance of winning, and he wants to make sure that couple tears each other apart!’
Besides, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Jasper Sterling’s "heartless" comment was a veiled jab at him.
Yara Yates laughed out loud. "I never realized President Sterling was so interesting."
Although Rosalind Quill didn’t deserve sympathy, Yara still didn’t want Jason Miller to get off too easily. If he really got away with it, he would live a carefree life with his mistress and illegitimate child after transferring the assets. Out of a sense of feminine solidarity, she couldn’t wish him well.
Jasper Sterling looked at her meaningfully. "The truth is, even the shrewdest women can be fooled by scumbags."
The smile on Yara Yates’s face faded slightly. She felt there was a hidden meaning behind his words.
Jane Lancaster looked at Jasper Sterling, her eyes suddenly widening.
’No way. Is he implying that Uncle Shaw cheated?’
Pauline Shaw nearly lost her composure. ’What is wrong with her? How could she start suspecting my dad now?’
"That’s a very presumptuous thing to say. Does every man in the world cheat? Look at my cousin—he’s completely devoted to Jay and would never cheat!"
Jane Lancaster: "..."
’Of all the people to drag into this, you had to pick Caleb Lowell?’
The smile on Jasper Sterling’s lips deepened. "Never cheat? Then President Lowell must be a truly good man."
Pauline Shaw glanced at Jane Lancaster and said pointedly, "Jay was in a coma for three years, and my cousin never left her side. Now he’s even planning a grand engagement party for Jay to dispel some of the nasty rumors out there..."
"Pauline, stop it!" Caleb Lowell interrupted her with a frown.
He didn’t want Jane Lancaster to know about those nasty rumors.
Looking at the siblings’ act of stoic sacrifice, Jasper Sterling almost laughed in exasperation.
’She’s the person I’ve cherished in my heart for years. I would give the world for just a single glance from her. What do you two even count for?’
’It wasn’t you who chose her; it was she who chose you. Otherwise, what business would you even have here today?’
Jasper Sterling said, "That’s because she’s worth it. She has a good family and a good character, and she’s remarkably intelligent, resilient, and kind. She saved three lives from an attacker and woke up through sheer force of will. How many people can do that?"
’The truth is, Caleb Lowell just shamelessly lucked into a treasure.’
Pauline Shaw was stunned for a moment, not expecting him to praise Jane Lancaster so lavishly. "But..."
"At least, *you* couldn’t do it," Jasper Sterling added coolly.
His demeanor was neither friendly nor gentle, and for some reason, tears began to stream down Pauline Shaw’s face.
Jane Lancaster: "..."
’What’s going on? Why did she suddenly start crying?’
Caleb Lowell shielded Pauline Shaw behind him and issued a blunt dismissal. "If Young Master Sterling has no other business, you can leave."
Jasper Sterling turned to look at him, his face expressionless. Their gazes locked, neither backing down, and the atmosphere instantly became charged.
Caleb Lowell’s pupils contracted.
Jasper Sterling had always been courteous and polite, and his exceedingly handsome face made it easy for people to overlook his other qualities.
For example, how he had fought his way through a bloodbath to bring The Sterling Group to its current standing.
Jasper Sterling was never a tame housecat; he was a ferocious beast.
Now, that beast was finally baring its fangs.
Uncle Lynn called from outside, "Young Master, the Young Lady is looking for you."
Jasper Sterling withdrew his gaze, turned, and walked out.
Seeing her daughter crying, Yara Yates was stunned for a good while before going over to pat her on the back, intending to offer a few words of comfort.
But Pauline Shaw shook her hand away and ran out, crying.
"Pauline!" Not bothering with goodbyes, Yara Yates chased after her with her assistant.
Jane Lancaster was truly amazed. Pauline Shaw usually acted like a banty rooster, finding fault with everything and everyone. She had never seen her cry so pitifully before.
’Could it be that she and Gordon Dawson are having relationship problems? No, that can’t be right. Aren’t they the canon couple?’
She felt like she was ready to feast on the drama, but unfortunately, the main course had just walked out the door, leaving her hungry for details.
Caleb Lowell collected himself and explained, "Don’t worry about Pauline. It’s good for her to have her temper tested."
He felt that something was off. The look Jasper Sterling had just given him... the hostility was too blatant.
"Tested?" Jane Lancaster looked up at him.
Caleb Lowell said, "You probably don’t know this, but Pauline has a new boyfriend she hasn’t told the family about. I’ve been secretly vetting him recently."
It was something Jane Lancaster’s inner voice had revealed. He had investigated Gordon Dawson and found that the man had been a young hooligan back in the day.
Now, he had pulled together a group of friends to start a company that was running smoothly, thanks to Pauline Shaw’s connections.
He didn’t forcefully break them up as his uncle had done in a similar situation years ago. Instead, he just quietly created a few difficulties.
If that Gordon Dawson was truly worthy of her, he would be able to overcome these challenges.
He was only going this far because he appreciated talent and saw that Gordon Dawson had some real ability; otherwise, he would have shut him down completely.
"Isn’t that a bit harsh?" Mama Knight asked hesitantly.
Caleb Lowell felt a flicker of displeasure. "Why would it be?"
Mama Knight didn’t dare say anything more. She keenly sensed that Caleb Lowell no longer had the same patience for her that he used to.