Chapter 132: You Haven’t Had a Change of Heart, Have You?
While waiting for the elevator in the garage, Caleb Lowell’s phone rang.
"President Lowell, this is bad! There’s a problem with the East City project! Veridian would rather forfeit their deposit than go through with the deal..."
Caleb Lowell froze. ’What terrible timing,’ he thought. More trouble at work.
The elevator chimed, DING. A doorman was holding the door open, waiting for him to enter.
Without hesitation, Caleb Lowell stepped inside while giving orders into the phone.
"Get all the project leads to the office immediately. We’re having a meeting in one hour."
After hanging up, Caleb Lowell stared at his own reflection in the polished walls of the elevator. His eyes revealed a hint of exhaustion from dealing with it all.
When the elevator chimed open, DING, he had already composed himself and stepped out.
A cleaner carrying a mop walked past him.
At banquets, it was inevitable that floors would get dirty, so cleaning staff had to be on standby to ensure messes were cleaned up promptly.
He didn’t think much of it at first, but as he walked past, his gaze suddenly froze.
"Stop!"
The cleaner, confused, stopped in her tracks. "Is something wrong?"
Caleb Lowell walked over and snatched the object peeking out of her pocket.
"How do you have this amulet?" He recognized it; the amulet was identical to the one left on the dining table.
Luna Morgan had moved out overnight, even sending him a text as she left.
Caleb Lowell had resisted the urge to reply to her text but still had the property manager go check on the apartment.
The property manager sent him a video. Sure enough, the place was spotless, without a single trace that Luna Morgan had ever lived there.
But the amulet was still on the dining table. Caleb Lowell had told the property manager to take it at the time.
This amulet wasn’t some mass-produced item from a temple; the embroidery and tassel were both handmade by Luna Morgan.
’So when Luna Morgan came to deliver a gift today, was it this amulet, in addition to the bracelet that caused the argument with Beverly Lynch?’
The cleaner was a bit scared and quickly explained, "I didn’t steal it! I found it!"
Seeing this, the assistant standing nearby barked threateningly, "Where did you find it? Tell the truth! Otherwise, we’ll assume you stole it!"
"I really didn’t steal it! Someone threw it away!"
The cleaner felt a pang of guilt. She had thought the amulet was too beautiful and had planned to keep it for herself.
’I can’t believe my luck is this bad,’ she thought. ’Caught red-handed.’
Of course, she had to say someone threw it away. Could she say a guest dropped it? That would be a major breach of professional conduct.
Caleb Lowell grabbed the cleaner’s arm, his gaze piercing. "Who threw it away? Be clear! Was it Miss Lancaster?"
Seeing her chance, the cleaner immediately went along with it. "Yes, yes, it was Miss Lancaster!"
Caleb Lowell froze and released his grip.
The cleaner hastily grabbed her mop and scurried away.
The assistant moved to stop her, but Caleb Lowell said, "Forget it. Let her go."
’Luna is so kind,’ he thought. ’She definitely wouldn’t want to see us harass a cleaner over an amulet.’
He looked up and saw a figure walking toward him, so he quickly hid the amulet in his suit pocket.
"Caleb Lowell." Beverly Lynch stopped. "I want to ask you about back then..."
With a single glance from Caleb Lowell, the assistant tactfully retreated to the side.
Only then did Caleb Lowell speak. "What do you want to ask? If it’s something you shouldn’t be asking, then don’t."
’We’ve already issued a public clarification, so why bring up the past?’
He guessed she was likely unwilling to let it go, but the answer might not be what she wanted to hear. Why seek out misery?
Beverly Lynch said, "Back then, you said Jane Lancaster lit up your life and that you would only ever fall for her. You haven’t forgotten that vow, have you?"
Caleb Lowell was taken aback. ’So that’s all she wanted to ask?’
"Why aren’t you answering?" Beverly Lynch’s expression changed. "You haven’t had a change of heart, have you?"
"Of course not," Caleb Lowell answered quickly.
"Good. I hope you stay true to your original intentions." Beverly Lynch breathed a sigh of relief. "By the way, what did you mean by what you said earlier?"
Caleb Lowell: "...It meant nothing."
——
Jane Lancaster was chatting with the people around her.
Perhaps spotting Caleb Lowell’s personal bodyguard, some quick-witted guests were suddenly struck with new ideas.
"President Lowell couldn’t make it himself, so he sent his bodyguard. Is he afraid someone might try to snatch the bride away? Though with such a beautiful bride, it’s no wonder he’s being cautious."
"The fact that President Lowell specifically sent his bodyguard shows how much he cherishes Miss Lancaster."
"Jane has finally seen her share of hardship come to an end. With President Lowell to protect her from now on, she’s sure to live a happy and fulfilling life."
Jane Lancaster smiled and nodded. "I also feel like my luck is especially good today. I’m sure whatever I wish for will come true!"
Just as she finished speaking, she noticed the light in front of her dim slightly and couldn’t help but look up.
Lana Sterling frowned at Jane Lancaster for a moment, then held out a jewelry box. "This is for you."
A socialite sitting nearby saw Lana Sterling’s gift and gasped. ’Such a generous gift?’
After all, the two families weren’t exactly on good terms! If Lana Sterling hadn’t been so close with Clayton Lowell, The Lancaster Family might not have even invited her to the party today.
Lana Sterling had been feeling the sting of the expense, but seeing the shocked faces around her made it all feel incredibly satisfying.
Especially since two of them were her sworn enemies, who were only sucking up to Jane Lancaster to get on Caleb Lowell’s good side. And for all their ass-kissing, they had nothing to show for it.
’My nephew really is a smart one,’ she thought. ’He said that if you want to steal the show at a social event, you have to be completely unexpected.’
She didn’t know Jane Lancaster well, so the more extravagant the gift, the more it would stun everyone!
Jane Lancaster: "Auntie Sterling, this is far too valuable. I can’t accept it."
Lana Sterling said, flaunting her wealth, "It’s a gift. Just take it."
Since she’d given the gift, claiming a prime spot wasn’t too much to ask, was it? Lana Sterling plopped down right next to Jane Lancaster, shoving Pauline Shaw aside.
Pauline Shaw, snapping back to reality, felt a surge of displeasure and deliberately braced herself, refusing to move.
’Even if I was dragged over here to sit with Jane Lancaster, I’m still allowed to be annoyed when I get shoved aside, right?’
Lana Sterling turned to look at her. "Move it!"
The entitled tone of her voice was enough to make Pauline Shaw’s blood boil.
Jane Lancaster silently scooted over to make room.
Lana Sterling immediately said, "See? You’re the sensible one." ’Looks like the gift wasn’t a waste after all,’ she thought.
Pauline Shaw: "..." ’I’m so pissed!’
Jane Lancaster glanced at Pauline Shaw and sighed internally.
’Why are you getting worked up over Lana Sterling? She has a severe case of princess syndrome and only thinks about herself. It’s a waste of energy to be angry at her.’
"Auntie Sterling, is there something I can help you with?" Jane Lancaster asked with a smile.
Lana Sterling had been wondering how to bring it up. "Well, since you’re asking for my ’help,’ I’ll give you a word or two of advice. You’d better listen."
Jane Lancaster smiled and indicated that she would. ’Please, Auntie, just say what’s on your mind.’
"Alright, I’ll be direct. How could you kick your own cousin out?" Lana Sterling’s expression was grave.
Hearing this, Pauline Shaw instantly felt a sense of vindication. It seemed even Lana Sterling disapproved of Jane Lancaster’s high-handed methods.
’Just as I thought. She must be here to cause trouble at Clayton Lowell’s instigation, right?’
Jane Lancaster put on a confused expression and asked earnestly, "Auntie Sterling, are you saying that if you were about to marry the man you love, and his cousin caused a scene at your wedding, smashing the dessert table, you would just stand by and let him run wild?"
"Of course not!" Lana Sterling blurted out, agitated. Just imagining herself in that situation made her furious.
If she were marrying Clayton Lowell, she’d kill anyone who dared to ruin her wedding!