Chapter 138: You Want to Call Off the Engagement?
When Seventh Grand-uncle heard this, he clutched his chest and nearly fainted.
The expressions on the faces of the people from the Lowell Group were a sight to behold.
"It was you! All of you!" Clayton Lowell pointed first at Jane Lancaster, then wheeled around to point at Jasper Sterling. "And you!"
Beverly Lynch sneered. "It seems President Osborne made the right call. The Lowell Group just blames everyone and everything but themselves, never reflecting on their own actions. They’re certainly not worth partnering with."
Clayton Lowell was furious. "What right do you have to say that?!"
"Shut up! Haven’t you made enough of a scene?" Seventh Grand-uncle was so angry his chest ached. "You fool, get out of here!"
"Wait," said Jane Lancaster.
Clayton Lowell watched her warily. "What do you want now?"
"President Osborne’s advice was sound. I agree that Caleb Lowell is not a suitable marriage partner. So let’s cancel tomorrow’s engagement party," Jane Lancaster stated bluntly.
Seventh Grand-uncle was stunned. "You want to call off the engagement?"
Jane Lancaster’s reply was firm. "Yes."
It wasn’t just the people from the Lowell Group who were shocked; even Alvin Lancaster was in disbelief.
He knew his sister’s feelings for Caleb Lowell might not be what they seemed, but he never thought she would actually call off the engagement.
When they first started dating, their eldest brother had disapproved. To this day, he still didn’t have a kind word for Caleb Lowell.
His sister rarely defied their eldest brother, but for Caleb Lowell’s sake, she’d given him the cold shoulder for a month. In the end, their brother had been the one to compromise and let them date, and only then did they gradually reconcile.
’If she didn’t love him deeply, why would his always obedient and sensible sister have defied her family for Caleb Lowell?’
’She didn’t give up on Caleb Lowell back when she was so brilliant and accomplished, so there’s no way she would now.’
Alvin Lancaster said, "Jay, you need to think this through. Don’t make an impulsive decision."
Clayton Lowell said sarcastically, "That’s right. You’d better think it through. Don’t come crying to us when you regret it."
On second thought, Seventh Grand-uncle decided it was impossible. ’How could Jane Lancaster really dare to call off the engagement? She’s just throwing a jealous fit.’
They had burst in today and berated Jane Lancaster without even trying to understand the situation. They really should have been the ones to apologize and smooth things over.
But right now, his mind was completely preoccupied with the Veridian deal. He had no time to coddle a young woman.
’Besides, if she wants to call it off, she can call it off. What’s the point of telling us? It’s not like we can control Caleb Lowell’s private life.’
"If you want to call off the engagement, go tell Caleb Lowell." With that, Seventh Grand-uncle turned to leave.
Seeing his chance, Quentin Woods quickly tried to follow and slip away unnoticed.
But Lana Sterling wasn’t about to let it go. She remembered exactly how this group had treated her when they’d first barged in.
She stepped forward, blocking their path. "Hold on. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?"
Clayton Lowell was beyond irritated. "What is it with you now? Move!"
He was panicking internally, and the sight of Lana Sterling just fueled his anger. ’This woman has no sense of propriety, does she?’
’Instead of helping, she’s just making things worse. The more I look at her, the more irritating she is.’
Lana Sterling stumbled back two steps from his shouting and bumped into someone.
Jasper Sterling steadied her, then held up her arm to show everyone the injury. For once, the smile was gone from his face.
"My aunt was injured by your group, and now she doesn’t even have the right to ask for an explanation? Is this how the Lowell family conducts themselves?"
Seventh Grand-uncle’s heart sank. Now was not the time to offend the Sterling family. He spun around and slapped Clayton Lowell across the face. "What did you do to her? Apologize, now!"
Clayton Lowell felt deeply wronged. "It wasn’t me!"
Someone nearby immediately recalled and pointed at Quentin Woods. "It was him! He’s the one who knocked over the champagne tower!"
Beverly Lynch crossed her arms. "Professor Quentin Woods, is it? Don’t forget to pay me for the champagne tower before you leave."
Quentin Woods was speechless.
He turned to look at Jane Lancaster. "Don’t you have anything to say?"
He had made a mistake, but it was the disciple’s duty to handle such matters for their master. He was willing to give Jane Lancaster a chance to prove herself.
"I do," Jane Lancaster said. "The champagne may have been provided by Miss Lynch, but please compensate me for the equipment, the venue, the carpet cleaning, and the expenses incurred to appease the guests."
Quentin Woods’s eyes widened. "You’re asking me for compensation?"
’Has she lost her mind? Shouldn’t she be the one apologizing and paying on my behalf, resolving this whole mess perfectly?’
’This old bastard not only wants to skip out on his bill, but he also wants to scam me out of my money? Dream on!’
"Of course I’m asking you for compensation. Who else would I ask, your mother?"
Everyone was silent.
’Oh my God, Miss Lancaster must be furious. She’s going all in! She’s so bold!’
As soon as the words were out, Jane Lancaster realized they could be misinterpreted and quickly clarified, "What I meant was, should I be asking your mother for compensation instead?"
Someone in the crowd let out a "PFFT" of laughter.
Jane Lancaster felt a little helpless; she was being serious with her explanation.
’I’m really not trying to insult him. After all, this guy might actually be a giant man-child.’
’So that’s how it is,’ Beverly Lynch mused. She had to admit, Jane was even more formidable than she was. ’Haven’t you seen the priceless looks on those old geezers’ faces?’
Quentin Woods was so enraged his chest heaved violently. Alvin Lancaster, afraid the man might have a stroke, rushed to help calm him down.
"Professor Woods, please, calm down. She didn’t mean any harm..."
"Insolence!" Quentin Woods roared. "No student of mine has ever dared to speak to me this way!"
"I’ll pay! I’ll cover all the expenses, alright? I’ll arrange a car to take you home right now."
Quentin Woods glanced at Alvin Lancaster. ’That’s more like it. At least one of them has some sense.’
He was too conscious of his status to bring up the matter of her apprenticeship—it would be beneath him. But Jane Lancaster’s behavior today had been atrocious. Was this any way for a prospective student to act?
"Hmph!" He couldn’t be bothered to say more and stormed off.
Willow Summers worried that Beverly Lynch had offended the man too deeply, which would make things difficult for Jane Lancaster under his tutelage.
"Mandy, maybe we should just let it go," she whispered. ’Though, it’s hard to know what to make of him, acting like this before she’s even officially his student.’
Jasper Sterling chuckled softly. "And what about my aunt’s injury? Are you going to cover that on Professor Woods’s behalf as well, Alvin?"
Alvin Lancaster was at a loss for words. He really couldn’t do anything about that.
"I won’t make things difficult for you. You can see Professor Woods off," Jasper Sterling said, his tone shifting. "However, she is my only aunt. I hope you can understand my position, Mr. Lancaster."
He made it clear he would back his aunt to the very end, his firm stance sending a chill down the spines of everyone from the Lowell Group.
The person who had pushed Lana Sterling couldn’t stand the pressure and stepped forward to apologize profusely.
Quentin Woods, however, just stormed off. Apologizing to someone of a younger generation was out of the question for him.
No one tried to stop him this time.
Jasper Sterling said, "Since Professor Woods’s mother has already passed on, we’ll let that go. However, I’ve already arranged to have the people in charge at the Woods family come here to handle this matter."
Quentin Woods stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide. ’What did that bastard just say?’
Jasper Sterling thought for a moment, then turned to Jane Lancaster. "You must have things to take care of today, Jane. Why don’t you head out? I can handle everything here."
Jane Lancaster nodded. She apologized to the remaining guests, announced the party was ending early, and confirmed there would be no engagement party the next day.
Since she had decided to call off the engagement, she needed to act decisively and get home to sort things out.
’I never expected Caleb Lowell and Luna Morgan to give me such a huge surprise.’
Before she left, she gave Jasper Sterling a long, meaningful look.
What was supposed to be a drama about her calling off the wedding to save someone had devolved into this chaotic mess. Without a doubt, this man had played no small part in stirring the pot.