Chapter 158: You Think Stepping on Luna Morgan Is as Easy as Stepping on Me?
Hearing that thought, Pauline Shaw finally understood. Jane Lancaster had actually cheated, and she’d dragged Luna Morgan into it.
To think that someone as righteous as Luna Morgan had been dragged into this.
She had originally been standing in front of Jane Lancaster, but when she saw Luna Morgan walk onto the stage, she moved to shield Luna instead.
"Don’t take the blame for everything just to repay a debt of gratitude! This has nothing to do with you!"
The person who did wrong should take responsibility for their actions. She didn’t want to help anymore, nor could she.
Pauline Shaw’s sudden defection sent an uproar through the crowd, and people began to murmur amongst themselves.
"What the hell? So it really was Jane Lancaster who was cheating."
"If even Pauline Shaw is saying it, how could it not be true?"
"My god, that’s so embarrassing."
The chatter in the hall was a mix of everything. Some were just enjoying the drama, some were expressing their doubts, and others turned their gazes to Julian Lancaster, waiting for his reaction.
Julian Lancaster was watching Jane Lancaster. From the moment she was accused, she hadn’t spared him a single glance.
Just as he was about to speak, Sean Grant stepped forward to play peacemaker. "This is hardly a major issue, let’s not make it so serious. Young Master, the auspicious hour has arrived. Why don’t we start the banquet?"
The crowd was speechless. "..."
’Is he trying to shut us up with food?’
’We don’t want a banquet, we want drama!’
Sean Grant tried to walk past, but Jasper Sterling blocked his path. With a smile, he asked, "That’s not the right thing to say, is it, Mr. Grant? It’s almost as if you’ve already decided that Jay was cheating."
’This guy is always up to no good. He’s not getting past me to pull any tricks.’
Sean Grant replied, "...Of course not. You must be joking, President Sterling."
"Hand it over, now!" Worried that Julian Lancaster would forcibly shut down the whole affair, Mia Lanley grew anxious and lunged to grab it herself.
Jane Lancaster knocked her hand away. "I don’t think you have the right to search me, do you?"
Ian Lane was losing his patience, too. Mia Lanley was useless; after all this time, she still hadn’t gotten her hands on the evidence. Since that was the case, he decided not to hold back.
Catching Jane Lancaster off guard, he reached out and grabbed for her pocket.
SMACK! Jane Lancaster slapped his hand away forcefully.
"Don’t touch me! Who knows if you’re hiding something in your hand, ready to frame me?"
Ian Lane’s hand throbbed with pain as if it were broken. He hadn’t expected her to turn the tables on him. "Fine! Then take what’s in your pocket out yourself!"
Jane Lancaster said, "Since you’re so eager to see, I’ll show you."
Without much hesitation, she pulled out the contents of her pocket.
After pulling it out, she froze for a moment herself.
’Huh? Why is it a handkerchief?’
The crowd, who had been craning their necks to get a look, also froze. "..."
This wasn’t the result they had been expecting!
Ian Lane was in disbelief. He and Mia Lanley had been watching her the entire time; there was no way they had made a mistake. "Impossible! You must have hidden the answer sheet!"
Jane Lancaster took off her blazer and turned all the pockets inside out for everyone to see.
"See clearly now? I have nothing on me besides this handkerchief. So, why are you spreading malicious rumors?"
Ian Lane and Mia Lanley were completely dumbfounded. What in the world was going on?
Even Luna Morgan looked on in disbelief. She had been secretly watching Leo’s movements and had only relaxed once she was sure the answer sheet had been passed.
Mia Lanley’s head was spinning. "I don’t believe it! I saw Mr. Leo stuff the answer sheet into your pocket with my own eyes!"
All eyes snapped back to Sean Grant.
Sean Grant’s expression darkened. Just as he was about to speak, Jasper Sterling cut in first.
"Oh? Then I’d like to ask, where exactly did *he* get this answer sheet from?" Jasper’s smile vanished, his handsome eyes turning bone-chillingly cold. "You mentioned being a role model for others just now. Is this what you meant? Spouting nonsense and slinging mud?"
Mia Lanley’s face turned ugly. She had only dared to make a scene because she thought it was a sure thing. But now that she’d been proven wrong, she was in trouble.
"It was Luna Morgan who gave it to him, of course!" Mia Lanley said, grabbing Luna Morgan’s hand as if clutching at a lifeline.
"Say it! Did you steal the answer sheet and pass it to him?"
Luna Morgan was completely flustered, her face flushing crimson. "I..."
Mia Lanley demanded harshly, "Don’t you pride yourself on being righteous and selfless? Say it, now! Don’t you lie!"
She had it all planned out. You always pick the weakest target. Luna Morgan was incapable of lying; she might be able to save her.
Jane Lancaster shot her a look of pity.
’Sigh, what an idiot. Do you really think stepping on Luna Morgan is as easy as stepping on me?’
"Absurd!" Sean Grant frowned. "Luna never passed anything to me. Someone like you is completely unfit to be a teacher. I will be reporting you to your school."
Mia Lanley’s face went deathly pale, but that wasn’t the end of it.
Julian Lancaster said with a cold expression, "Since Ms. Langley isn’t here as a guest, the Lancaster family will no longer welcome you. Please leave. Immediately."
’Now you know how many people’s sore spots you’ve hit, don’t you? Did you really think the heroine’s kindness could save your pathetic hide?’
’I told you to leave ages ago, but you just had to get involved in the drama.’
’Ian Lane is so clever. He goaded you into being his attack dog, then went silent the second things went south. You’re the real idiot here.’
Alvin Lancaster also felt a little uneasy. He stepped forward to ask Mia Lanley to leave.
Mia Lanley stared at Jane Lancaster. "Did you set this trap for me on purpose?"
Jane Lancaster replied, "I think there might be something wrong with your head. Why don’t you get your story straight first? Who exactly are you trying to accuse?"
In the end, Mia Lanley slinked away in disgrace. No one spoke up for her. Even Luna Morgan, the one she believed was incapable of lying, had remained silent.
Sean Grant gave Jasper Sterling a long, hard look, a new layer of wariness in his eyes.
If he wasn’t mistaken, Jasper Sterling must have slipped the handkerchief into Jane Lancaster’s pocket during that brief second or two when Julian Lancaster was blocking the view.
The two of them had coordinated perfectly, and even he had been used in their scheme.
He had sensed something was amiss and had planned to use the chaos to pass her the real answer sheet. But that stupid woman had not only accused him, but Luna Morgan as well, making the situation nearly impossible to resolve.
There was no way he could produce the answer sheet in his hand now. He would have to find a way to get rid of it.
On the edge of the crowd, Sylvan let out a bored "Tch."
He was truly stunned. That woman had just jumped on stage to accuse Jane Lancaster of cheating. It was the most ridiculous farce imaginable.
Now that the misunderstanding was cleared up, she’d certainly been put in her place.
But then again, had everyone forgotten something?
He thought for a moment. He was bored anyway, so he might as well. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the stage:
"So, does this mean Jane Lancaster really answered fifty questions correctly in a row? And in less than thirty minutes? My god, that’s incredible!"
Only then did it dawn on the crowd. That’s right, how could anyone possibly do that?
"What kind of skill level is that?" someone asked. Then, everyone’s gaze shifted to Adrian Lancaster.
He was, after all, the champion who had conquered The Tower of Wit.
Cecilia Nash chuckled. "As far as I know, the record for The Tower of Wit’s champion is fifty questions in one hour and seventeen minutes."
"What do you know? The difficulty of the questions is completely different. You can’t compare them," someone immediately retorted.
Adrian Lancaster wasn’t just a young genius; he was a top celebrity now.
Cecilia Nash just smiled without another word and looked at Adrian Lancaster. "And what do you think?"