Everyone Can Hear My Thoughts, and Now They're Panicking

Chapter 12: Chapter 12: You’re Definitely One of the Suckers

They also sent a few photos. In them, Mrs. Everett was practicing how to make her secret recipe fish balls.

Secret recipe fish balls were a delicacy from their hometown, and since Mrs. Everett was from the same town, she naturally knew how to make them.

However, her cooking skills weren’t very good. Although she had been hired as a cook back then because she was from their hometown, she wasn’t really qualified for the job.

Now, just to make a single dish of secret recipe fish balls, she had to practice beforehand.

Back then, the Lancaster family’s business wasn’t so large, so they didn’t have many servants. Mrs. Everett had free rein in the kitchen.

Gradually, Jane realized that she often couldn’t get a hot meal.

The Lancaster children all had extracurricular classes, and their schedules didn’t line up, making it difficult for them to eat dinner together.

Mrs. Everett’s cooking schedule always revolved around the three older brothers.

Sometimes, Jane went straight from school to her extracurriculars and would only find cold leftovers when she returned. Other times, her classes were at seven or eight in the evening. Even with an hour or two break, Mrs. Everett never prepared anything for her, forcing her to attend class on an empty stomach.

In stark contrast, no matter when her three brothers came home, there were always hot meals waiting for them.

When Timothy Lancaster discovered this, he immediately told Mrs. Everett to pack her bags and leave the Lancaster estate that very night.

When Alvin Lancaster found out, he talked back to his father for the first time in his life...

In the end, Mrs. Everett was allowed to stay, but only as a cleaner.

When Timothy Lancaster called Mrs. Everett into his study to talk, she acted incredibly wronged.

She felt that taking good care of the three young masters was enough. What was the big deal if the young miss was occasionally overlooked?

’Doesn’t every family prioritize their sons? No matter how doted on a daughter is, she can’t be more important than the sons, can she?’

Timothy Lancaster said coldly, "Taking care of the entire family is not as important as taking care of Jay. Remember this: if Jay hadn’t pleaded for you, I would have never let you stay today."

"In our Lancaster family, Jay’s needs come first. What gives you the right to mistreat her?"

At the time, Mrs. Everett was shocked. She immediately burst into tears and said, "Sir, I’m so sorry. My parents favored my brothers over me, and I was never valued or treated kindly at home. That’s why I made this mistake."

Timothy Lancaster thought they were tears of remorse. Only Jane Lancaster knew they were the poison of jealousy.

Jane Lancaster replied to the text: "Great. As it happens, I have some business with Mrs. Everett tomorrow, too."

’She’d said she was going to settle scores with Mrs. Everett. How could she go back on her word?’

The next morning, Alvin Lancaster saw it was about time and prepared to leave to pick up his sister.

He had switched to a different wheelchair today—the very one Jane Lancaster had once used.

When Jane first came home, she couldn’t walk on her own. Mrs. Everett would occasionally help by pushing her around the courtyard to admire the flowers and scenery.

’Hopefully, when my sister sees the wheelchair, she’ll soften up a bit and not be too hard on Mrs. Everett.’

Mrs. Everett pushed his wheelchair as she saw him out, looking like she wanted to say something but holding back.

"Alright, don’t worry. The fact that Jay is willing to come back means she’s not going to pursue the matter."

Alvin Lancaster paused, then looked up to see a car driving into the courtyard.

A look of pleasant surprise crossed Mrs. Everett’s face. She ran forward and pulled open the car door before the vehicle had even come to a complete stop.

"Young Master Lowell, what brings you here?"

Alvin Lancaster was left behind, momentarily stunned, but he didn’t say anything.

Caleb Lowell looked at the dark circles under Mrs. Everett’s eyes. Remembering what she had told him last night, his heart softened.

"Just apologize properly like you said you would last night. It’ll be fine, don’t be afraid."

’If she hadn’t been desperate, Mrs. Everett probably wouldn’t have revealed her difficulties and her fear of losing the job she depended on for her livelihood.’

Alvin Lancaster asked curiously, "What did Mrs. Everett say last night?"

"Nothing." It concerned someone else’s privacy, so he couldn’t say.

Alvin Lancaster was a bit surprised. ’He can’t even tell me?’ He subconsciously glanced at Mrs. Everett.

But Mrs. Everett wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she was holding an umbrella to shield Caleb Lowell from the sun.

Alvin Lancaster pulled his thoughts back. Soon, Caleb Lowell came forward to help him into the car. The driver stored the wheelchair, and the car drove off.

In The Crestwood Hotel lobby, Jane Lancaster stood up and waved. "Over here."

Caleb Lowell walked over quickly. "Didn’t we say I’d come upstairs to get you?"

Jane Lancaster smiled. "I was just sitting around with nothing to do, so I came down early."

Alvin Lancaster turned his wheelchair. "Alright, let’s save the talk for when we get home."

He glanced at the suitcase beside them and gestured for the driver to put it in the car.

Jane Lancaster hadn’t even stepped into the main building when she saw a dozen or so servants standing under the eaves of the corridor.

Mrs. Everett stepped forward and handed her a bouquet of flowers.

Then she stepped back and bowed deeply. "Miss Lancaster, I’m sorry. I handled things improperly the other day. I was wrong. Please give me a chance to make it right."

Mama Knight snorted coldly. "So now you know you were wrong? What about all the times before?"

"I’m sorry, it’s all my fault." Mrs. Everett didn’t try to defend herself, keeping her back bent and her head bowed low.

Behind her, all the other servants bowed in unison. "Miss Lancaster, we were wrong!"

Jane Lancaster looked down, fiddling with the flowers in her arms, her smile gentle and serene.

’Which sucker paid for these flowers?’

Alvin Lancaster wheeled himself forward. "Jay, everyone is so happy you’re home. They all pitched in to buy you these flowers."

Jane Lancaster gave him a pitying look. ’I get it. You’re definitely one of the suckers.’

Alvin Lancaster: "..."

This brand of flowers wasn’t cheap; it wouldn’t have been right to make the servants chip in.

So, after learning of Mrs. Everett’s plan, he had taken the initiative and transferred the money for the flowers to her.

Alvin Lancaster felt his sister was being too extreme. ’What does it matter who paid? It’s the thought that counts.’

He thought for a moment, then added, "Everyone was worried sick that night. They searched for you for half the night and didn’t get to sleep until three or four in the morning."

’That’s right. Because of me, they were forced to work overtime until three or four in the morning, and they were almost forced to pay for flowers to give to me. Of course they’d be full of resentment toward me.’

It was just as Jane Lancaster had expected. Dragging everyone down with her was a standard move for Mrs. Everett.

Caleb Lowell frowned slightly. ’How could she think that?’

"Jay, everyone was just concerned about you..."

’Got it. You’re one of the suckers, too.’ Jane Lancaster immediately looked over at him.

Caleb Lowell: "..."

Mrs. Everett found it a bit strange. ’Why have Caleb Lowell and Alvin Lancaster stopped speaking up for me?’

She couldn’t see their expressions, so she could only do her best to appear sincere and pitiful.

"Miss Lancaster, it’s all my fault, completely and utterly. It has nothing to do with anyone else..."

Jane Lancaster looked at Mrs. Everett’s bent back, the corners of her lips curling up slightly. "Is that so? Then tell me, what exactly did you do wrong?"

Mrs. Everett kept her head bowed, her eyes filled with scorn.

’Jane Lancaster must have damaged her brain when she got sick. How dare she torment me so openly.’

’Does she really think she’s still that high and mighty young miss?’

’No matter how doted on she was as a child, she won’t get a single shred of the inheritance now that she’s grown up.’

’Times have changed. She doesn’t call the shots in the Lancaster family anymore.’

Mrs. Everett’s voice was sincere. "I was inflexible, and in trying to handle everything, I ended up neglecting the young miss."

"A good summary, but you still haven’t answered my question. What, specifically, did you do wrong?" Jane Lancaster had no intention of letting her off the hook.

"I failed to properly arrange a car for the young miss. And I especially shouldn’t have ordered Young Master Lowell to do things."

Alvin Lancaster was growing anxious.

Mrs. Everett had been bent over for so long that her face was flushed red and her voice had begun to tremble slightly.

’If my sister keeps making things difficult for her, she’ll be going too far.’

Caleb Lowell frowned. "Jay, this isn’t Mrs. Everett’s fault. I was in a hurry to save someone and wasn’t careful enough to avoid suspicion."

Although he had a clear conscience, he was willing to apologize since Jane Lancaster seemed to care so much.