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

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Heaven-Moving Mother-Son Love

Jasper Sterling’s charming eyes suddenly curved, brimming with amusement. "My apologies. I jammed the wheelchair on purpose."

He took two steps back, standing on the edge of the raised platform, and explained, "You were in such a hurry just now. I was worried you might have an accident, so I played a little joke. I hope you don’t mind."

The Lancaster family’s living room had a raised platform to delineate different areas. Alvin Lancaster had been in such a rush that he’d nearly forgotten about it.

"I don’t mind. You were just looking out for me." Alvin Lancaster looked a bit embarrassed. He shouldn’t have doubted the man’s intentions.

Jasper Sterling made a polite gesture, inviting Alvin Lancaster to go ahead of him.

He had, in fact, done it on purpose—but not out of kindness.

Alvin Lancaster was so consumed by rage that his mind probably wasn’t clear. This would help him calm down and prevent him from doing something utterly foolish.

A servant pushed Alvin Lancaster over. With a cold expression, he took a seat across from Jane Lancaster.

He had always indulged his younger sister, but today, he had to assert his authority as her older brother and show her that she wasn’t the one who called the shots in the Lancaster Family.

There had to be a limit to her willfulness. Otherwise, she couldn’t blame him for not holding back.

He glanced at Jasper Sterling, still trying to figure out how to ask him to leave, but the man had already sat down next to Jane Lancaster.

Alvin Lancaster was left speechless.

’Whatever,’ he thought. ’With an outsider here, maybe my sister will restrain herself a little.’

"Mrs. Everett, please get up. You’ve taken care of us for over a decade. You’re practically an elder to us. It makes no sense for you to kneel to someone of a younger generation."

Jane Lancaster looked as if she’d been snubbed, wanting to speak but holding back. Her inner voice, however, was quite cheerful.

’Now that you’ve lost your temper, there’s even less chance Mrs. Everett will get up.’

’She’s already gone all out. How could she bear to get up without seeing me get a harsh scolding? Otherwise, wouldn’t all this kneeling be for nothing?’

"Jay!" Alvin Lancaster couldn’t take it anymore.

’What reason would Mrs. Everett have to target her? She’s the one who backed someone into a corner!’

"Mrs. Everett is just a poor, pitiful woman. What good does firing her do for you?"

Calvin Cole hesitated for a moment. "Second Young Master, the order to dismiss Felicia Everett came from the Eldest Young Master..."

Alvin Lancaster retorted, his words laced with sarcasm, "Special Assistant Cole, my eldest brother is abroad. If it weren’t for Jay, he would never concern himself with such a trivial matter."

Calvin Cole fell silent. Although he was here to back up Jane Lancaster, the man before him was still the Second Young Master of the Lancaster Family—not someone he could afford to offend.

Jane Lancaster’s eyes suddenly reddened. "Brother, are you really getting this angry at me for an outsider?"

Alvin Lancaster was completely unmoved. His sister was the definition of two-faced; he wasn’t about to be fooled by her tears.

"Mrs. Everett is not an outsider. She has been in the Lancaster Family taking care of us for over ten years; our bond with her is special. By doing this, aren’t you afraid people will think you’re cold-blooded and cruel?"

"How could you think of me that way, Brother?" Jane Lancaster’s face was a mask of sorrow. "I’m your most beloved little sister!"

Yet, the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but twitch upward. She’d just gained another 3 Dislike Points!

’Just as I thought. This guy hates being emotionally blackmailed with family ties.’

’That’s right, I’m a cold-blooded, cruel, bad seed. And someone like me just happens to be your biological sister. Isn’t that disgusting?’

Alvin Lancaster said, "I side with reason, not with family. It’s precisely because you’re my sister that I have a greater duty to discipline you."

Jane Lancaster heard the announcement of "Dislike Value +1" and looked at Alvin Lancaster as if he were The Benefactor himself.

’Who said you were the biggest goody-two-shoes of the three Lancaster brothers? This is pretty ruthless... but I like it!’

Mrs. Everett said through her tears, "Second Young Master, please don’t scare the Young Miss. Let’s just talk things over calmly."

Jane Lancaster turned her gaze to Mrs. Everett again.

’Keep crying. Act a little more pathetic, and this big idiot will back you up to the very end.’

’But Mrs. Everett really is an inspirational figure. I bet Mama Knight would never dream that Mrs. Everett, a mere servant, could one day rise up and become the mistress of the Lancaster Family.’

’Not only will she be "entitled" to do things "for my own good" then, she’ll even be able to discipline me.’

Alvin Lancaster frowned. ’The mistress of the Lancaster Family? What does that mean?’

Jane Lancaster was still pondering the future plot points.

’Speaking of which, you two are really a match made in heaven.’

’To take care of the big idiot who’d lost his mind, Mrs. Everett didn’t even go to see her own daughter one last time before she died of illness.’

’And the big idiot, to help Mrs. Everett secure her position as Mrs. Lancaster, not only transferred all his shares of The Crestwood Hotel to her, but also renamed it The Phoenixia Hotel.’

’Such a touching mother-son bond, it could move heaven and earth!’

"Second Young Master, quickly say something to the Young Miss..."

"Shut up!" Alvin Lancaster was so shocked he nearly shot up from his chair.

Mrs. Everett froze, stunned by his roar. She didn’t understand why he had suddenly told her to shut up.

Alvin Lancaster’s mind was in turmoil. He had no time to explain that he had wanted Jane Lancaster to shut up.

’The "Mrs. Lancaster" part was shocking enough, but for me to rename The Crestwood Hotel to The Phoenixia Hotel? How is that possible? I would have to be insane!’

’That was the hotel Mother founded! The Crestwood Hotel... its name came from her, June Kent!’

’Even though The Crestwood Hotel is in the hands of the Sterling Family now, they’ve never changed the name out of respect for its founder!’

Mrs. Everett lifted her head as if she had made a decision. "Second Young Master, please don’t fight with the Young Miss on my account. I’ll just leave. I’ll... I’ll be fine."

Though she said this, her face was filled with confusion and sorrow, as if she had no idea what her future held.

Alvin Lancaster was touched. Mrs. Everett had always been like this, willing to suffer grievances herself rather than put him in a difficult position.

He thought with a cold expression, ’The future my sister described in her thoughts can’t possibly be real.’

’Mrs. Everett’s kindness toward me is genuine. I refuse to believe my sister’s attempts to sow discord.’

"I won’t let you leave the Lancaster Family." No matter what, he was going to protect Mrs. Everett today.

Jasper Sterling chuckled softly and lowered his gaze. He had rarely seen a woman like Mrs. Everett.

Even though her youth had faded and her looks were not particularly outstanding, her expressions and movements had a certain quality that made people want to pity her.

’Since she’s going to be the new owner of The Crestwood Hotel, I, as the current owner who hasn’t gone bankrupt yet, should at least make a gesture.’

"The Lancasters are exceptionally good employers. Nothing is set in stone yet. You should get up and state your case properly. The Second Young Master will help you."

Mrs. Everett looked over at him gratefully.

’She knew it,’ she thought. ’This noble and kind young man wouldn’t be able to just stand by and watch. He would take the initiative to speak up for her.’

’Today, Jane Lancaster won’t be able to escape getting a reputation for being arrogant and domineering.’

’In high society, reputation is everything. How could she possibly win any favor if she’s known for mistreating servants?’

Jasper Sterling smiled as he watched Mrs. Everett place a hand on her lower back, preparing to rise.

Then, his tone shifted. "After all, with you kneeling like this, Jay’s image as the villain is cemented. Of course the Second Young Master has to seek justice for you."

Mrs. Everett was baffled. She struggled to maintain her composure. "Young Master Sterling, have I done something to offend you...?"

Jasper Sterling wore an apologetic expression. "You haven’t. It’s purely a matter of my own poor character. I’m an overly suspicious person."

"But you’re about to kneel again. Are you trying to cement *my* image as a villain, perhaps?"

Mrs. Everett’s movement to kneel froze. She was stuck, unable to kneel or to stand.

Jane Lancaster was truly impressed. It was a real eye-opener.

’Never would have thought! Mrs. Everett has her ways with young men, but today she’s met her Waterloo!’

’You may be a white lotus with a thousand years of practice, but you’re no match for Jasper Sterling, who’s a green tea master with ten thousand years of experience!’

Jasper Sterling smiled faintly and lowered his gaze. ’A green tea master with ten thousand years of experience?’ He would take that as a compliment.

Alvin Lancaster frowned. "Mrs. Everett, get up and speak properly. Kneeling won’t solve anything."

He wasn’t an idiot. Jasper Sterling’s words had sown a field of doubt in his mind.