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

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: I Didn’t Plan on Letting You Go, Either

Mrs. Everett had always been sensible. How could she not understand that kneeling would only escalate the conflict and put Jane in an impossible position?

Whenever a servant made a mistake, she would only tell Alvin privately, saying she was afraid of hurting their pride.

How could someone so considerate completely lose her composure over this one thing?

Unless... she was doing it on purpose.

Mrs. Everett’s heart began to race. Alvin’s expression looked off. ’But why?’

How could she dare remain kneeling? "Mr. Alvin, Miss Jane, I’m sorry. I was just too anxious."

"When I think about what happened back then... I get so scared." Her face was a mask of misery and helplessness. She looked utterly pitiful.

Alvin Lancaster immediately dismissed his doubts.

That incident back then really had left Mrs. Everett with severe psychological trauma.

For a long time after that, Mrs. Everett had been cautious and timid. He’d seen her several times cleaning his sister’s room, kneeling on the floor to check for any stray hairs or dust.

She was terrified that the slightest oversight would get reported to their father again, costing her the job.

As he recalled those scenes, Alvin’s heart hardened once more.

"Mrs. Everett, sit down while you speak." He paused, then added, "Don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one will dare to touch you today."

Jane Lancaster had to hand it to Mrs. Everett. Not only was she quick-witted, but she was also incredibly adaptable. No wonder she was the one who would have the last laugh.

’No one will dare touch her? In that case, I’ll definitely have to make a move.’

"Miss Jane, Lawyer Stone is here." A servant led in a lawyer dressed in a sharp suit.

Alvin’s eyes turned cold. ’She actually brought a lawyer?’

His voice was icy as he spoke. "Jay, don’t be so tyrannical. You don’t call the shots in this family yet!"

Jane Lancaster didn’t even spare him a glance. "Lawyer Stone, please explain the situation."

Lawyer Stone said, "This is the employment agreement signed by Ms. Felicia Everett. It clearly states that she was hired as the Young Miss’s personal housekeeper, with her salary being paid from the Young Miss’s personal account."

Jane Lancaster looked at Calvin Cole. "My apologies. My eldest brother has no authority to fire Mrs. Everett. The only people who can decide if she stays or goes are Father and I."

The color drained slightly from Calvin Cole’s face. It had been his oversight; he had assumed all the servants in the Lancaster household were contracted through the same company.

But if Mrs. Everett had signed such an agreement, why hadn’t she mentioned it?

Jane Lancaster then turned her head to look at Alvin Lancaster. She said nothing, but her meaning was unmistakable.

Alvin Lancaster’s expression was so dark it looked like storm clouds had gathered on his face. He slowly clenched his fists, once again feeling that profound sense of powerlessness from his youth.

’Warning, warning. Alvin Lancaster’s favorability score is about to hit zero!’

Alvin slowly unclenched his fists. No, he was no longer that helpless boy from back then.

He quickly calmed himself. "Fine, you can make Mrs. Everett leave. But what about her severance package..."

Before he could finish, Jane Lancaster’s voice cut over his. "Mrs. Everett, I never said I was going to fire you."

’You’re definitely thinking about fighting for a hefty compensation package for Mrs. Everett, then secretly getting her a job at the company, right?’

’Guess whether I’ll let the two of you—mother and son—get your wish?’

’BEEP. Change in character favorability detected. Alvin Lancaster’s favorability score has reached zero.’

Jane Lancaster paused, then continued, "However, Mrs. Everett, you have been reassigning my personal chauffeur for other uses for a long time, which is indeed a breach of the agreement. You signed a letter of guarantee back then stating that if you violated the terms again, you would be sent to tend the vegetable garden on the back hill."

Before, she had said it was fine for Mrs. Everett to ask Caleb Lowell for help, and she had intended to let it slide. What she wouldn’t let slide now was the issue with the chauffeur.

Of the three chauffeurs in the Lancaster family, one was hired specifically for her.

As her personal chauffeur, he had a separate contract and a higher salary, but was required to be on standby for her 24 hours a day.

At first, the chauffeur only served her. But her three brothers in the Lancaster family often had trouble scheduling cars. She felt it was no big deal to let her brothers use him, so he gradually began to serve all three of them.

Over time, everyone forgot he was supposed to be her personal chauffeur.

And yet, the personal chauffeur’s salary was paid from her personal account.

Even during the three years she was in a coma, his salary was never interrupted. But the one and only time she had wanted to use the car since waking up, Mrs. Everett had done someone a favor and arranged for her personal chauffeur to get off work early.

Lawyer Stone handed the employment agreement and the letter of guarantee to Alvin Lancaster for his review.

Jane Lancaster’s voice was light. "Second Brother, I know you can’t bear to part with Mrs. Everett, so how could I fire her?"

’Surprise, surprise! Didn’t see that coming, did you?’

’Your little sister begged for a long time back then to let Mrs. Everett stay. The condition was that she had to sign this agreement.’

’That’s also when she had to start paying Mrs. Everett’s salary herself. That was the price she paid for sticking up for someone.’

’So the terms being a little harsh isn’t too much to ask, is it?’

Alvin Lancaster stared at her, stunned.

He had always thought Mrs. Everett was allowed to stay back then because their eldest brother had pleaded for her. So that wasn’t it?

’But you definitely think it’s going too far. You think this is oppression. You think I’m hypocritical and manipulative.’

’The vegetable garden is hard work. Mrs. Everett has lived a pampered life for so many years, how could you bear to see her suffer?’

’You must be so angry and frustrated right now, hating me for using Father to pressure you again.’

’Who told you to try and make Mrs. Everett your stepmother? You two can play mother and son all you want, that’s fine. But trying to make her my stepmother so she can walk all over me? Not happening.’

’As long as Mrs. Everett is in that vegetable garden for even one day, Father will always remember how she mistreated me, and he will never take a liking to her.’

’Even if they’re truly in love, they’ll have to wait until I’m dead to get together!’

Alvin Lancaster: "Jane Lancaster!"

’What on earth is she thinking?!’

’Why are you being so fierce? You completely hate me now, don’t you? Good. Hating me is the right move, because I have no intention of letting you off the hook either.’

Tears instantly streamed down Jane Lancaster’s face. "Second Brother, are you going to lecture me now?"

Mama Knight came out carrying a tray of fruit tea. When she saw Jane Lancaster crying, she instantly panicked.

"Young Miss! Why are you crying?"

Jane Lancaster said, "If Second Brother doesn’t want to lecture me right now, then I’ll be leaving, so I don’t annoy you any further."

With that, she stood up and walked straight out.

Alvin Lancaster subconsciously raised his hand, but upon realizing he was about to ask her to stay, he curled his fingers back into a fist.

He watched her retreating back and thought coldly, ’Who do you think you’re threatening? Do you really think I’m afraid of you?’

’I’ve been putting up with you my whole life. I’ve wanted to stop for a long time. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you’re leaving.’

But his heart felt empty, not at all as triumphant as he had imagined.

Mama Knight wiped away a tear and looked at Calvin Cole. "Our Young Miss has suffered too much these past few days. You have to tell the Eldest Young Master!"

At this point, she didn’t care if she offended the Second Young Master. "You must have the Eldest Young Master get justice for our Young Miss!"

After saying her piece, she turned and hurried out after Jane.

"I’ll see the Young Miss out," Calvin Cole said before hastily following.

Even now, he didn’t understand how the situation had turned out like this.

Mrs. Everett was staying, but Jane Lancaster had run away from home again, and for completely justifiable reasons.

He had a splitting headache. This counted as his mistake, and he was afraid he would leave the Eldest Young Master with the impression that he was incompetent.