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

Chapter 2: Chapter 2: In Less Than 10 Minutes, You’re Going to Break a Bone

"Jay?" Caleb Lowell frowned, confused as to why she was staring at Luna Morgan when he was standing right in front of her.

"It’s raining today. Why are you wearing so little?" he asked, concerned. "And your hands are so cold..."

’Let’s see where the plot is... Huh? Luna Morgan didn’t leave on her own, Mama Knight kicked her out?!’

’Whatever, it’s not important. They all think "I" was the one who ordered it, anyway.’

’Pauline Shaw has the video and is hesitating about whether to reveal it. After a bit more angsty drama, she won’t be able to stand it anymore and will decide to stop covering for "me"!’

Jane Lancaster shuddered. ’So my ticket is already being punched, huh?’

Just as she was thinking this, a sudden warmth spread across her hand. She looked down to see Caleb Lowell cupping it in his palm.

She bristled instantly, her first impulse to fling his hand away.

’Luna Morgan’s sleeves are filthy. You touched her and now you’re touching me?!’

Caleb Lowell froze. He was a notorious germaphobe but had forgotten in his rush to help her.

Besides, he could clearly see that Jane Lancaster’s lips hadn’t moved. So why could he hear her voice?

’What video? Pauline is here today, too?’

He looked toward the main gate but couldn’t see any sign of his cousin.

Beside them, however, Alvin Lancaster’s face was a mask of shock and... guilt.

Pauline Shaw was Caleb Lowell’s cousin and Jane Lancaster’s best friend.

She had also been one of the hostages back then. When Jane Lancaster took a knife for Luna Morgan, she had dragged the attacker down with her as they fell from the building, indirectly saving Pauline’s life.

He had once thought that Pauline Shaw hated Luna Morgan, too.

But when he went to Westerlyn today, he had seen her together with Luna Morgan.

Pauline Shaw had come with them to the Lancaster family’s home, but she chose to stay in the car, not clinging to Jane Lancaster like she used to.

No one had expected her to do that, so—

’How did my sister know that Pauline was here too?’

For a moment, both men fell into a strange silence.

A gust of wind swept past, and Luna Morgan shivered.

Without hesitation, Caleb Lowell took off his suit jacket and draped it over Jane Lancaster.

The jacket still held his body heat. Jane Lancaster froze for a second before snuggling into it. "Zion, you’re so warm."

She glanced at Luna Morgan. Even though the other woman was dressed warmly, her complexion was clearly off.

’She looks sick... What are these two guys doing? Hurry up and get on with the plot!’

Alvin Lancaster composed himself. "Jay, look! These are the shoots Luna dug for you! The West Mountain Bamboo Shoots from Mount Valerim are the most tender and delicious, and she climbed it just for you!"

He didn’t want Luna’s kindness to be scorned. He had misunderstood her once, but now he knew better than anyone how pure and good she was.

Jane Lancaster’s spirits lifted.

’Here we go! Luna’s mouthpiece has arrived!’

Alvin Lancaster faltered for a moment. "...She also climbed Mount Valerim to pray for you and fulfill a vow."

The housekeeper, Mrs. Everett, exclaimed, "You mean Miss Morgan went to the Gryphon Stone, too? I hear the prayers made there are the most powerful!"

"Mount Valerim is incredibly difficult to climb. One wrong step and you could fall into a chasm! No wonder Miss Morgan is injured..."

"You’re injured, too?" Jane Lancaster feigned the right amount of surprise. "Thank you for going through so much trouble!"

Luna Morgan forced herself to stand straight. "It was no trouble. You saved my life. Nothing I do could ever be enough to repay you!"

And she had kept her word. For three years, no matter how much she was blamed or criticized, she had come to care for Jane Lancaster, rain or shine.

Even now, when Jane Lancaster no longer needed her and had driven her from the Lancaster home, she held no resentment. She would still rush to act on Jane’s slightest whim.

For a moment, all the servants present gave her looks of approval.

The Lancasters weren’t short on money; they could buy anything they wanted. But this kind of heartfelt gesture was truly priceless.

"Authentic West Mountain Bamboo Shoots are a rare find. Thank you." Jane Lancaster feigned reluctance for a moment. "But I can’t accept them."

The warm atmosphere instantly froze.

"Why?" Alvin Lancaster clenched his fists. He just knew it. She was deliberately making things difficult!

’Because the overbearing CEO won’t let me!’

As if on cue with her inner thought, Caleb Lowell spoke, his voice cold.

"Because Jay can’t eat bamboo shoots. Spring shoots are high in oxalic and tannic acids. They’re also a ’cooling’ food. Jay’s body is weak right now; the doctor said she can’t have them."

Caleb Lowell paused. ’The overbearing CEO? Is she talking about me?’

"I’m sorry, I didn’t know..." Luna Morgan’s expression went blank. "I’ll be sure to pay attention to food properties next time..."

Caleb Lowell’s expression was stern. "You’ve taken care of Jay for three years. How could you still make such a rookie mistake?"

Luna Morgan was mortified. "I was wrong, but I truly didn’t mean to harm Miss Lancaster."

In the silence, Alvin Lancaster said teasingly, "But Jay was the one who said she wanted to eat them. If the doctor gave those orders, Jay should have known, too. How could she be so unable to resist a craving?"

’Aha, he’s coming after me? Perfect, here’s my chance!’

Jane Lancaster asked softly, "Alvin, are you blaming me?"

She gave a bitter smile. "You should blame me. Blame my useless body. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to let down Luna’s good intentions..."

She clutched her chest, her breathing growing ragged. "I’m sorry..."

Caleb Lowell supported her, his own heart twisting into a knot. "It’s not your fault."

’Useless body? She was perfectly healthy and intelligent, with a bright future ahead of her.’

’But because of Luna Morgan, all of it was destroyed.’

The moment Caleb Lowell remembered the despair he’d felt outside the emergency room, he wanted to tear Luna Morgan limb from limb.

Jane Lancaster leaned "weakly" against Caleb Lowell. "Zion, I want to go to my room."

"Okay, I’ll take you back to rest."

This was the first time she had been so dependent on him since waking up. Caleb Lowell’s heart melted as he helped her turn to leave.

He turned his head, and his gaze on Luna Morgan was bone-chillingly cold. "Since you know you were wrong, get the hell out!"

Luna Morgan’s face instantly turned white as a sheet, and her body swayed as if she were about to collapse.

’BEEP. Change in character affinity detected. Dislike Value +2.’

Jane Lancaster’s eyes lit up. ’Faking a collapse before the female lead passes out, getting her yelled at in the process... that was easy!’

Alvin Lancaster’s eyes grew cold. ’Just as I thought. She’s doing this on purpose!’

’BEEP. Change in character affinity detected. Dislike Value +3.’

Jane Lancaster thought for a moment. ’Isn’t this a little too easy to rack up?’

’So all that concern before was just an act? You’re so calculating. No wonder you end up going crazy and getting locked in a mental hospital.’

’Couldn’t your sister just have a craving? She also wanted crawfish, hot pot, barbecue, and milk tea. She was just venting to Pauline Shaw. Who knew Pauline would tell Luna Morgan?’

The anger that had just been rising in Alvin Lancaster’s heart was inexplicably extinguished.

’I’m going to go crazy and end up in a mental hospital? That’s my ending?’

’And what does Pauline Shaw have to do with any of this?’

’Since you’re being so passive-aggressive with me, I’m definitely not going to tell you you’re about to break a bone in less than ten minutes!’

Alvin Lancaster didn’t believe her for a second. ’I’m perfectly fine at home. How could I possibly break a bone?’

Caleb Lowell carried Jane Lancaster into the elevator, and the doors slid shut.

Luna Morgan could no longer hold herself up and suddenly collapsed.

"Luna!"

"Miss Morgan!"

Alvin Lancaster touched her forehead and recoiled, startled by how hot she was. He couldn’t worry about anything else; he scooped up Luna Morgan and rushed outside.

The elevator was taken, so he decided to take the stairs.

The moment his foot found empty air, Alvin Lancaster’s heart leaped into his throat. He quickly moved to protect Luna Morgan.

He heard a soft CRACK, and then the world was spinning.

When everything stopped moving, Alvin Lancaster looked at Luna Morgan, who had landed on top of him. Thank God, she was okay.

"Mr. Alvin!" Mrs. Everett ran over to help him up. A piercing, bone-deep pain shot through him, and Alvin Lancaster sucked in a sharp breath.

His ankle was already visibly swelling.

Alvin Lancaster suddenly remembered what Jane Lancaster had thought.

’It seems I really did fall and break a bone... in my own house.’