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

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: You’ll Definitely Get a Seat at the Matchmaker’s Table

"Miss Jane, please don’t be angry. Why don’t you wait for Young Master Lowell to come back and take you?" Mrs. Everett coaxed, as if she were dealing with a little girl’s tantrum.

When she saw Mama Knight actually retrieve the suitcase, she could barely conceal the scorn in her eyes.

She silently followed Jane Lancaster downstairs and glanced at the courtyard.

The rain was coming down hard now. In the courtyard, the trees were being tossed about by the wind, and the ground was littered with scattered red petals.

’In a storm this bad, even I wouldn’t dare go out, let alone a pampered young lady like her.’

’It’s about time this farce came to an end.’

"Miss Jane, why don’t we just go back to your room?" Mrs. Everett suggested softly, thinking it was about time.

Just then, a car braved the downpour and pulled into the courtyard.

Mrs. Everett froze.

"I called a private car with a ride-hailing app. Added an 800-yuan tip, so the driver accepted instantly." Jane Lancaster slid her hands into her trench coat pockets. "It’s not like I can only leave if Caleb Lowell takes me."

’So why was it that when Luna Morgan fainted, the only solution was to find Caleb Lowell?’

’Unless... Mrs. Everett did it intentionally.’

In the novel, Mrs. Everett, as the Lancaster Family’s housekeeper, frequently went to Caleb Lowell regarding matters concerning the original ’Jane’.

By doing so, she would "unintentionally" expose the original Jane’s schemes, helping the male and female leads clear up many misunderstandings.

’But if she was doing it intentionally, well, that makes things very interesting.’

"When Luna Morgan and Caleb Lowell get married, I’m sure you’ll have a seat at the matchmaker’s table," Jane Lancaster said pointedly.

The color drained from Mrs. Everett’s face, and she stammered in a panic, "Miss Jane, I didn’t..."

Jane Lancaster pulled open the living room door, and a gust of wind and rain immediately swept in, battering Mrs. Everett.

—

Late at night, the storm still raged. Caleb Lowell rushed out of the hospital.

A few minutes earlier, Mrs. Everett had called to say that Jane Lancaster had run away from home.

Caleb Lowell was in such a panic that he disregarded everything and bolted downstairs.

"Caleb!" Pauline Shaw called, chasing after him. "I have something to tell you."

She had agonized for a long time before finally making up her mind. "Do you know who was really responsible for our kidnapping...?"

"What do you want to say?" The rain was too loud, and his phone just kept ringing with no one picking up. Frantic, Caleb Lowell hadn’t heard a word she said.

He suddenly remembered the thoughts he’d overheard from Jane Lancaster before he left. His voice turned icy. "Whatever you want to say, shut up!"

Pauline Shaw’s breath hitched, stunned by her cousin’s harsh tone.

"I’m warning you," Caleb said. "I love Jay. In my heart, no one can compare to her, and that includes you."

’How could he possibly let a few words from his cousin shake his feelings for Jay?’

Pauline Shaw felt a pang in her heart, a faint, sharp pain. "...I get it."

’She just wanted her cousin to know the truth.’

’Someone was basking in undeserved glory, while someone else was shouldering a reputation they didn’t deserve.’

’But her cousin had misunderstood her and said such cruel things.’

Alvin Lancaster came over, limping on his crutch, and pulled Pauline Shaw aside.

"You should head home. There’s nothing for you here."

Pauline Shaw felt wronged. "Alvin..."

Alvin Lancaster hesitated. There was one question he needed to ask. "Why did Luna go to Westerlyn to dig for bamboo shoots? Did you say something to her?"

Pauline Shaw looked utterly shocked. "Alvin, you suspect me, too?"

"No, no," Alvin said quickly. "I was just asking. Don’t take it to heart."

’So he couldn’t completely trust his sister’s thoughts, either. Pauline had no reason to sow discord.’

"Caleb, I’ll go back with you," Alvin Lancaster said with a sigh. "I should apologize to Jay for what I said earlier, anyway."

’His sister had been thoroughly spoiled since childhood. All she had to do was throw a tantrum and run away, and she sent everyone into a panic.’

’By contrast, the one lying in that hospital bed hadn’t uttered a single complaint, even with a fever high enough to make her faint. Her strength was heartbreaking.’

’If Mrs. Everett hadn’t told him, he wouldn’t have even known she’d been homeless since leaving the Lancaster Family.’

’And yet, even then, she held not a shred of resentment toward my sister. All she thought about was repaying her debt of gratitude, her heart filled with pure sincerity.’

Lost in thought, Alvin Lancaster got into the car with Caleb Lowell.

The car had just pulled away when Alvin Lancaster’s phone suddenly rang.

Caleb Lowell glanced over at him. "Is that Jay?"

Just as Alvin Lancaster hit the answer key, a cheerful voice came through the speaker. "Alvin, were you the one who brought me to the hospital?"

It was Luna Morgan. She had just woken up, and though her voice was still weak, she was forcing herself to sound full of energy.

Alvin Lancaster sighed, knowing she was just putting on a brave face again. "Are you feeling any better...?"

Suddenly, the phone was snatched from his hand.

Caleb Lowell’s voice was frigid: "Who gave you permission to call him that?"

—

Jane Lancaster slept soundly through the night.

A lavish breakfast was delivered to her hotel room early in the morning. Jane Lancaster ate while checking her notifications, discovering that her Disgust Value had increased by 3 points.

’Wait a minute, why did the male lead’s Favorability Value go up?’

’It was at 95%, and it actually went up another point.’

[Plot has been altered. After the male lead learned you ran away from home, he did not watch the video and instead took his anger out on the female lead.]

[Only Pauline Shaw and Alvin Lancaster believe you are deliberately stirring up trouble, contributing 8 points of Disgust Value.]

Jane Lancaster sighed. "Looks like Caleb Lowell truly is in love with me. He doesn’t even suspect that I have ulterior motives."

"That’s not right! His one point of Favorability Value cancels out five points of Disgust Value? He’s supposed to be an obstacle, not a help!" Jane felt a pang of regret.

She even lost her appetite for breakfast.

Mama Knight approached hesitantly. "Miss Jane, please don’t be angry. Young Master Lowell loves you the most. He’s always despised Luna Morgan! Really!"

As she said this, she straightened her back proudly. "Every time Luna Morgan failed to take proper care of you, Young Master Lowell would give her a harsh scolding!"

Jane Lancaster put down her spoon, recalling the scene from yesterday when she’d gone downstairs.

Alvin Lancaster had been standing closer, but when Luna Morgan started to fall, Caleb Lowell reacted faster.

The reaction was almost instinctual. He completely forgot that he was a germaphobe.

"Mama Knight, if you despised someone, would you help them up, hold them, provide them with opportunities, and even let them live in your own home?"

"Of course not!" Mama Knight said without a moment’s hesitation.

Jane Lancaster shrugged. "There you have it. You can’t always judge things by their surface."

Mama Knight was thoroughly confused. "But... Young Master Lowell hasn’t let Luna Morgan live with him."

Jane Lancaster just smiled without saying a word.

’Mama Knight really lacked imagination. He hadn’t *yet*, but now that Luna had fainted from a high fever, wasn’t this the perfect opportunity?’

Although the plot had deviated, Jane Lancaster didn’t think it was a major problem.

’After all, Caleb Lowell’s motivation was to protect her; he was afraid she’d get a bad reputation for mistreating Luna Morgan.’

Mama Knight said, "It’s all Mrs. Everett’s fault. Is she out of her mind? Siding with Luna Morgan instead of her own Miss?"

The more Mama Knight thought about it, the angrier she got. Mrs. Everett was dismissive and perfunctory with Miss Jane, but exceptionally warm and attentive to Luna Morgan.

A few months ago, when Miss Jane was still in the hospital, Mrs. Everett had even taken it upon herself to let Luna Morgan sleep in Young Master Lowell’s personal guest room.

She had argued at the time that Luna couldn’t possibly sleep in Miss Jane’s room, which had fooled Mama Knight. But now that she thought about it, the whole situation reeked of something fishy.

"You’re right to be angry. She draws a salary from the Lancaster Family, so how dare she side with an outsider?"

"The Eldest Young Master dotes on you the most! If he knew she dared to treat you so dismissively, he would definitely stand up for you!"

’The Eldest Young Master of the Lancaster Family? The devoted second male lead who dotes on his sister as if his life depends on it?’

Jane Lancaster was about to say something when the doorbell rang, so she gestured for Mama Knight to get the door.