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

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: I Thought I Found a Bargain

Jane Lancaster had already figured most of this out back at the hospital. Now, the investigation report filled in the last missing piece of the puzzle.

Lawson came from a decent background. With his family’s support, he bought a house in Stratton early on and even started a small foreign trade company.

The company was a small, family-run affair that employed only two people. Because the boss—Lawson—was unwilling to go out and drum up business, it was constantly struggling. It often failed to close any deals and was on the verge of shutting down for good.

Ten years ago, Lawson met his "true love." In his haste to get a divorce and prevent his ex-wife from getting any of his other assets, he bundled up the shell company and handed it over to her.

But his ex-wife proved to be more than capable. Starting with nothing, she worked tirelessly to build the business. The company gradually improved, and over the next decade, she amassed a considerable fortune.

Lawson’s life, however, went downhill. He squandered his wealth, sold his house to pay off debts, and even his "true love" left him, unable to endure a life of poverty.

When he happened to learn of his ex-wife’s current success, he was overcome with resentment.

He reasoned that if it weren’t for the resources and connections he left her, how could she have made so much money? How could she be living so well now?

But for her to be so rich and not repay him, her benefactor—it was just wrong.

Still, it was okay if she was being thoughtless. He was willing to be the bigger person and pursue her again.

His ex-wife, having built such a large business, was naturally no fool. She ignored her ex-husband’s harassment and called security on him directly.

Lawson couldn’t accept the rejection. That woman used to throw herself at him, he thought. Now that he was being even more gentle and considerate, how could she not be moved?

He pondered for a long time until he believed he’d found the root of the problem: She must be seeing someone else!

This suspicion drove him to frantically stalk and harass his ex-wife.

While tracking her to the hospital once, he ran into an orderly, Ethan Carter. When he heard Ethan say that his ex-wife was there for a secret rendezvous with Dr. Sheffield, he was instantly convinced!

As for Ethan Carter, he had simply seen a woman in a luxury car. Annoyed that his wife and daughter were always praising Dr. Sheffield, he casually made up a rumor.

This was a trivial thing for him; he was always speculating about the love lives of the wealthy people he saw coming in and out of the hospital.

The only difference this time was that someone actually believed his nonsense. Lawson even declared with certainty that it explained everything—of course his ex-wife would get all dressed up and wear makeup to the hospital. She was clearly there for an affair.

Ethan Carter, meanwhile, thought he was a genius for guessing the "truth" with just a casual remark.

The two of them started meeting for drinks, sharing the rumors they’d fabricated until they both became utterly convinced they were true.

The whole situation was utterly bizarre. Who could have imagined this was the real story?

After reading the report, Jane Lancaster said nothing and got up to go to the restroom.

As she was washing her hands, the System couldn’t hold back any longer.

’I told you not to get involved in other people’s business,’ it said, its tone tinged with gloating. ’See? A completely thankless task.’

"So, is that why Luna Morgan just happened to be discharged and avoided all this?" Jane Lancaster asked calmly.

The System paused for a moment. ’What?’

"If getting involved had more pros than cons, then according to the protagonist’s halo, Luna Morgan would have definitely run right into it." Jane Lancaster looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. "Seriously. I thought I’d stumbled upon a hidden opportunity, but it turns out the protagonist’s halo is just too powerful."

For a moment, the System didn’t dare to speak.

’So, you didn’t genuinely want to save anyone? You just wanted to seize an opportunity and earn a good reputation?’ the System couldn’t help but ask in a small voice.

Jane Lancaster’s expression was nonchalant. "Yeah. What else did you expect?"

The System: ’...’

It had overthought things. It had actually thought she’d had a change of heart, but it was all just calculation and self-interest.

When Jane Lancaster came out of the restroom, she saw Jasper Sterling standing in the hallway.

The young man was exquisitely handsome, with captivating, amorous-looking eyes. His smile was breathtaking, but when he wasn’t smiling, he had a cool, detached air.

Simply by standing there, his long lashes lowered, he captured the attention of every girl who passed by.

"Hey, handsome, why are you standing here all alone?" a bold girl couldn’t resist asking as she approached him.

When he lifted his eyes to look at her, the girl’s face flushed. Mustering her courage, she asked, "Can I get your contact info?"

Jasper Sterling drew back his long, outstretched leg. "Sorry, no."

The girl turned, saw Jane Lancaster approaching, and had a moment of realization. "Is it because of her?"

"No. It’s because I never add contacts who aren’t business partners." Jasper Sterling’s tone was polite yet distant, but by no means cold.

The girl was a little disappointed, but she quickly turned and left without pressing the issue.

After all, the young man wasn’t just handsome—he was rich!

His tone, which left no room for argument, marked him as a powerful, high-level decision-maker. It gave the girl the illusion of being in a meeting and making eye contact with her company’s top boss.

One could only imagine how high the bar must be to become one of his business partners!

"Senior." Jasper Sterling turned to face Jane Lancaster, and a gentle smile rippled in his eyes, spreading across his face.

Jane Lancaster greeted him, and the two of them started walking back.

’That’s strange. Isn’t this guy trying his hardest to steal me away? Why didn’t he just say it was because of me?’

’In novels, that’s a classic sweet and doting scene. The male lead usually uses it as a chance to show how devoted he is!’

Jasper Sterling said casually, "Senior, are you wondering why I didn’t say it was because of you just now?"

Jane Lancaster: "..."

’Don’t tell me he can read minds.’

Jasper Sterling turned to look at her. "I didn’t say it because it had nothing to do with you. Why should I shift the responsibility onto you?"

"Am I some kind of terrible person who can’t even maintain basic self-respect? Someone with no mind of his own?"

Jane Lancaster understood what he meant.

’He’s right. In reality, that line isn’t sweet or doting at all. It’s just shifting the blame.’

’They just use the woman as a shield and then act like they’re the most devoted person in the world.’

Jasper Sterling chuckled softly and lowered his gaze. Great minds think alike.

Just as they reached the private room, Jane Lancaster unexpectedly spotted someone she knew.

The man’s posture was casual, almost lazy. He was smoking a cigarette while idly flicking a lighter. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK.

Across from him, a woman on the verge of tears was saying something in a low voice.

—

Gordon Dawson had seen Jane Lancaster earlier, but after a moment’s thought, he decided not to avoid her.

’I’m dating openly. I can’t hide forever.’

’That woman loves to meddle in other people’s business so much, she must have a death wish.’

Gordon Dawson was hot-tempered. Even though he’d toned it down a bit after starting his career, he still radiated a wild, untamed, and masculine energy.

Today’s dinner had been arranged by one of his client’s managers. The woman was clearly interested in him and had been very persistent about asking him out.

The location was set at this elegant Black Pearl restaurant, making the nature of the "date" self-evident.

Gordon Dawson knew perfectly well what was going on. He didn’t say much—they had signed the contract yesterday, and with everything settled, he had agreed to the dinner.

Not only that, but he also brought several of his buddies along to the meeting.

The group of them ate and drank boisterously, but the smile on the woman’s face grew increasingly stiff.

Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. After paying the bill, she came back in and called him out to talk.

"If you don’t like me, why did you agree to come out to dinner?" the woman couldn’t help but ask.