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

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Is Pauline Dating Someone Lately?

But now Vincent Holt had produced evidence proving Jane Lancaster’s claim was just an excuse. How could the old lady not feel wronged?

Besides, Jane Lancaster had been in the wrong from the start. If she knew how to play the erhu, performing a single piece was hardly a big deal. Why did she have to make such an ugly scene?

With the evidence thrown in her face, she had no way to continue openly defending Jane.

"Jay was in the wrong. She shouldn’t have deceived me, but she didn’t do it intentionally. It’s just that her health is poor..."

Vincent Holt couldn’t help but sneer. "Poor health? Jane Lancaster, do you plan on using that excuse for the rest of your life?"

Jane Lancaster looked at him. "Who said I was in poor health?"

"Then why wouldn’t you play the erhu for Grandma’s birthday celebration? Is it that hard to humor an old woman? Or does it just mean you didn’t want to?"

Just as Jane Lancaster was about to speak, another voice cut in.

"Of course she was willing. But even if she was, she’d still have to know how to play. If she doesn’t, wouldn’t that just ruin the atmosphere?"

’No, I’m not,’ Jane Lancaster thought, her face impassive. She then looked up at the person who had just arrived.

The woman was no longer young. She was dressed in a business suit, looking sharp and tidy. Her unsmiling face made her seem serious and unapproachable.

"Auntie Yates," Jane Lancaster greeted her.

This Auntie Yates was the current Mrs. Shaw, Pauline Shaw’s biological mother, Yara Yates.

Yara Yates nodded at her in greeting and walked forward to pick up the photo.

Only then did Jane Lancaster see clearly what was in the photo.

It was a little girl, about six or seven years old, wearing a white dress and sitting on a stool, performing on the erhu.

Many people’s appearances change drastically as they grow up, but for some stunningly beautiful female celebrities, you’ll find there’s little difference between their childhood and adult selves.

This is because a superior bone structure and facial features tend to set at a young age, and Jane Lancaster was clearly such a case.

The six- or seven-year-old girl in the photo looked almost like a scaled-down version of her adult self.

"This photo was taken over ten years ago. I was there at the time. Jane doesn’t know how to play the erhu at all; she just went up there to pose with it," Yara Yates said calmly.

Vincent Holt shot back, "Nonsense! In the photo, Jane Lancaster is clearly playing the erhu..."

Yara Yates glared at him. "Are you calling me a liar?"

Vincent Holt’s heart skipped a beat, and he didn’t dare say another word.

Though the Shaw Group was technically the Shaw family’s business, everyone knew that Mrs. Shaw was the one truly in charge—an iron lady whose word was law. How could he possibly afford to offend her?

After all, Yara Yates was not the type to spout nonsense. Even if some people still had their doubts, no one dared to say anything more.

The onlookers who were enjoying the drama also started murmuring among themselves.

"If Mrs. Shaw says so, then she probably really can’t play."

"Yeah, Mrs. Shaw is Caleb Lowell’s aunt. There’s no way she’d side with Jane Lancaster or lie about something like this."

"And that Vincent Holt, really. Running to Old Mrs. Holt and spouting off without confirming the facts first. Isn’t he just trying to stir up trouble?"

"It’s a good thing Mrs. Shaw helped clarify things. Otherwise, wouldn’t Miss Lancaster have been terribly wronged?"

"He’s still too young and reckless. I hear all he does all day is chase after some girl."

Vincent Holt was furious. What did those people mean? How had he suddenly become the bad guy making trouble out of nothing?

Old Mrs. Holt’s expression was grim. She didn’t believe a word of Yara Yates’s nonsense. "Your daughter is her best friend. Of course you’re going to side with her."

Before Yara Yates could speak, Jane Lancaster sighed.

"I thought that when you brought Vincent Holt over, Great-Aunt, it was out of consideration for me, your junior. I thought you genuinely wanted to help me clear up this misunderstanding. I see now that wasn’t the case."

She asked Old Mrs. Holt earnestly, "Besides the erhu, what else do you want to force me to admit to? Fine, I’ll admit to everything, all right? You’ve brought all these elders here to condemn me just because I didn’t play the erhu at your birthday banquet. Honestly, this whole spectacle is terrifying."

Old Mrs. Holt’s face turned livid with rage.

"Great-Aunt, I was wrong! It’s all my fault! Please, don’t scare me like this!" With quick eyes and even quicker hands, Jane Lancaster caught her and began patting her back to help her breathe.

Yara Yates also looked at Vincent Holt. "You’re the one who caused all this today. Aren’t you going to apologize? Are you trying to anger your grandmother to death?"

Vincent Holt: "...???"

’What does this have to do with me? Wasn’t Jane Lancaster the one who made her angry?’

Old Mrs. Holt: "...Let go of me!"

How could she dare faint? Fearing her grandson would be at a disadvantage, she hurriedly grabbed Vincent Holt. "Vincent, let’s go!"

Caleb Lowell finally felt a small measure of relief.

’Wow, Auntie Yates is amazing. She hit them right where it hurts in a single move. You really can’t beat experience!’

Caleb Lowell couldn’t help but frown. He could overlook his aunt’s part in this, but how could Jane Lancaster provoke her great-aunt like that?

She knew perfectly well that her great-aunt was elderly and had high blood pressure, yet she provoked her on purpose. Wasn’t she afraid of what that anger might do to the old woman’s health?

He knew Jane Lancaster could play the erhu, and he also knew Yara Yates was lying. Therefore, he couldn’t let Jane Lancaster act so recklessly.

"Jay, is there nothing you want to say to me?" Caleb Lowell asked.

’If Jane confesses to me now,’ he thought, ’I can let this slide. But she has to promise to make it up to her great-aunt.’

"Nope. Auntie Yates is looking for me, so I’m going to go see her."

Jane Lancaster turned and walked away, heading toward Yara Yates.

Jane Lancaster guessed that Yara Yates wanted to talk to her about something, and it was most likely related to Pauline Shaw.

Sure enough, after the two sat down in the reception room, Yara Yates got straight to the point. "Jay, I’m sorry to ask, but I wanted to know... has Pauline started dating someone recently?"

Jane Lancaster was silent for a moment.

Yara Yates said, "You don’t have to feel awkward. I didn’t let her date before because she was still young and her studies were the priority. Now that she’s working, I won’t stop her."

She looked at Jane Lancaster, the smile on her face gradually fading as she grew pensive.

"Alright, I won’t ask you anymore. I can’t put you in a difficult position with Pauline." Yara Yates picked up her purse, preparing to leave.

She was a strong-willed mother who cared for her daughter, but she also had a strong sense of propriety.

For a long time during her childhood, Pauline Shaw had been very withdrawn. Yara Yates had personally visited with gifts, asking Jane Lancaster to look after her daughter. She had even offered significant business concessions to Timothy Lancaster. This was how her daughter gained the most important friend in her life.

She didn’t want to ruin their friendship, so she never took the initiative to ask Jane Lancaster for information about Pauline. Even during the incident with Gordon Dawson, the tip-off hadn’t come from Jane.

After asking Jane Lancaster, she realized she had overstepped, so she didn’t intend to press the matter further.

’She probably won’t investigate secretly, either. After all, anyone could have dug up the details on Gordon Dawson with a little effort. But in the novel, Auntie Yates didn’t find out until much later that Gordon Dawson was that blond punk from all those years ago.’

Pauline Shaw had anxiously followed her mother to the banquet hall. The moment she heard her mother talking with Jane Lancaster, a sense of dread washed over her.

She secretly hid by the door, wanting to eavesdrop on what they were saying inside.

Even if Jane Lancaster didn’t say anything, her heart was still in her throat.

Knowing her mom’s style, now that she suspected Pauline was dating someone, there was no way she wouldn’t secretly run a background check on eighteen generations of the guy’s ancestors.