Chapter 255: Kneel Down

The Lancaster siblings sat on one side, while their uncles and other elders sat on the other.

Timothy Lancaster took the head of the table. Butler Forbes started to walk toward the seat at the very end, but Timothy called out to him.

"Butler Forbes, why don’t you sit next to Jay." The seat he pointed to was where Julian Lancaster was originally supposed to sit.

As soon as he said this, the dining room fell silent.

Jane Lancaster looked up at her two brothers, their expressions stiff, and felt a bit speechless.

’It’s just a meal. What difference does it make where I sit? It’s not like I can’t reach the food from there.’

She glanced at Timothy’s expression and quickly changed her mind.

’No, wait, it does make a difference. What’s the difference between this and having dinner with your boss? It’s better to sit far away where I can be more relaxed.’

"Big Brother, you can sit here." She shot up from her chair and walked to the seat at the very end of the table.

Timothy tried to grab her but couldn’t. She had already walked over, sat down, picked up her bowl, and taken a bite of food.

Several of the uncles and elders couldn’t help but shower her with praise.

"The young lady is as sensible as ever, respectful of her elders and loving toward her brothers."

"Really, it’s just a meal. There’s no need for so many formalities."

"Father and daughter have finally been reunited. It’s better to sit closer to talk."

Jane didn’t pay any mind to this little interlude. She had no desire to sit in a seat of honor; it would feel like sitting on pins and needles, completely uncomfortable.

But even though she was sitting far away, it didn’t stop Timothy from constantly watching her. He would occasionally pick out some food and have the people in front of him pass it down to her, as if he was deeply afraid his daughter felt constrained and wouldn’t eat her fill.

Jane: "..."

’Oh, thank you so much. I’d actually eat more if you didn’t give me any food.’

After the simple meal was over, the uncles took their leave. After all, Timothy had just endured a long flight and needed to recover and adjust to the time difference.

But after seeing everyone out, Timothy showed no signs of sleepiness. Instead, he sat on the sofa, holding a cup of tea.

Jane had a bad feeling. ’Why does this feel like he’s about to hold a trial?’

Her premonition came true. The next second, Timothy slammed his teacup down on the coffee table. "Kneel!"

Before Jane could even react, Julian was already down on one knee, and a second later, the other followed.

He was still wearing his suit, the very picture of a CEO, yet now he was kneeling steadily at the feet of the old head of the Lancaster family.

The living room was completely silent.

Everyone was stunned, unable to understand why this was happening.

Although Timothy had always been strict and would make Alvin kneel as punishment, he had never once punished Julian, his eldest son in whom he had placed such high hopes.

Adrian’s eyes reddened. "Dad, why?"

He had always thought he didn’t have much affection for his big brother, but seeing him kneeling before Timothy, his heart still clenched tightly.

Timothy didn’t look at him. Instead, he turned a gentle gaze to Jane. "Jay, you must be frightened, right? It’s okay. Come sit by Dad. Don’t be afraid."

Jane stood still. "Why?"

She was asking why he was giving Julian corporal punishment.

Timothy simply stood up, walked to her side, and explained patiently, "Your big brother is too much of a disappointment. That, I could forgive. A lack of ability can be cultivated over time. But if his heart has gone bad, to the point where he can’t even tolerate his own sister, then he is truly beyond saving."

"I’ve also heard about the Mrs. Everett incident. A mere servant dared to walk all over the young lady of the house. If that wasn’t his indulgence, what was it?"

"And then there’s the matter of the Hughes family’s forced marriage. I agreed to let you meet more people, but he took the opportunity to negotiate terms with the Hughes family and pressure you to marry into it. Is he trying to kick you out of the Lancaster family?"

"Also, that huge incident at the winery last night, and he did nothing?"

The more Timothy spoke, the angrier he became. He grabbed the teacup from the coffee table and smashed it near Julian’s knee.

"You bastard! In your fight for power and profit, were you trying to get your own sister killed?"

Porcelain shards flew everywhere, and tea soaked Julian’s suit pants.

What was even more chilling were Timothy’s next words.

"Didn’t I tell you? Even if you’re the company’s executive CEO right now, you’re just working for your sister! You dare to fight and compete with her? Do you have the right?"

Julian lowered his gaze to the cold tile floor, his hands by his sides slowly clenching into fists.

It was as if he was back in the past, just after being brought back to the city from the countryside.

Back then, he had looked at the brand-new, bright home and the friendly, smiling servants. Even for a boy who was old for his age, he couldn’t help but reveal a hint of joy.

A young Alvin had chirped excitedly, "Big Brother, is this our home from now on? Can I eat whatever I want and play with whatever I want?"

He had smiled and replied, "Yes. From now on, Big Brother will buy you whatever you want."

"You’ll buy it for them? With what? Everything in this house belongs to your sister." Timothy had walked out then.

Those words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, waking him up completely.

In his father’s eyes, there was only his sister. He even regarded his son’s arrival with a veiled hostility and vigilance, as if he feared he would fight with his sister for the family fortune.

Julian remembered when he was even younger, when his mother was still alive. He had just been old enough to start forming memories.

His father wouldn’t allow him to go out and play, always ordering him to stay home and study.

"The Lancaster family will be in your hands one day. If you don’t work hard, how can I count on you in the future?"

This had clearly been his parents’ initial expectation for him. Why had everything changed overnight?

After so many years of separation, it seemed as though his father had cast him and his two younger brothers out of the category of ’family’.

—

"What, you’re still not convinced?" Timothy’s voice was chilling.

Julian pressed his lips together. "No."

Timothy: "Then go kneel in the small room and reflect carefully on what you did wrong."

Julian’s whole body stiffened. The small room was the old confinement room. Alvin had been a troublemaker as a child and was a frequent guest there.

But ever since the children had grown up, Timothy hadn’t locked any of them in confinement again. After all, he had to leave his children some dignity.

He had never been put in confinement as a child. He never thought that now, as an adult, he would be.

He answered in a low voice, "Fine."

Jane frowned as she watched the scene unfold, finding it bizarre and absurd.

"What is it, Jay? Do you have something to say?" Facing his daughter, Timothy’s demeanor changed completely. His voice was perpetually soft and his expression gentle.

Jane shook her head. "No."

She thought about it. There really wasn’t anything to say.

’Why does this scene feel a little familiar?’

’Oh, right. The last time Julian came back, he immediately blew up at Alvin just like this and made him kneel all night.’

’You two really are father and son. You even have the same tyrannical, patriarchal style.’

A flash of anger crossed Adrian’s eyes.

He couldn’t believe she didn’t understand what their father meant. He was clearly giving her a chance to plead for Julian.

In the past, whenever Alvin was sent to confinement, a single word from her was more effective than anything else.

She had just extorted so much money from their big brother and claimed she wanted to make peace, but now she was kicking him while he was down.

Or maybe... during dinner, she had deliberately given up her seat just to make their father suspect that their big brother wanted to compete with her for his favor?

Jane looked up at Adrian, feeling a bit speechless.

’Then again, isn’t Timothy just deliberately trying to make my brothers hate me?’

’But whatever. If he wants to stir up hatred, let him. In any case, I’m not going to plead for him.’