Chapter 256: Unless the Younger Brother Doesn’t Care About the Eldest Brother at All

Jane Lancaster didn’t really get it. They were all adults, so why were they still being ordered to kneel? Did they have no sense of judgment?

Timothy Lancaster went upstairs to wash up, and he ordered Butler Forbes to go to his room and rest as well.

A ten-plus-hour international flight was truly taxing on an older man’s body.

Butler Forbes thought for a moment, glanced at Jane Lancaster, and ultimately decided to head back first.

’After all, with the young miss here, the Master’s anger will probably subside quickly.’

’Perhaps it’s because he’s getting older, but the Master’s temper has grown much more placid in recent years. I can finally breathe a little easier and not be on edge every day.’

’He’s not as terrifying as he used to be—like an active volcano on the verge of eruption at any moment.’

’But no matter how much the Master lost control, as long as the young miss was around, he always managed to rein himself in quickly.’

’The young miss is his miracle cure.’

’Today’s little outburst was nothing, really. It was probably all bark and no bite.’

Butler Forbes left, relieved. In the living room, however, the situation was not nearly as harmonious as he imagined.

Julian Lancaster slowly rose to his feet. He calmly told the conflicted-looking housekeeper to find the key and open the small room at the turn of the stairs.

Adrian Lancaster glanced up toward the second floor, his lips pursed into a thin line. After a moment, he turned to Jane Lancaster. "Aren’t you going upstairs?"

Jane Lancaster: "What for?"

Adrian Lancaster was exasperated. "To keep Father company for a bit. To wish him goodnight."

That way, even if Jane didn’t plead on Julian’s behalf, Timothy would soften up and let the matter drop.

Jane Lancaster: "..."

’You’re the one who wants to go suck up, aren’t you? If you want to go, then go. What are you dragging me into it for?’

’This father of ours is so messed up. He hasn’t asked a single thing about how Alvin is doing. He can’t even be bothered to spare a glance for his own son, yet you’re still desperately licking his boots. Is there something wrong with you?’

Julian Lancaster, his back to them, paused. He turned his head to glance at Jane Lancaster.

Jane Lancaster met his gaze. She thought for a moment, then, for the sake of that 6 million, she decided to speak up.

She offered a sincere suggestion. "That little room hasn’t been opened in a long time. The key could easily have been ’lost.’"

Adrian Lancaster: "How can you encourage our older brother to lie to Father?"

Jane Lancaster: "So you’re saying you don’t mind letting our older brother kneel all night?"

Adrian Lancaster: "..."

’How could she twist my words like that? That’s not what I meant at all!’

He glanced at Julian Lancaster, trying to signal with his eyes that Jane had ulterior motives and that he shouldn’t be so easily fooled.

"Sigh. A considerate younger brother would have snatched the housekeeper’s key by now and thrown it away. That would make the ’lost key’ a fact, so it wouldn’t even be a lie," Jane Lancaster said with a phony sigh. "Unless, of course, said younger brother doesn’t care about his older brother at all and is perfectly happy to stay out of it."

’Of course you don’t care about your older brother. When Alvin was punished with kneeling as a kid, did you ever once plead for him?’

’You’re just terrified of hurting Timothy’s impression of you. Every time, you’d pretend to go plead for him, but you were actually just using it as an excuse to suck up to Father.’

"Jane Lancaster!"

Adrian Lancaster’s expression was ghastly. He felt like he was about to die from sheer anger.

But he couldn’t voice his objections out loud. Doing so would reveal that he could hear her thoughts, wouldn’t it?

Seeing that he had no retort, Jane Lancaster smiled and waved a dismissive hand. "Well, since you both want me to go keep Father company, I’m off."

’As for everything else... I’ve made my suggestion. Whether you act on it is your problem.’

Adrian Lancaster watched her saunter away, grinding his back teeth so hard he thought they would break.

’This sister of his was truly insufferable. She had been, ever since they were children!’

Julian Lancaster watched the housekeeper approach with the key. "Well, I’m heading to the small room," he said calmly. "Adrian, you should get to bed early tonight."

"Brother, I..." Adrian wanted to explain himself, but he didn’t know where to begin.

Julian suddenly pressed a hand to his stomach, the color draining from his lips.

At the dinner table earlier, he’d been so preoccupied with trying to read Timothy’s mood that he had barely eaten a few bites.

Adrian: "Brother, are you feeling unwell?"

Julian waited for the wave of discomfort to pass. "I’m fine. Probably just hungry. I’ll feel better after I eat something."

Adrian: "I’ll have the kitchen prepare something for you. If you still don’t feel well, don’t force yourself."

Julian lowered his gaze, masking the thoughts in his eyes.

He could sense his younger brother’s palpable impatience. ’Is he that eager to go upstairs and perform for Father?’

Though he had long known of his youngest brother’s deep adoration for their father, Jane’s words had still left a thorn in his heart.

Adrian had never once considered defying their father for his sake—he wasn’t even willing to tell a small lie.

During those years in the countryside, he and his two younger brothers had relied on each other. He had particularly doted on his youngest brother, who was as sharp as a tack.

Back then, Adrian would always hug him, saying how much he loved his big brother, just like a little angel.

But the child he had practically raised himself was, in fact, cold-hearted to the bone.

If it had been Alvin hearing Jane’s suggestions, he probably would have snatched the key and run off immediately, then gone on to argue the point with Timothy.

There had been times over the years when he had incurred Timothy’s wrath. Thinking back, those situations were either defused by his sister’s subtle persuasion or derailed by his second brother creating a scene and shifting the focus.

Adrian, however, always remained pristine, keeping his hands clean.

—

Jane had no intention of going to Timothy’s room.

’Only an idiot would walk right into a trap,’ she thought. ’It’s late. Isn’t it better to just go to sleep?’

She used the excuse of being tired to send away the assistant Timothy had sent to fetch her. Jane sat for a moment, but after some thought, she got up and left her room anyway.

Timothy’s door suddenly opened, and the assistant stepped out. Jane quickly pressed a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture, then stood by the door to listen to the sounds from within.

The assistant figured the young miss was playing a prank on the Master, so he obediently stepped to the side.

There was someone in Timothy’s room; voices could be heard from inside.

"Father, this is a custom-made mattress I ordered for you. I hope you’ll have a good night’s sleep. Also, this Richard watch—it’s a vintage mechanical timepiece I spent a long time searching for..."

’Just as I expected. It’s Adrian, here to suck up.’

Adrian was halfway through his sentence when he suddenly heard that familiar inner voice coming from the doorway. A strange glint appeared in his eyes.

He glanced at Timothy, who had his back to the door, and pursed his lips. He suddenly took a step forward. "Dad, how about I help you put it on?"

Timothy, having just finished his bath, was sitting relaxed on the sofa. He neither agreed nor disagreed.

Adrian understood immediately. It was tacit approval.

Since Jane chose to eavesdrop from outside, he would show her just how he and their father interacted during the years she was in a coma.

In private, the father and son had a very harmonious relationship. After all, who could refuse the adoration of such an outstanding son?

Father was only cold to him on the surface because he was worried Jane would get jealous.

’She shouldn’t think she’s Father’s only child. We three brothers are his children, too. Blood is thicker than water. How could Father truly be so heartless toward his own flesh and blood?’

Jane couldn’t resist pushing the door open a tiny crack to watch the scene inside.

Adrian was half-kneeling as he put the watch on Timothy, so he couldn’t see the expression in Timothy’s eyes.