Chapter 260: Anyway, I’m Just Going to Make a Counter-Accusation

Timothy Lancaster reflected on it. His daughter had never asked for anything, not even once. Even the company shares he’d given her had been something he’d had to practically force on her.

For her to suddenly and so bluntly demand a villa and a commercial building was just too strange.

"Butler Forbes, don’t you feel that something’s very off about the Young Miss?" Timothy Lancaster asked in his study.

Jane Lancaster, who had come looking for them after noticing Timothy had called Butler Forbes into the study, happened to overhear that exact sentence.

She froze, her hand hovering just before it could knock, and listened to the conversation inside.

Butler Forbes considered it. "It is a little strange. The Young Miss was always so sensible. Since coming back this time, it’s like she’s a completely different person..."

In Aethelgard, the comment section was exploding.

[Is she scared to death? Someone’s finally suspicious of her! Hahaha!]

[Now *this* is entertaining. She was so arrogant just now, bullying Julian Lancaster. Serves her right to be suspected of being an imposter, huh?]

[What’s everyone so excited about? Mr. Lancaster will definitely recognize his own daughter in the end.]

[Who cares? The best part is seeing them suspect each other and watching her squirm.]

[But didn’t she already figure out she’s the original person?]

[She might have guessed, but she can’t be sure. She must be terrified hearing them question her. Remember how she was silently hoping Mr. Lancaster and Butler Forbes wouldn’t come back?]

[I bet she wants to give the villa and commercial building back now. The original’s whole persona was the selfless, non-confrontational ’white lotus.’ Demanding property today is totally out of character for her.]

[What ’out of character’? She’s just showing her true colors. Remember when she blackmailed that priest? Her greedy expression was disgusting.]

[To the commenter above: I can’t wait to see you eat your words!]

[LMAO, she’s about to get caught eavesdropping and she’s just standing there! Run, you idiot!]

...

Inside the room, Butler Forbes chose his words carefully. "Of course, it’s possible her illness caused her to change her perspective on many things."

Timothy Lancaster sighed. "You’re right... Never mind. I need to think about this some more. You may go."

Just as Jane saw Butler Forbes start walking toward the door, she turned to leave but bumped right into someone.

Julian Lancaster was about to speak when Jane lunged forward and clamped a hand over his mouth.

Butler Forbes opened the door to find the brother and sister standing in the hallway. His expression went blank for a moment.

Jane calmly turned, pressed a finger to her lips, and motioned for Butler Forbes to stay quiet.

Butler Forbes silently closed the door.

Jane dragged Julian away, not stopping until they were around the corner.

"Young Miss, what is all this?" Butler Forbes asked, completely baffled.

Jane’s expression was grave. "Butler Forbes, don’t you think my father has changed a lot in the last three years? It’s like he’s a completely different person."

Butler Forbes opened his mouth to speak, then stopped and glanced to the side.

Jane turned her head and met Julian Lancaster’s gaze.

’How did he end up following us?’

Julian’s expression was calm, showing no inclination to look away. "You’re the one who dragged me over here."

He had assumed she wanted him to listen, and it would have been rude to refuse, so of course he came along.

Jane was speechless. "..."

’When did you get so shameless? Did you forget how I snatched your inheritance rights away this afternoon?’

Butler Forbes sighed. He couldn’t make sense of what was happening between the siblings. They used to be so close, but now they were suddenly at odds.

He felt conflicted. On the one hand, he believed siblings should live in harmony. On the other, he knew perfectly well that this harmony had only been maintained by the Young Miss constantly giving in.

"Why would you think that, Young Miss?" he asked, ignoring Julian for the moment.

"Why do you feel that the Master is like a different person?" ’How strange,’ he thought. ’Father and daughter are suddenly asking the exact same question.’

Julian’s gaze flickered. He suddenly spotted a figure lingering at the corner of the hallway.

His heart leaped. He was about to speak up and stop her, but Jane had already begun.

"Isn’t it true?" Jane said, her voice full of righteous indignation. "He clearly wrote a will leaving all his assets to me, and he even said that everything the Lancaster family owns is mine. Now I’m just asking for a single villa and one commercial building, and he’s stalling and making excuses."

Butler Forbes was speechless. "..."

’Wait, were those baffling, spoiled-brat words really coming from his Young Miss?’

Butler Forbes had been so certain a moment ago, but now he was starting to feel lost.

Jane continued, "How else do you explain Dad’s strange attitude today? Did he stop loving me just because I was in a coma for three years?"

’Whatever. I’m just going to turn the tables on them.’

’If you’re going to suspect I’m an imposter, why can’t I suspect you’re imposters, too?’

’Once I’ve muddied the waters, it’ll be easier for me to fish in them.’

Julian Lancaster frowned. ’Fish in troubled waters? Is her only goal to trick them into giving her the villa and the commercial building?’

Butler Forbes exclaimed, "That’s not true at all! Young Miss, you’ve misunderstood. The Master absolutely puts you first in all things! I can personally guarantee it!"

Jane looked up at Julian Lancaster. "Brother, what do you think?"

Julian lowered his gaze, gave two stifled coughs, and said in a monotone, "Butler Forbes is right."

Then he turned and walked away. As he passed the corner, he glanced over. The figure that had been there was gone.

In Aethelgard, the comments were full of complaints.

[Not only is she not scared, she’s completely fixated on that villa. She’s not going to give up until she gets it.]

[I can’t believe it. She actually had the nerve to turn the tables on them. So shameless!]

[Mr. Lancaster, hiding and spying from the shadows: The absolute nerve! She dares to question if *I’ve* changed? She’s clearly the one who’s different!]

[Don’t fall for it, Mr. Lancaster! Don’t sign the villa and the commercial building over to her!]

[Poor big brother. Just another day of being used as a prop.]

—

Back in the study, Timothy Lancaster sat at his desk and, after a long moment, let out a heavy sigh.

"Whatever Jay wants... would I ever deny her?" he muttered to himself.

That business with the Hughes family forcing a marriage had been his mistake, after all. It wouldn’t be right not to offer her some form of compensation.

He had come this far, through so much hardship; he didn’t want it all to be for nothing.

—

A few days later, Jane Lancaster successfully received the property deeds.

"Dad, you’re the best!" she exclaimed, so excited she nearly jumped for joy.

Timothy Lancaster patted her head affectionately. "As long as you’re happy."

Adrian Lancaster watched the heartwarming scene between the father and daughter, his gaze dropping to hide the jealousy threatening to spill from his eyes.

A moment later, he looked up and said nonchalantly, "Jay, you don’t work on weekends. Want to come hang out on set with me?"

Jane Lancaster replied, "I don’t want to."

Adrian Lancaster pressed, "You might get to see your favorite celebrity..."

"Nope. It’s too cold. I don’t feel like moving," Jane flatly refused.

Adrian Lancaster took a deep breath. ’What does she mean by that? Other people beg for an invitation, and I don’t even always agree!’

Seeing he was running out of time, Adrian could only storm off.

’Wait, he’s just leaving? It’s not like it was a hard no. He just had to offer me some money.’

’It’s not like I would’ve jacked up the price. Why give up so easily?’

Jane sighed. The man had no business sense at all.

Julian Lancaster glanced at her. A moment later, Jane’s phone chimed. DING!

She picked up her phone and glanced at it. "Brother, why did you just send me a million?"

Even Timothy Lancaster couldn’t help but glance over, surprised by his eldest son’s sudden generosity.

Julian said, "Chase really wants a family member to visit him on set. Could you go in Father’s place and cheer him up?"