Chapter 202: The Problem Lies with Jane Lancaster

Henry Hughes had just rushed to the hospital entrance when he saw his older brother.

As for the person next to him...

"Julian," Henry Hughes greeted him respectfully.

The two families were long-standing allies, after all. After that incident, Jane Lancaster and Alvin Lancaster basically never set foot in the Hughes’ home again, but Julian Lancaster still paid a visit every year. Therefore, he wasn’t a stranger to Julian.

Julian said, "Henry, may I have a word with you in private?"

Ronald Hughes coughed lightly as a reminder. "Julian wants to ask you about the situation. Just tell him the truth."

Ronald Hughes was a scholar and had never been good at socializing, but everyone was coming to him, the host, to understand the situation. He had no choice but to come.

Before meeting Julian, he had already met with Secretary Dawson from Solara. It was a truly miserable experience.

Even though they both shared the surname Hughes, Jean Hughes was someone he couldn’t afford to offend. Now that Jean Hughes had been injured on his territory, the people in Solara would demand accountability, and he simply couldn’t withstand their thunderous wrath.

Thankfully, the Lancaster Family was taking the brunt of it, so he could breathe a small sigh of relief for now.

Henry Hughes followed Julian to a nearby clubhouse and went straight into a private room.

A short while later, Adrian Lancaster, wearing a face mask, also walked in.

Seeing their grim expressions, Henry Hughes knew the matter was serious. After a moment of consideration, he spilled the beans and told them everything he knew.

Alvin Lancaster had attacked Jean Hughes in a sudden fit of madness. The question was, why had he suddenly gone mad?

Henry Hughes had always felt the problem lay with Jane Lancaster.

"Last night, as soon as I heard about the incident, I immediately rushed over to the park."

It happened to be close by; he even went for morning runs in that park occasionally.

"The scene was incredibly gruesome. Three dogs were dead, and one of them had its internal organs torn out. There was blood everywhere."

"When Alvin was a child, he was so traumatized by the sight of Jane killing Prince right in front of him that he developed amnesia. You can see how deep the trauma runs."

"Seeing a scene like that again, it’s no wonder he was triggered and went mad."

The more Henry Hughes analyzed it, the more he felt he was making sense.

"Sigh, Alvin is too psychologically fragile. Thinking about it now, his asking to borrow a golf club was just too strange."

"When he asked me for the golf club, could it be that he felt insecure? Or maybe he wanted to vent? In any case, it couldn’t have been because he suddenly wanted to play golf."

Julian pressed the bridge of his nose. "I understand. Thank you."

He stood up and called in his assistant from outside, telling him to see their guest out.

The door to the tea room closed again, and this time, it was quiet.

Adrian asked with a deadpan expression, "Brother, what are your thoughts?"

After a pause, he added, "Something this major has happened. If the Hughes Family refuses to let this go, neither of us can handle the fallout. Father will find out soon enough."

"When Butler Forbes called the day before yesterday, he said Father recently caught a cold and was only just getting better after having a fever for a few days."

Matters at the company were already giving their father enough to worry about; he didn’t want their father to be troubled by family matters as well.

The Hughes Family was being too aggressive. The pressure their father would face would only be greater than their own.

Although Adrian wasn’t involved in business, he had heard about the Hughes Family’s domineering ways. The smaller families that offended them would suffer serious losses at best, or go bankrupt at worst.

Therefore, they needed to appease the Hughes Family’s anger as quickly as possible and present a solution that would satisfy them.

Before Julian could speak, the phone on the table suddenly rang.

Lucy Finch’s urgent voice came through: "Young Master, this is bad! A group of people just burst in, saying they’re going to take the Second Young Master away!"

Julian’s expression changed slightly. He had specifically placed Alvin Lancaster in the same hospital to reassure the Hughes Family.

He never expected the Hughes Family to be so unreasonable as to actually try and take him away!

"Have someone block them for now! I’m on my way!" Julian said hurriedly.

—

Outside the VIP ward.

Secretary Dawson had brought a group of men and surrounded the ward.

The police said Alvin Lancaster had a mental health issue and was released on bail to the Lancaster Family for medical treatment, but how could the Hughes Family possibly accept that explanation?

Who knew if he was faking it to escape punishment?

Secretary Dawson was dead set on getting revenge for his young master, so he immediately led his men to barge in.

Seeing the nurses rushing over, Secretary Dawson didn’t even bat an eye.

One of his underlings next to him said arrogantly, "Stay back. This is a private dispute. Medical staff should mind their own business."

The head nurse hesitated for a moment before stepping forward. "But the patient is still undergoing treatment. He can’t be agitated..."

"Get lost! Are you deaf or something?"

"Of course she understands. But are the words you’re speaking even human?" Jane Lancaster said as she walked over.

"Miss Lancaster!" When Lucy Finch saw Jane, she looked as if she had just found her backbone.

Jane’s tone was calm. "Why is everyone shouting in a hospital? Forgive my ignorance, but for a moment I thought some bandits had arrived."

Secretary Dawson’s eyes narrowed slightly. Of course he recognized Jane Lancaster; the memory was quite vivid.

Just a moment ago, his young master had been earnestly pleading for his family to let the Lancasters off the hook.

Secretary Dawson had never seen his young master so infatuated and confused. A file on Jane Lancaster had been delivered to him shortly after.

He studied Jane for a moment. This woman had been in a vegetative state for three years. He’d heard that people in such a state often ended up with twisted mouths and crooked eyes, ugly as ghouls, but he couldn’t see any trace of that on her.

Not only that, but her whole demeanor had changed. In photos from a few years ago, she looked reserved and proper, but now she was like a drawn sword, her sharp edge faintly visible.

Not the empty-headed type who just coasted on her looks.

He suddenly understood. No wonder his young master was so captivated.

"You jest, Miss Lancaster. You are, after all, the one our own President Hughes personally praised as Stratton’s number one socialite." Secretary Dawson said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "But it is I who am ignorant. I don’t understand how a murderer can be released on bail. I hear it’s for medical treatment, so naturally, we have to investigate to be sure."

Jane was so angry she laughed.

’Where did this bastard come from? He’s even more arrogant than me, the story’s vicious female supporting character.’

Lucy Finch grew furious. "Who are you calling a murderer? Nothing has been decided yet, so watch your mouth!"

Secretary Dawson was unconcerned. "He assaulted someone in front of the police. How is he not a murderer?"

The underling next to him caught his glance and immediately prepared to shout, "Alvin Lancaster is a murderer—"

Before he could finish, Jane Lancaster grabbed him by the collar and slapped him twice across the face.

The underling: "Alvin Lancaster is a mur—" He had barely opened his mouth before he was slapped twice more.

"Alvin Lancaster—" Again, two more slaps, one on each side.

The underling was completely stunned by the blows, his entire face stinging with fiery pain.

He’d learned his lesson, though. He knew he’d get hit if he opened his mouth, so he clamped it shut and didn’t say another word.

Jane stopped. "Did you have something else to say?"

The underling looked at her with eyes full of terror, shaking his head frantically to show that he had nothing to say!

’This woman is terrifying! Her slaps hurt like hell!’

Secretary Dawson was so stunned that he didn’t react right away.

He never would have imagined that Jane Lancaster, such a delicate and pampered young lady, would slap someone without a second thought!

Usually, when he brought this gang of vicious-looking thugs with him, even grown men would be too scared to speak loudly to him.

Did Jane Lancaster have a death wish, daring to strike first?