Chapter 210: Don’t Tell Me Julian Lanscaster Is Calling to Demand Her Back?

Jane Lancaster lowered her gaze. "How long do you plan to keep me locked up?"

She couldn’t be bothered to guess anymore and asked him straight out.

Jean Hughes relayed instructions to his men outside: prepare clothes, toiletries, and food for Jane Lancaster, and send people to the room.

Only then did he smile and say, "How can you call this being locked up? We’re engaged. We need to spend more time together to nurture our feelings. I don’t want to be apart from you, at least not before the wedding."

’He had originally planned to take things slow. They were supposed to nurture their feelings for each other properly.’

’He hadn’t expected her to be so clever, so easily prying his deepest secret from him.’

"You should have foreseen this outcome when you decided to trick me into talking."

’Since things had come to this, he might as well go with the flow and keep her here. Besides, he didn’t want to suffer the torment of being without her.’

’Jane Lancaster had something foul to say to him, followed by something even fouler.’

"Hold on, what do you mean I tricked you? Criminals always return to the scene of the crime to admire their handiwork. You must have been dying to tell someone after holding it in for so long, so you decided to show off in front of me. What’s that got to do with me?"

"Besides, you only told me because you wanted a chance to hypnotize me, didn’t you? People are most vulnerable when they’re experiencing intense emotions. I’m the real victim here, aren’t I?"

Jean Hughes couldn’t help but burst out laughing. "You’re absolutely right."

’He *was* excited. After all, what was the point of a masterpiece if no one was there to appreciate it?’

’As for the hypnosis, he had of course failed. She hadn’t shown the slightest crack in her composure.’

’She certainly had beautiful eyes. Her lashes were long and thick, and the captivating light in them as they moved was mesmerizing.’

"You’re the true master of hypnosis, effortlessly capturing my heart and turning my world upside down."

Ultimately, Jean Hughes couldn’t resist her allure. He grabbed the rose, ignoring the thorns that pricked his palm, and with a sharp tug, pulled her toward him.

Then he lowered his head and gently brushed his lips against her ice-cold fingertips.

Jane Lancaster hadn’t expected him to go so far, even injuring himself in the process. Without a second thought, she swung her hand and slapped him across the face.

SLAP! The sharp sound echoed as Jean Hughes’s head whipped to the side from the force of the blow.

When Secretary Dawson heard Jean Hughes’s request, he instantly understood. ’Mr. Hughes isn’t going to let Miss Lancaster leave?’

’He wouldn’t even let her go back to pack her own clothes. This was no different from putting her under house arrest.’

He gathered some men and rushed toward the hospital room. ’Mr. Hughes asked for men... he’s not planning to get rough with Miss Lancaster, is he?’

But when he threw the door open, he didn’t see Jean Hughes roughing up Jane Lancaster. Instead, he saw Jane Lancaster roughing up Jean Hughes.

’My God, this woman has some serious nerve!’

"Well, well. You dare strike the young master!" Secretary Dawson sneered, ordering the bodyguards behind him, "What are you waiting for? Seize her!"

Two bodyguards charged in, menacingly advancing on Jane Lancaster.

Jane Lancaster glanced at the bodyguards blocking the doorway, then back at Jean Hughes, who was closest to her.

Secretary Dawson, ever the loyal protector, stepped forward. "What? You’re not thinking of taking the young master hostage, are you?"

Jane Lancaster sighed. "There are so many of you. What choice do I have?"

She raised her hands in surrender. Discretion is the better part of valor, after all.

’Her move against Secretary Dawson and his lackey the day before had only worked because of the element of surprise and her speed.’

’Secretary Dawson hadn’t expected her to be such a coward. He felt a surge of pride. It was a good thing he’d been listening for any commotion in the room; it allowed him to come to the rescue just in time.’

’He rolled up his sleeves, already imagining how he’d return that slap on the young master’s behalf.’

’He just wondered how many slaps it would take to make a face that delicate swell up.’

Just as Secretary Dawson swung his arm back, preparing to land a vicious blow, something seized his neck and a slap landed squarely on his face.

He instinctively moved to strike back, but his eyes met the sinister gaze of Jean Hughes.

Secretary Dawson’s face drained of color. ’Mr. Hughes!’

Ignoring his reaction, Jean Hughes delivered several more slaps with the back of his hand.

Secretary Dawson was completely stunned, his face stinging with a fiery pain. He couldn’t understand what was happening!

Having vented his rage, Jean Hughes finally felt some relief. He leaned back against the pillows, panting.

"I wouldn’t dream of laying a finger on her, yet you dare to strike her?" Jean Hughes asked coldly a moment later, once his breathing had steadied.

Jane Lancaster’s slap had not only made him see stars, but it had also aggravated the wound on his head, sending a searing pain through him.

He wasn’t a good-tempered man, and his anger had flared in that instant.

But he couldn’t bring himself to strike Jane Lancaster.

Secretary Dawson had blundered in at the perfect moment. A violent impulse had seized him; he’d genuinely wanted to gouge the man’s eyes out.

’But the man was his father’s right-hand, and fiercely loyal. Since Jane Lancaster didn’t want his eyes, he’d let that pair of dead-fish eyes stay in their sockets... for now.’

Jean Hughes asked, "Secretary Dawson, are you alright?"

How could Secretary Dawson dare say otherwise? He quickly shook his head, indicating he was fine.

Jean Hughes said, "You’ve all misunderstood. I was the one who was discourteous just now."

He looked at Jane Lancaster, his demeanor perfectly courteous. "Next time, I will be sure to ask for your consent first."

’Of course, if she refused... that wouldn’t be an option either.’ His gaze lingered on Jane Lancaster’s lips, a frantic obsession in his eyes.

’Next time... he would definitely steal a kiss.’

’Jane Lancaster felt deeply uncomfortable under his gaze. What fantasy was this guy living in?’

So she said it plainly, "There won’t be a next time. I’m not going to Solara with you, I’m not marrying you, and I’m not interested in you in the slightest."

Jean Hughes didn’t get angry. He simply asked, "Why? I was under the impression our families had already reached an agreement."

He had made it clear: only through this marriage alliance would the Hughes Family drop the attempted murder charges against Alvin Lancaster.

After a pause, he tilted his head. "Am I not good enough for you?"

Jane Lancaster almost laughed. "Why would I think you’re good enough? Because of that creepy, obsessive look on your face? Or is it because you’re stupid, malicious, and utterly classless?"

’Secretary Dawson was also stunned. This woman really didn’t know how to appreciate a good thing when she saw it.’

"All talk! The young master is handsome, rich, and so devoted! He’s the kind of man you couldn’t find even if you searched with a lantern. How could you not be interested?"

’Jane Lancaster was impressed by his sycophancy. How could he even force out a compliment like that?’

’She thought for a moment. Ultimately, it was because there was a man constantly trying to charm her that she’d become almost immune to such advances.’

"Stop looking at me like that. Do you think you’re being charming and seductive? No. In reality, you’re just ugly and greasy. Compared to some people, you’re the one with the dead-fish eyes."

’Jasper Sterling’s shimmering, almond-shaped eyes were what was truly charming and seductive, so gentle you could lose yourself in them.’

’Fortunately, she constantly reminded herself that she was here on a mission, which was the only way she could barely manage to stay focused and not be swayed.’

’So who the hell did Jean Hughes think he was? Did he really believe he could win her over like this?’

Jean Hughes’s expression darkened, and rage gathered in his eyes. He clenched his fists, his perception sharp. "Who are you comparing me to? Caleb Lowell?"

Just as Jane Lancaster was about to respond, a cell phone suddenly rang inside the hospital room.

They all exchanged glances. Secretary Dawson pulled out his phone. "Right, I was just about to call Julian Lancaster to let him know we’ve... invited Miss Lancaster over..."

He hesitated, unsure if he should answer. ’Could this be Julian Lancaster calling to demand her back?’

’If Julian Lancaster insisted on taking her, they probably wouldn’t be able to stop him.’

’This was Stratton, after all—the Lancaster family’s turf.’