Chapter 224: So I’ll Just Quit

Mama Knight knew this would offend Adrian. Miss Jane had also told her to say less, to just look out for herself.

When she heard some of their idiotic remarks, she should just let them go in one ear and out the other, not bothering to engage.

She knew Miss Jane meant well. After all, she was just a housekeeper. She couldn’t afford to offend anyone, and anyone could crush her with ease.

Just like how the insignificant Miller Family had once been able to drive her to desperation.

But if it meant watching Miss Jane be misunderstood, then even if she got thrown out, she would say her piece first!

"Miss Jane has never bullied the staff without reason. Even when people don’t do their jobs well, she isn’t harsh with them. If this were just a matter of petty greed, Miss Jane wouldn’t have even bothered."

Mama Knight’s voice grew heated. "That was a heartfelt gift from someone! The cook helped Mrs. Everett trample all over that person’s kindness and deceived everyone for three years. Isn’t that going too far?"

Adrian froze for a moment. He had seen Jane’s name at the top of the card and hadn’t bothered to read the rest.

He never thought there was so much more to the story.

"So what? It was just some local produce. We couldn’t have eaten it all anyway, so it was shared with everyone in the end," Adrian said, his face a mask of indifference.

Mama Knight looked at him. "Young Master Adrian, if your fans sent you a heartfelt gift, and your assistant secretly used it for themself, would you also think that was fine?"

Adrian’s face froze. His studio would never keep an assistant who acted so presumptuously.

At the end of the day, he was a celebrity. If he were caught trampling on his fans’ goodwill, it would be a career-ending scandal.

"How can you even compare the two?"

"Why can’t they? That produce was grown by Miss Jacobs and her grandfather. The sentiment behind it is even greater than what your fans feel for you, not less."

Mama Knight paused, then her tone shifted. "Miss Morgan is repaying a debt, and for digging up a basket of bamboo shoots, we’re supposed to expect our Miss Jane to be moved to tears with gratitude. So why is her gesture so important, while another’s is worthless?"

SLAM! Adrian slammed his hand on the table.

"Who taught you to say that?" Adrian’s voice was bone-chillingly cold. "Luna is still lying in a hospital bed. How dare you drag her into this?"

Even Julian spoke up. "That’s enough!"

Mama Knight jumped, but she summoned her courage and continued speaking.

"I feel for Miss Morgan and her injury. If I’m not allowed to speak because of that, then fine. I won’t mention her. I’ll talk about Miss Jacobs instead."

"Speaking of repaying debts, has Miss Jacobs done any less? Just because she does things quietly, without trying to latch onto the Lancaster family or generate publicity, does that mean her efforts carry no weight?"

’In fact, Miss Jane had seemed deeply worried from the very beginning, when she first heard about Luna’s ’repayment’.’

’She remembered overhearing Miss Jane speaking to Luna one day. Miss Jane had told Luna not to come anymore, that she shouldn’t be trapped by the past, that she should live her own life...’

’But before she could finish, Luna had passionately cut her off, insisting she would remember the debt for the rest of her life and dedicate herself to repaying it.’

’Then, a lot of people had rushed in. Although Young Master Lowell had reprimanded Luna, she’d seen the Second Young Master and Adrian comforting her in the hallway.’

’Miss Jane didn’t fall asleep until very late that night. Mama Knight, who was staying by her side, heard her sigh in the darkness.’

’She had said, "Mama Knight, I think I might have done a terrible thing. I may have ruined someone’s life."’

’Mama Knight hadn’t had much schooling; at the time, she didn’t understand why Miss Jane’s voice was so full of confusion and self-reproach.’

’She had instinctively wanted to help Miss Jane, which was why she had been so eager to make Luna leave.’

’But it seemed she had done the wrong thing, too, and caused so many problems.’

She had been in touch with Jasper Sterling quite a bit over the last couple of days, and she couldn’t help but ask for his take on the situation.

Jasper Sterling had told her she hadn’t done anything wrong. If one is repaying a debt with no expectation of reward, why the insistence on staying with the Lancaster family, on remaining by Jane’s side?

Refusing to leave was, in itself, a form of demanding something in return—demanding emotional validation, demanding the moral high ground, demanding peace of mind.

Mama Knight felt as though she both understood and didn’t at the same time.

Now, with Nina Jacobs as a contrast, she was more certain than ever: Luna’s method of repaying her debt, in a manner that was almost self-destructive, was fundamentally wrong. It was pathological.

Not only did it trap Luna herself, but it also held Jane hostage through moral blackmail.

"Miss Jane never asks for repayment, but if someone shows genuine gratitude, she never fails to appreciate it."

"No one taught me to say this. These are my own thoughts. If Young Master Adrian is displeased, then I’ll just leave."

Adrian sneered. "Are you threatening me? I’m not as good-natured as my second brother."

He refused to believe Mama Knight was acting without Jane’s instruction.

’Is she acting so high and mighty, like a dog with its master’s backing, just because Father is coming home?’

"Go on, test me. See if I don’t dare fire you," Adrian said, tilting his chin up in disgust.

Mama Knight almost laughed. "Of course I know you have the guts to. That’s why I’m quitting! This card has six hundred thousand in it. I don’t want it. You can have it all back!"

She threw a card onto the table. It was the bank card the Lancaster family had given her for her salary when she first arrived.

In all her years with the family, she had never taken so much as a single needle beyond her wages, so she had no way of coming up with more money.

But fortunately, since she was all alone in the world, her expenses were low, and she had managed to save up a bit.

A while ago, Miss Jane had offered to help her invest it, so she’d withdrawn all her savings. She hadn’t had the chance to give the money to Miss Jane yet, which made today’s timing perfect.

Adrian stared at her, incredulous. "Are you insane?"

He couldn’t understand why she would go to such lengths for Jane.

Mama Knight thought for a moment. Since she had already decided to quit on her employers, there were some things she had to make crystal clear.

"Oh, and by the way, I was the one who drove Luna away. It was my own decision. Last year on her birthday, the Second Young Master took her shopping during the day, Young Master Adrian took her out at night, and even the Eldest Young Master brought her a birthday cake after returning late from an overseas business trip."

"I have no idea what a coincidence it was that everyone managed to come back for that. After all, for Miss Jane’s first birthday after she woke up, not everyone managed to show up."

With that, Mama Knight turned and walked out.

She didn’t even go upstairs to say goodbye to Jane. She quickly packed her things and left, rolling her suitcase behind her.

—

When Mama Knight didn’t come back after a long time, Jane sensed something was wrong and quickly headed over.

She was worried about Mama Knight. Julian was no saint, after all. His handling of Zach Miller and Willow Summers was a clear indication of how ruthless and merciless he could be.

"Mama Knight!" she called out as she reached the dining room, only to find it eerily quiet inside.

Adrian sat there, his face expressionless.

Julian, meanwhile, had his eyes lowered, staring at the steak on his plate.

’What’s going on?’

Jane shot her two brothers an inscrutable glance before turning to the butler. "Have you seen Mama Knight?"

The butler didn’t dare to answer, instead sneaking a glance at Julian.

This made Jane even more suspicious. Too lazy to press them for an answer, she simply dialed Mama Knight’s number.

"Hello, Miss Jane. There’s an emergency, and I have to go back to my hometown."

"Why so suddenly? Did you already buy a ticket?" Jane asked, stunned.

"I did. You taught me how, Miss Jane. I know how to buy my own tickets now." Mama Knight paused, then added, "An elder in my family is sick, Miss Jane. I need to stay home and take care of them, so I might not be back in Stratton for a while."