Chapter 893 Are You Happy to Step on Me?
"Mrs. Clark, you have guests at your home today. Isn't this Jane Watkins? Why is she here at the Clark family home?" One of the wealthy ladies feigned surprise.
Beside her, another person added, "She even brought a suitcase with her. How unusual!"
The pretense lacked any semblance of acting skills or sincerity.
"I'm truly sorry, I forgot that we had visitors today." Ann smiled and said, "Jane isn't a guest. She came of her own accord to accompany Aurora during her pregnancy. Aurora was feeling lonely at home."
Ann's apologies to her friends lacked sincerity, a mere glance revealing that she had intentionally invited these people over to watch a spectacle!
The other wealthy ladies also played along.
"Ann, don't you think you are inviting trouble into your home? Who knows if Jane still harbors ulterior motives toward your son..."
"That's right. Jane may no longer be the distinguished Miss Watkins of the past, but Anthony is a top figure in elite circles. There are many unrefined women out there, willing to become mistresses for wealth and status."
"Some may settle for being mistresses, but others may aim for a higher position!"
Jane stood at the entrance of the Clark family house with a 20-inch suitcase, listening to the gossip about her.
Ann sipped her coffee, casting occasional glances at Jane, hoping to see her embarrassed. However, Jane remained composed, as if she could not hear their words.
"Ms. Watkins really has a good mental fortitude," one of them remarked after enough mockery, attempting to curry favor with Ann, "After all, those with poor mental fortitude wouldn't dare visit others with ulterior motives."
"I'm just in my twenties; do I really need to argue with a group of aunties in their forties and fifties?" Jane smiled nonchalantly. She was tired of the accusations regarding her intentions toward Anthony.
"Who are you calling 'aunties'?" one red-haired lady exclaimed angrily, looking as if she was about to strike someone.
Jane remained unfazed, even reminding the other party with a smile, "Mrs. Gray, look, your younger sisters are smarter. They are all silent, waiting for you to speak up."
The others remained silent, as if the term 'aunties in their forties and fifties' had nothing to do with them.
Pamela Gray turned red and then pale with anger. She glanced at the other silent ladies, feeling even more frustrated.
"Jane, stop sowing discord here!" Ann, as the host of the gathering, had to intervene.
The relationships among these people were superficial, but even in their simplicity, Ann could not bear the burden of them having a fight in the Clark family house.
Another lady chimed in, "Ms. Watkins, is this how you were taught to speak to your elders?"
"I have no elders left in my family to teach me. My brother was ruined by someone. Everyone here is aware of that," Jane tilted her head, her expression devoid of anger as she said, "You all claim I lack manners. What would someone without manners know about respecting elders?"
"Aunt, Ms. Watkins, you are here," Aurora called out as she descended from the second floor, holding her pregnant belly, accompanied by a middle-aged maid and another servant trailing behind her.
Jane almost raised an eyebrow. If she had not seen Natalie pregnant before, she might have thought all pregnant women were guarded so heavily.
"Aurora, did you wake up from your nap?" Ann greeted Aurora with a completely different smile than the one she offered Jane.
Aurora nodded, touching her belly. "The baby was kicking me, so I woke up."
"Is the fetal movement so noticeable? It must be an active little boy."
The wealthy ladies began showering Aurora and Ann with auspicious words, congratulating them. They spoke of how only a girl like Aurora was worthy of the young master of the Clark family, unlike a certain someone with shady origins.
Clearly, the person with shady origins was Jane.
Jane found dealing with these people utterly futile. She had seen and understood enough to see through them at a glance. Seeing through them only deepened her disgust.
"Jane, please put down your suitcase and have a seat. Don't stand," Aurora said as though she was the lady of the house, "I didn't expect you to actually come."
The latter part of her sentence, overheard by others, made it seem as though Jane had come on her own, unwelcomed by Aurora, but Aurora, out of politeness, could not ask her to leave.
"Would I dare not come?" Jane was not sure if Aurora's words were intentional, but she continued to respond cleverly.
Jane's words carried an underlying message.
The wealthy ladies caught on, exchanging glances. It appeared that Jane had been threatened.
Seeing the atmosphere turning tense, Ann interjected, saying to the butler, "Please take Ms. Jane to the room where the previous servant had lived. We don't have many guest rooms, and it's not convenient to offer her one."
If it were another person in front of her, Ann might have added, 'You don't mind, do you?'
However, with Jane, Ann prudently did not say those words. She knew Jane would undoubtedly retort, 'I do mind. Please give me a room with better lighting.'
"Aunt, I'll escort Jane," Aurora suggested.
"No! You're pregnant, why bother? She's not an important guest."
The first half of Ann's words were caring, but the second half carried a hint of sarcasm.
"Aunt, it won't take much effort. I could use a little walk." Aurora smiled gracefully, maintaining her composure.
Aurora appeared as the quintessential lady of a wealthy household, earning praise and envy from the other wealthy ladies for her actions toward Jane.
However, to Jane, Aurora seemed like a poorly trained imitator. In Jane’s eyes, the most refined and sophisticated lady she had ever encountered, embodying a true lady of a wealthy family in every aspect, was Natalie. With Natalie as the benchmark, everyone else seemed like poor imitations.
Jane remembered that Aurora once said she wanted to surpass Jane. However, Jane felt like they had completely different styles.
After Jane left, the wealthy ladies immediately asked Ann about Jane's earlier remark, 'Would I dare not come?'
Ann chuckled. "Who knows what she meant? She's just being difficult."
She would not let these people know that Jane had been coerced into coming!
…
The room prepared for Jane at the Clark family home resembled more a utility room than a servant’s quarters.
Located at the back of the stairs between the first and second floors, it was a triangular space partitioned off as a 'room'.
Less than ten square meters, it contained only a narrow single bed and a small wardrobe where clothes had to be folded, not hung. After Jane's suitcase was placed inside, she had almost no space to move around.
Even at her most destitute, Jane had never stayed in such a place. She even doubted if there had ever been a servant who lived there. Thinking about this, she could not help but let out a laugh.
"Jane, this room might be a bit challenging for you, but as you heard from Aunt, we can only inconvenience you for now," Aurora said apologetically with a regretful expression on her face. Then, she instructed the nearby servant, "Help Ms. Watkins with her luggage."
"No need." Jane swiftly moved her suitcase behind her, declining the servant's assistance.
"Jane, the Clark family's servants are professionally trained and will neither tamper with your belongings nor damage them. I just wanted to help you after your journey..." Aurora's words carried an undertone of, 'I'm being kind, don't be ungrateful'.
"Stop!" Jane closed her eyes, halting Aurora.
Jane had navigated a world filled with seemingly innocent but ultimately scheming individuals in her youth, gaining the experience necessary to deal with such people. However, she was no longer a teenager and now lacked the energy to engage with them. Especially when considering her current situation, her reasons for being here, and the treatment she was enduring, she could tolerate it.
Because she required something from them.
Because she was at their mercy.
However, could they please stop trying to disgust her?
"Aurora, I have some doubts I would like to discuss with you."
Jane carried her luggage into her designated 'room', keeping the others outside. Although she disliked the room, she detested the prospect of irrelevant people entering even more.
"Jane, please speak. You don't have to be so formal," Aurora said warmly and generously.
Jane got straight to the point and asked, "We're not acquainted, so why did Ann specifically request that I accompany you?"
"I..." Aurora's expression slightly changed as she said, "I just admire you a lot and hope to spend more time with you. You have always been my role model."
Jane looked at her with interest, tilted her head, and continued, "Admire me? Is that why you want me to serve you during your pregnancy and possibly during your postpartum period? Your admiration means you want me to witness your engagement. I must say, I'm quite shocked. I have met and interacted with many people, but your kind of admiration is unique. Quite eye-opening!"
"Jane," Aurora stepped back, her eyes welling up with tears as she said, "I... I didn't intend to hurt you. I just genuinely like Anthony. We have discussed this, and your visit to the Clark family was not my idea..."
"Not your idea, but Mrs. Ann's idea, right?" Jane finished her sentence.
Aurora paled slightly, suspecting that she was being accused of shifting the blame to Ann in front of the Clark family's servants.
But Jane's visit to the Clark family was clearly decided by Ann alone, and Jane had agreed to come!
"In that case, let me ask a different question," Jane leaned against the wall, calmly asking, "Do you enjoy the feeling of surpassing me?"
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