Chapter 248: You Really Think I Drank a Spiked Drink for Fun?

Jasper Sterling looked up at Jane Lancaster, his expression changing slightly. He quickly stepped forward to support her arm.

"You drank the spiked wine?"

Jane Lancaster dug her nails into her palm and looked up. "I’m fine. This drug just speeds up your blood flow. It’s not enough to make you lose your senses. A cold bath or a sharp pain can suppress it."

’So I’ve tried an aphrodisiac now. It’s not all that. Did Gordon Dawson really think he could get his hands on me with this stuff? Is he insane?’

’I thought he’d use a knockout drug. Wouldn’t knocking me out first be more foolproof?’

Jasper Sterling lowered his gaze, his eyes filled with icy killing intent.

He knew exactly what Gordon Dawson was planning. He just wanted Jane Lancaster to be conscious for what was to come.

The man was certain that under the combined effects of the drug and alcohol, Jane Lancaster would be completely unable to resist him.

Jasper Sterling turned and ordered his bodyguards, "Hold him down. Call the police!"

At first, Gordon Dawson was furious. He couldn’t accept that his plan had fallen apart at the last second.

But when he heard the word "police," he quickly calmed down.

He might have a bad temper and be prone to rage, but he wasn’t a brainless idiot.

He gave a helpless smile and raised his hands, allowing the two bodyguards to twist his arms behind his back.

"What’s going on? Why did you all just barge in? Isn’t this Pauline’s room? Pauline, didn’t you tell me you’d be waiting for me in bed? Why are they here too?"

Pauline Shaw froze, looking at him with teary, uncomprehending eyes.

"Stay put!" Will kicked him.

Gordon Dawson suddenly let out a HISS of pain and fell to his knees with a THUD.

Will: "..." He had barely used any force.

Kneeling on the floor, Gordon Dawson looked up at Pauline Shaw. The bruises from a fight a few days ago hadn’t faded from his face, giving him a look that was both roguishly handsome and somewhat broken.

"Alright, if you’re going to get rough, you at least need a reason, right? Can’t I be intimate with my girlfriend?" He paused, then put on a look of sudden realization. "Oh, is this Jane Lancaster’s room? Pauline, why did you ask me to meet you in this room? Has there been some kind of misunderstanding?"

No surveillance meant no evidence. He wouldn’t admit to anything, no matter what.

He was confident he could walk away from this, as long as Pauline Shaw wasn’t stupid enough to spill everything.

But she probably wouldn’t.

After all, she was in on the scheme. She definitely wouldn’t want everyone to know she was the kind of villain who’d plot against a friend, much less be outshone by Jane Lancaster.

Setting aside any feelings of love, just to save face in front of Jane Lancaster, she should act like they were as lovey-dovey as ever.

The owner of the manor rushed over with a few security guards. Hearing Gordon Dawson’s words, he quickly said, "A misunderstanding! It must be a misunderstanding!"

He had broken out in a cold sweat when Jasper Sterling sent someone to summon him.

It had seemed strange to him earlier that night when Pauline Shaw had come to the party but then made herself scarce, all while making a few requests.

He had run into a tricky situation two years ago that Yara Yates had helped him resolve. Since this was just a small request, he couldn’t very well refuse.

He never thought they would be secretly up to something like this!

If tonight’s events were classified as a premeditated rape, he would be unable to escape the blame, and it would damage the reputation of the wine tasting event.

To avoid being implicated, this whole affair had to be just a misunderstanding.

He turned to the manor’s manager. "Quick, explain what happened!"

"My apologies, one of our staff members mixed up the room keys, which caused this misunderstanding!" The manager called over the responsible employee to apologize.

"I’m sorry, I’m so sorry! I didn’t do it on purpose!" The employee looked like he was about to fall to his knees.

Jane Lancaster looked at the employee, so angry she almost laughed.

’No wonder he’s so brazen. He had an escape route planned from the start. So, did Pauline Shaw know he was going to do this?’

Pauline Shaw bit her lip. She had no idea Gordon Dawson had also bribed an employee.

Gordon Dawson seized the opportunity to break free from the two bodyguards’ grip. He stood up, a helpless look on his face. "You really got me into a mess. Thank goodness nothing serious happened."

As he spoke, he walked over and wiped the tears from Pauline’s face. "Why are you crying? Silly girl, don’t you know my heart? I only love you. I knew it was you from the start. If it were any other woman, I wouldn’t touch her even if she were naked. Have you forgotten about that woman who knocked on my door late at night? I just watched her make a fool of herself and then cussed her out."

Pauline Shaw trembled slightly, lowering her gaze without a word.

Gordon Dawson was full of confidence, certain that she would play along and help him see this act through.

Seeing his chance, the manor owner tried to smooth things over. "Since Miss Lancaster is alright, do me a favor and let’s just drop this."

Jasper Sterling: "Are you suggesting that Miss Shaw and I teamed up to frame him?"

The manor owner’s heart skipped a beat. "How could that be? President Sterling, you wouldn’t do something like that..."

"And why not? I had my men intercept Miss Shaw in the parking lot, bring her to the room next door, and have her climb over from the balcony."

Jasper Sterling lifted his peach-blossom eyes, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "The room next door originally belonged to President Jennings. I borrowed it from him. The wooden plank is still bridging the balconies."

"Miss Shaw was about to drive off. Why would she be waiting for you in bed?"

Gordon Dawson’s face darkened. He turned to look at Pauline Shaw. "Pauline, hurry up and tell me what’s going on!"

Jane Lancaster sighed.

’I knew he’d deny it and try to squirm his way out. And he tries to act like some righteous guy who takes responsibility for his actions. What kind of man is he, really?’

"I am the evidence." She was a bit unsteady and shifted her position.

"My drink was drugged. Call the police!"

’Did he really think I drank the spiked wine for fun? Of course it was to secure evidence... No, wait, it was to seduce you!’

’He actually said he orchestrated all this just to watch me make a fool of myself. That’s going too far. I will have my revenge!’

---

Inside The Sanctum, the white-robed attendants were amazed to find a rare smile gracing the face of the Oracle, who was usually so impassive.

Noticing the attendants’ stunned gazes, The Black-Haired Oracle quickly wiped the smile from his face, his expression returning to its usual blankness.

Jane Lancaster’s intentions couldn’t have been more obvious. She was just trying to fleece that 5 million.

With a grand wave of his hand, he ruled the mission complete.

A stunned attendant was about to comment on how hasty the decision seemed, only to notice the verdict written below the ruling.

"Verdict: Knowingly drinking wine containing an aphrodisiac and returning to her room is classified as ’deliberate seduction.’ The fact that Pauline Shaw was already waiting in the room is classified as ’being unexpectedly exposed.’ Gordon Dawson’s profession of love for Pauline Shaw alone is classified as ’a public humiliation.’ Thus, the mission is complete and the reward is granted."

The white-robed attendant: "..."

It... actually kind of made sense?

---

Jane Lancaster’s eyes lit up when she heard the news that the mission was complete and the reward had been credited.

Jasper Sterling guided Jane Lancaster to a chair by the table, then took two bottles of ice water from the minibar.

He gave one to her to drink and opened the other, pouring it onto a handkerchief and placing it on her forehead.

Then he crouched down, pried open her clenched fist, and gently wiped at the deep fingernail marks on her palm.

"Just wait a little longer. The police will be here soon. No one is going to sweep this under the rug. He’s going to jail."

Gordon Dawson sneered. "What makes you so sure I was the one who drugged her? For all you know, Jane Lancaster staged this whole thing herself."

It was the same story: without evidence, he would never admit to it.