Chapter 163: Argument

Chapter 163: Chapter 163: Argument

"I will make you personally clarify all the rumors online and issue a public apology. As for all the damage you’ve caused, I will see this through to the end."

Brooke York looked at the perpetually calm Chloe York, and an inexplicable panic began to stir in her heart.

She had expected Chloe to fly into a rage, to get emotional. That would have given her more opportunities to argue her way out of it. Seeing Chloe angry would have been a relief.

But the Chloe before her now was far too calm. This composure, more than any rage, made her uneasy and even more anxious.

But who was she? She was Brooke York. Even if she was anxious, she wasn’t afraid of Chloe. She looked Chloe straight in the eye. "I won’t clarify something I didn’t do, and I certainly won’t apologize!"

Knowing this was just how Brooke was, Chloe didn’t bother arguing further. "I’ve said my piece. You can continue to deny it, but I’m about to show you the price you pay for carelessly starting rumors and maliciously targeting me."

With that, Chloe didn’t spare Brooke another glance and turned to walk slowly away.

Brooke, left standing there, watched her retreating back. Her fingers clenched into tight fists as a strange sense of panic rose within her. She had stubbornly refused to admit anything, but Chloe’s absolute calm left her unable to feel at ease. She even began to regret her actions. ’Was I really too reckless?’

This time, she had done it all by herself. After all, Clara Bell wasn’t at the same university as her.

Although Brooke thought Chloe probably couldn’t trace it back to her, she had still underestimated her.

In less than half a day, Chloe had figured it out. She even released evidence proving the pictures were all Photoshopped and that Brooke was the one who did it.

Chloe also made it known that she would pursue the matter to the very end.

The chancellor of the university called Miles York directly on his cell phone, telling him to handle the matter quickly. After all, both girls were now considered his daughters, and he didn’t want their family drama making things difficult for the school.

Miles York felt utterly humiliated. He lost all interest in handling business at the office and headed home, ordering Brooke to get her ass back to the York residence immediately.

"Brooke York, I went through so much trouble to get you into Southbend University, and now you’re causing me more problems!"

Miles was furious. He thought about how Brooke had started stirring up trouble again right after getting into university. It was as if she was afraid people *wouldn’t* pay attention to her.

’The more attention she draws, the more likely people are to find out she took someone else’s spot.’

"Oh, what’s the use of talking to the child like that? When it comes down to it, isn’t this Chloe’s fault? I don’t think she sees Brooke as a sister at all, showing her no mercy."

Alice Cole immediately pushed all the blame onto Chloe. In her eyes, Brooke’s actions were just petty squabbles, while Chloe was the one trying to ruin Brooke.

"Alice, oh, Alice. I really don’t know what to say to you. You haven’t recognized your own mistakes in the slightest. If you keep this up, sooner or later, you’re going to be the one who ruins Brooke."

"How would I ruin her? Isn’t what Brooke said the truth? If you ask me, Brooke was actually helping Chloe! And she was helping all those boys Chloe has wrapped around her little finger."

"First, it helps Chloe see the error of her ways. Second, it lets those boys see Chloe’s true colors so they don’t get played." Alice Cole said it with such conviction, as if it were all perfectly logical.

"You’re unbelievable!" Miles was so incensed by her twisted logic that he was speechless. He pointed at Alice, his finger trembling, but he was completely powerless against this unreasonable woman.

Alice completely ignored the furious Miles and sat down next to Brooke.

"Brooke, don’t listen to your dad. In any case, Mom thinks you did the right thing. Besides, what you did was based on facts!"

"Alice, you’re still saying things like that."

"And why can’t I? Brooke was absolutely right. She’s nominally Chloe’s older sister now. So what if she calls her out for playing the field? Even if Chloe isn’t *actually* playing the field yet, she’s still juggling several guys at once. Is that right? Do we have to wait until something actually happens before we try to stop it?"

Alice’s words once again left Miles speechless.

Brooke’s fingertips dug into the sofa cushion, tears welling up in her eyes, but she fought to keep them from falling.

She had indeed taken someone else’s spot to get into Southbend University. Miles had expended a great deal of effort and pulled many strings to make it happen. She lived in constant fear of being found out.

But seeing the internet flooded with praise for Chloe, seeing Chloe looking so triumphant, her jealousy grew like a weed. In a moment of impulse, she wrote those posts about her "playing the field." She never expected Chloe would be able to investigate it so easily.

Alice completely ignored Miles’s fury, turning to sit beside Brooke. She gently patted Brooke’s back and soothed her in a soft voice, "Brooke, don’t pay any attention to your dad. He’s just getting senile and can’t tell right from wrong. Anyway, Mom thinks what you did was right. You did nothing wrong, and what you said was the truth, so don’t be afraid!"

"So what do we do now? The school has already said they’re going to handle this severely. I might get a demerit, maybe even... maybe even expelled!" Brooke finally broke, her voice choked with sobs and trembling uncontrollably. Her eyes were filled with despair. "If I get expelled, and if people find out what Dad did to get me in, I’ll be completely ruined!"

At this, Brooke could no longer hold back. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and a chill ran through her as she sank into a deep state of terror.

She was finally realizing just what irreversible consequences her impulsive act had caused. And Chloe’s promise to hold her accountable left her utterly powerless, able to do nothing but wait for the punishment to fall.

"What are you afraid of? Mom is here. You never have to be afraid."

Hearing Alice’s words, Miles let out a cold laugh. ’Nothing to be afraid of? She’ll handle everything? When has Alice Cole ever stepped up? It’s always been him.’

Even when there were problems at the company, he was the one who came forward to solve them. And Alice? She just stayed at home. She didn’t even have to do chores; the maid did them. She really did absolutely nothing. And now she couldn’t even manage a single child properly.

Seeing that Alice was only concerned with comforting Brooke, Miles didn’t want to say another word. He stood up and left the house. If he stayed any longer, he was afraid the mother-daughter duo would be the death of him.

After Miles left, Brooke threw herself into Alice’s arms, no longer able to control her sorrow.

For the first time, she felt truly afraid. ’I shouldn’t have stuck my neck out. I should have just endured it.’

’Now that I’ve made myself a target, it’ll be all too easy for people to find out I took someone else’s place to get into Southbend University. After all, people online are frighteningly good at doxxing these days.’

Alice felt Brooke’s fear and her heart ached. ’This is all Chloe’s fault. She’s the one who made my daughter so scared.’