Chapter 98: Ultimately, Whose Fault Was It?
Once she saw Miles York leave, Brooke York put down her empty milk tea and walked out of the shop. She went to Alice Cole’s side. "Mom, I had an upset stomach. I came back and saw Dad leaving. Where did he go?"
"He suddenly got a call and said he was going back to the office. He said the Prescott Family isn’t coming after us and that we have Chloe York to thank. Could it be that Chloe York went to beg Sophia Quinn?" Alice Cole recounted what had just happened to Brooke York.
Brooke York felt a knot in her stomach when she heard that. ’That bitch, Sophia Quinn. If she wasn’t going to deal with the York Family, fine. But why did she have to drag Chloe York into it and make us thank her? Isn’t that just saying I’m a troublemaker while Chloe is a saint?’
"Forget it. Never mind. Your dad will handle it. The most important thing for you right now is to prepare for the third mock exam. Don’t worry about these people or these matters. Don’t let it affect your mood, understand?"
"I know, Mom!"
The next day, Brooke York ran into Chloe York on campus and walked right up to her. "Chloe York, you must be so proud of yourself!"
To Brooke York, who had suddenly appeared before her to say such a thing, Chloe York replied bluntly, "What’s wrong with you?"
Not expecting such a response, Brooke York asked in disbelief, "How dare you say there’s something wrong with me?"
"Is there not something wrong with you? You took time off school, and the first thing you say when you come back is that I must be proud of myself. Proud that you were absent? What, is you being away from school some kind of blessing for me? You’re being completely baffling."
After saying her piece, Chloe York wanted nothing more to do with Brooke York. ’I’m afraid that if I spend too much time around someone so baffling, I’ll become baffling myself. My brain has just started getting smarter; I don’t want it to turn stupid again.’
"Chloe York, you just wait! The third mock exam! I’ll definitely get the best scores on the third mock exam."
Soon, it was two days before the third mock exam. The atmosphere in the entire class had begun to feel a bit like the run-up to the college entrance exam, as this was the final practice test before the real thing.
"Chloe, after the third mock exam, the next thing is the college entrance exam. Our high school life will be over," Stella Winters said, suddenly feeling emotional.
"Yeah! High school is almost over."
’But I’ve gone through high school twice,’ Chloe York thought silently. It was as if she had lived two lives: one her own, and one someone else’s.
"Chloe, even if we don’t end up at the same university or in the same city, we have to stay in touch. We can’t just lose contact. We’re best friends!"
"Of course."
During this time, neither the Physical System nor the Godly Rich System had issued any missions. But then, the Scholar System suddenly did.
Scholar System: [Host, for the third mock exam, score above 95 in every subject. Reward: Memory Value +10, Wisdom value +10.]
Hearing the "+10," Chloe York was shocked. "How come it’s 10 points this time?"
Scholar System: [Because this is the third mock exam, Host. Your current Wisdom and Memory Values are already at 60. By the day of the college entrance exam, you might even reach 120.]
’120 would be genius-level.’
"Alright, I’ll work hard."
Scholar System: [Go for it, Host!]
On the day of the third mock exam, Chloe York wasn’t in the same exam room as Stella Winters. Instead, she was with Brooke York in the Class 1-2 exam room.
For the second mock exam, Brooke York had been in the Class 1-1 exam room. Now, she had dropped down to Class 1-2.
Feeling humiliated, Brooke York avoided everyone’s gaze as she entered the exam room, found her seat, and sat down.
’The people in this exam room aren’t on the same path as me. I’m someone who takes exams in Class 1-1.’
Compared to the second mock exam, Chloe York could feel herself answering the questions on the third mock much more smoothly. She barely got stuck on anything, but she still gave it 120 percent.
After all, she had to score above 95 in every subject to get the system’s reward.
When the final subject of the third mock exam ended, the other students quickly packed their things and rushed out. Some went to find friends, others to compare answers. Only Chloe York was still unhurriedly packing up when Brooke York walked over and stood before her desk.
"Dad told me to tell you to come home today." Brooke York’s tone was impatient. When she was leaving that morning, Miles York had specifically called her over. She thought he was going to say something encouraging about her exam, but instead, he opened his mouth only to tell her to ask Chloe York to come home for dinner tonight.
It was easy to guess this was because of what happened a few days ago. Miles York’s company was now back on track, so he wanted to thank Chloe York.
"I’m not going back!" Chloe York refused without the slightest hesitation.
"Chloe York, stop pretending. You want to go back, don’t you? You’re dying to rub it in our faces. Now that Dad’s asking you to come home, you must feel pretty high and mighty, right?" Brooke York said with a know-it-all expression.
Having finished packing, Chloe York slung her backpack on, stood up, and looked at Brooke York. "Think whatever you want. The fact is, I’m not going back."
With that, Chloe York brushed past Brooke York and left.
"Tch, what a phony. Let’s see what score you get on the third mock exam."
「York Residence」
Alice Cole watched as Miles York, who never came home early, returned and immediately started ordering the maids to cook Chloe York’s favorite dishes. He then sat waiting at the dining table for Chloe to return, and Alice couldn’t stand it.
’Her own daughter, Brooke, never got this kind of treatment when she came home. What right did Chloe York have?’
Miles York checked all the dishes on the table repeatedly, making sure they were all things Chloe York liked to eat, and even included her favorite coconut water. He had just sat down when he noticed Alice Cole’s disdainful expression.
"Alice Cole, I’m warning you. When Chloe gets here, you’d better not pull a long face. If you make her unhappy, you won’t have an easy time of it either."
"Wait, Miles York, have you lost your mind? Chloe York only became the York family’s young lady because of us. She occupied our daughter’s identity for so many years, and now we’re supposed to treat her like a guest of honor? Have all your years as a CEO been for nothing?"
Miles York slammed his hand on the table. "Do I need to remind you that you’re the one who took the wrong baby all those years ago!"
Alice Cole flinched, and the events of that year involuntarily surfaced in her mind.
Back then, there were two baby girls. At a glance, she had assumed the prettier one must be her child, so she had taken Chloe York. Brooke York, at the time, was incredibly ugly. ’How could I possibly give birth to such an ugly daughter?’ she had thought. But she never expected that the ugly daughter was, in fact, hers.
Seeing Alice Cole fall silent, Miles York snorted coldly. "You blame Chloe day in and day out, saying she occupied your daughter’s identity for over a decade and enjoyed the life of a rich young lady. What, you’ve said it so many times you’ve started to believe it yourself? Have you really forgotten the truth of what happened?"
Faced with Miles York’s sarcastic tone, she would have fired back in the past, but now, she was speechless.
The sound of a car came from outside, signaling that someone had returned.
Miles York immediately ran outside. The only reason his company had averted disaster this time was thanks to Chloe York. Therefore, he had to follow Arthur Prescott’s advice and thank her.