Chapter 89: Spend More Time Disciplining Your Daughter
"Do you have anything else to say?" Sophia Quinn asked, looking at Brooke York.
The moment she got the recording, she thought, ’She really is Alice Cole’s daughter—just as detestable.’
’To think she’d resort to something like this at her age. If she gains power and influence when she’s older, she’ll be even more of a menace.’
Alice Cole was at a loss for words. The evidence was all laid out before them—how could she possibly argue?
"That’s enough, Mrs. York. When you have a moment, you really should spend more time disciplining your daughter. Stop letting her waste her days scheming about nonsense while you neglect your actual duties. Don’t wait until she makes a truly terrible mistake to intervene, because by then, it will be too late."
Sophia Quinn was clearly telling Mrs. York she’d failed to discipline her daughter. How could they possibly not understand that!
Brooke York clenched her fists, her hatred for Sophia Quinn reaching its peak.
’That old hag had better not succeed in getting Chloe into the Prescott family. If Chloe does marry in, I will absolutely destroy her.’
After Sophia Quinn left, Alice Cole grabbed Brooke York’s hand. "Brooke, what is the matter with you?" she asked. "Didn’t I teach you last time? Why weren’t you more discreet? You can’t pull this kind of stunt unless you’re one hundred percent certain you won’t get caught."
Alice Cole saw nothing wrong with what Brooke York had done. Instead, she was teaching her that you should only do such things when you are certain you can get away with it.
Her philosophy was that it was fine to do bad things, but you had to be discreet. Not getting caught was what mattered. If you weren’t completely certain of success, you shouldn’t do it at all.
At that moment, Alice Cole had no idea that it was precisely because of her words, her encouragement, and her indulgence that Brooke York would one day start down a path of no return. And Alice herself would eventually get her own comeuppance.
"My plan was perfect, and I carried it out perfectly! Who knew she’d suspect me and check the surveillance footage? And that disgusting man even made a recording."
The more Brooke York thought about it, the more upset she became. ’My plan was so perfect,’ she fumed. ’Why wouldn’t these people just cooperate?’
"We can’t let your father find out about this," Alice said. "He already favors Chloe York as it is. If he learned about this, he’d be incredibly disappointed in you."
Brooke York didn’t argue with her mother’s words, because she was right.
"I know."
The next day, Chloe York ran into Sophia Quinn waiting for her at the school gate after classes let out.
Sophia Quinn’s face lit up when she saw Chloe. "Chloe, dear! Let’s go get something delicious to eat!"
Seeing the hopeful look in Sophia Quinn’s eyes, Chloe couldn’t bring herself to refuse. Besides, she needed to get dinner anyway, since Stella Winters had started going back to her own home from today. "Alright!"
"Let’s go!" Sophia Quinn looped her arm through Chloe’s as if they were the closest of friends.
"I’m coming too," a voice suddenly called out from behind them. It was Ethan Prescott.
"We’re going out to eat. What’s a boy like you tagging along for?" Sophia Quinn shot Ethan Prescott a look of disdain, as if the last thing she wanted was for him to join them for a nice meal.
"Why can’t I come? I haven’t eaten either!"
"Come on, Chloe. Let’s go and ignore him!"
Sophia Quinn led Chloe into her car, and Ethan Prescott quickly got into his own, tailing them.
After a half-hour drive, they pulled up to a restaurant.
"Chloe, this place is amazing," Sophia Quinn said as she got out of the car, already singing the restaurant’s praises. "I’ve been here a few times, and I’m sure you’ll love the food."
"Oh, really? Well, if it’s a place you like so much, I’m sure it must be delicious!"
"Of course it is!" The two of them entered the restaurant, and a staff member immediately came over to guide them.
They followed the staff member into a private room, with Ethan Prescott entering right behind them.
Sophia ignored Ethan the entire time. Although she didn’t want to acknowledge him, she figured letting him have a meal wasn’t the worst thing in the world. He was her son, after all. Plus, this was a good chance for her to see if Chloe still had any interest in Ethan. If not, she would have to make new plans.
’If she was going to make Chloe York her daughter, she would need to prepare a lot of gifts.’
Inside the private room, Sophia Quinn pulled Chloe to sit right next to her, leaving Ethan Prescott to sit by himself on the other side of the table.
"Chloe, is it just me, or are you getting prettier and prettier?" As Sophia Quinn sat down and turned to speak, she was suddenly struck by how beautiful Chloe looked—even more so than the day she had returned home.
’Do young girls change this much these days? A new look every day, and each one prettier than the last.’
Even without Sophia saying anything, Ethan had noticed too. For the past few days, he had found Chloe looking more and more beautiful—so beautiful it was starting to make him feel a bit insecure.
’She’s so beautiful,’ he thought. ’How could I ever be worthy of her?’
"I don’t think so!" Chloe flatly denied it. She couldn’t admit to getting prettier; she was afraid Sophia Quinn would ask her *why*, just like Stella Winters had.
"Yes, you are! How can you say no? Your skin is incredible, too. I know you’re just a teenager, and teens are supposed to have good skin, but yours is truly exceptional, even among girls your age!"
The more Sophia looked at Chloe, the more beautiful she found her, and the more she adored her. ’A gorgeous girl like this, my daughter? Soon, she will be. I must raise her like a princess, so she stays this beautiful forever.’
"Mom, Chloe has always been beautiful," Ethan chimed in at the perfect moment. "She’s probably just been resting well, so her complexion is even better." After his compliment, he looked at Chloe with sparkling eyes, as if begging for praise.
Chloe simply ignored him, pretending she hadn’t heard a thing.
"That could be it!" Sophia Quinn nodded in agreement. Chloe had always been beautiful.
Then, realizing she had just responded to Ethan, Sophia’s mood soured instantly. "Hey, who was talking to you? This is a conversation between us girls. Why are you butting in? You have no boundaries."
Ethan felt wronged, getting chewed out by his own mother, but inwardly he was ecstatic. Chloe hadn’t told him off, and she hadn’t disagreed with what he said.
Soon, the waiters began bringing out the food. Chloe didn’t stand on ceremony; the moment Sophia picked up her chopsticks, Chloe did the same and began to eat as the dishes arrived.
Sophia continuously placed more food into Chloe’s bowl. Looking at the mountain of food that was threatening to spill over, Chloe had no choice but to say, "Mrs. Quinn, my bowl is going to overflow."
"Nonsense! You’re too thin. You have to eat more, you know?"
"You eat too, Mrs. Quinn," Chloe said, placing some food in Sophia’s bowl in return.
"Alright, alright, we’ll both eat!"
Ethan held his bowl and watched the two across from him, who looked for all the world like a real mother and daughter. He shook his head helplessly. He really was the only outsider here.
Chloe finished all the food Sophia had placed in her bowl, along with her rice, and then helped herself to another serving.
Sophia was shocked. ’When did Chloe’s appetite get so good? And how can she eat so much without gaining a single pound???’