Chapter 42: Brooke York Frames Chloe York Again
"I know, but you can’t just tell your fake parents to take you to register!"
"I’ll just get a fake sophomore ID card then."
"That’s true!"
"But seriously, this school is something else. Some of its rules are so weird they don’t even seem like they were made by humans. They say it’s dangerous for seniors, so wouldn’t it be even more dangerous for juniors?"
"Maybe it’s because the seniors are about to take the college entrance exams and are at a crucial point in their lives, so the school is more concerned about their safety. The juniors probably just live around here."
"Anyway, I just don’t get it. It’s as hard to understand as a rule saying ’no trash in the trash can’ or ’no people on the bed’."
The two of them were looking for a suitable apartment around the residential complex.
Inside the classroom, the two-hour evening self-study session ended. Students began packing up and leaving one by one. Brooke York had already packed her things and left the moment the session was over.
"Brooke, wait for me." Surprised that Brooke York had packed up and left so quickly, Clara Bell hurried to catch up.
Before they even reached the school gate, they ran into Chloe York and Stella Winters. She wondered to herself, ’Didn’t those two leave a long time ago? Why are they still at school? What were they doing for the past two hours?’
"Chloe York, what are you up to?" Brooke York had spent the whole evening wondering what Chloe York was doing instead of attending the self-study session. So, the moment she saw Chloe still at school, Brooke couldn’t hold back anymore and confronted her directly.
Looking at Brooke York, whose tone was practically an interrogation, Chloe York shot back, "Are you crazy?"
"What do you mean, ’am I crazy’? You skipped the evening self-study session, and now you’re back at school right when it’s over. What were you doing at school for the last two hours?"
Seeing Brooke York’s desperate-to-know expression, Chloe York found it amusing. "Brooke York, you’re always going on and on about ’sisters, sisters.’ Did you end up fooling yourself? Did you really start to think we’re the kind of sisters who tell each other what we’re doing?"
"Exactly. You two aren’t really related, are you? Is it any of your business where our Chloe goes? That’s ridiculous."
Stella Winters chimed in as well. She couldn’t stand the way Brooke York clung to Chloe York like a persistent leech.
"Stella Winters, Brooke was just worried about Chloe. Don’t mistake her good intentions." Seeing Stella Winters speak up, Clara Bell refused to be outdone, eager to prove herself in front of Brooke York.
"Worried? That won’t be necessary. After all, most of the danger I’m in comes from you," Chloe York said bluntly. She couldn’t be bothered to play nice with Brooke York. ’They’re so young, yet she’s already as scheming as one of those teenage concubines in a palace drama.’
Ignoring Brooke York’s ugly expression, she grabbed Stella Winters. "Stella, let’s go. We should head back early, before it gets too late and actually becomes unsafe."
"You got it!" Before leaving, Stella Winters shot the other two a smug look.
"They’re so out of line!" Watching the two of them walk away, Clara Bell was fuming.
Brooke York watched Chloe York’s retreating figure, thought for a moment, then took out her phone. She sent a video she had taken to Clara Bell. "Post this video. Say that Chloe York is being kept by a sugar daddy."
Hearing the word "video," Clara Bell took out her phone and saw that Brooke York had indeed sent her one. She played it, and after seeing the content and recalling what Brooke had just said, her expression changed. "Brooke, is that man really keeping Chloe York?"
At her words, a corner of Brooke York’s mouth lifted into a smirk. "Whether it’s real or fake, the moment I said it, you believed it was real, didn’t you? So, do you think it matters if it’s actually real or fake?"
Brooke York’s words left Clara Bell stunned. ’So is it real or fake? Don’t tell me it’s fake, just like last time!’
"Brooke, are you sure you want to do this again? What if we get caught this time?"
The last time they framed Chloe York for two-timing three guys, it felt great at the moment, but she had been terrified for two days afterward. She had just managed to calm her nerves, and if they did this again, all that anxiety would come rushing back.
"How could we get caught? We didn’t get caught last time, did we? Besides, my status as the true heiress of the York family is right here. If anything happens, I’ll cover for you. What are you afraid of?"
Even though Brooke York said that, Clara Bell was still a little worried and tried to dissuade her. "Using the same method twice is too obvious."
"As long as it works, it doesn’t matter how many times you use it." ’Just like how they mistakenly believed she was the one who saved someone. If it happens once, it can happen again.’
Before Clara Bell could agree, Brooke York’s gaze fell upon her. "Are you scared? Are you backing out?"
"I..." Clara Bell hesitated. She had a feeling that posting this was on a different level of severity than the last incident. Besides, Chloe York was a celebrity now. ’What if they actually investigate properly this time?’
"What are you afraid of? Didn’t Chloe York get into a car with a man much older than us? Look at the video yourself. That man is old enough to be our father."
"Are you sure that’s not your family’s driver?" Clara Bell wanted to double-check.
"He’s not."
Seeing Clara Bell still hesitating, Brooke York lost her patience. "Are you doing it or not? If you don’t, I’ll find someone else. And don’t bother hanging out with me anymore."
Hearing this, Clara Bell quickly said, "I’ll do it, I’ll do it."
"Post it tonight."
"Okay."
After saying her piece, Brooke York walked straight to the school gate. When Clara Bell saw a man respectfully get out of a car and open the door for Brooke, she was overcome with envy and jealousy.
Before, she used to watch Chloe York like this, and now it was Brooke York. And then there was her, whose family was dirt poor. Forget a luxury car; her family didn’t even own a car yet.
She once thought that studying could change her fate, but she had struggled just to get into high school. Now her grades were terrible, and getting into a good university was out of the question. It was just a coincidence that she was in the same class as a rich heiress like Chloe York, so she figured she’d get close to the wealthy girls and see if she could get a piece of the pie after graduation.
Staring at the video on her phone, Clara Bell’s hand tightened, and she made her decision.
After the driver dropped Chloe York off at home, he drove the car to the garage.
Walking into the villa, Alice Cole saw her and let out a cold snort, clearly not wanting to acknowledge her.
Brooke York followed close behind. Alice Cole immediately stood up, her face full of concern and sympathy. "Brooke, you’re back. Are you tired?"
Brooke York shook her head. "Not tired!"
"Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. Don’t wear yourself out. It would break Mom’s heart."
"I know, Mom."
The touching display of mother-daughter affection didn’t affect Chloe York in the slightest. She just walked upstairs with her backpack on.
Back in her room, she looked at the suitcase in the corner. She had already found an apartment and paid the deposit tonight. She could move in tomorrow. ’I need to set an alarm to get up early and move.’
Downstairs, the first thing Miles York did when he got home was ask about Chloe York. "Where’s Chloe?"