Chapter 46: Gathering Together
His comment made the other students realize what was happening.
"Oh, right. A few days ago, people were saying Chloe York was juggling three guys, and today..." A female classmate trailed off, but her eyes had already landed on Brooke York.
"Class President, are you accusing me?" Brooke York shot back, singling out Henry Ford. There was, after all, a huge difference between being accused alone and having the entire class under suspicion.
"I know you’re good friends with Chloe, but you can’t frame me just to prove her innocence! I only said what I said because I genuinely saw the post on the confession wall. I had no idea it was already gone." Brooke York’s voice was pitiable, her face a mask of wounded injustice.
"I never mentioned you by name. Only the guilty panic and expose themselves." Henry Ford said nothing more, simply sitting down and opening his book.
The students glanced from Brooke York to Henry Ford, but ultimately said nothing, trickling back to their seats to read their books.
’Their attitude, their reaction... doesn’t that just mean they’re siding with Henry Ford?’
Brooke York could no longer maintain her pitiful act and returned to her seat, seething. Clara Bell started to speak, but Brooke shot her a vicious glare. Her fingers flew across her phone screen, and a moment later, Clara’s phone chimed with a notification.
Seeing Brooke York’s furious message, Clara Bell typed out a reply.
Soon, Brooke York’s phone chimed as well. She saw Clara Bell’s message explaining that she *had* posted on the confession wall, but it was deleted within seconds, before any of their classmates had a chance to see it.
Brooke York was fuming. ’I should have checked last night! If I’d known it was deleted, I never would have brought it up.’
Clara Bell didn’t dare say another word to Brooke York. ’Seeing Brooke’s reaction, the whole story about Chloe York having a sugar daddy was probably just something Brooke made up. And I thought that since I’d posted it, everyone knew. I just wanted to bring it up and act innocent... I can’t believe I shot myself in the foot and ended up being the one to blurt it out.’
"Chloe, are you facing some kind of difficulty?" Miles York asked tentatively.
’I was too hasty this morning,’ he realized. ’Chloe York never actually said she was moving out. She was just packing some jewelry and bags. I’ve been overthinking this.’
’Over the past two days, he’d grown increasingly cautious with her, all because she’d brought profits to his company. If his anxiety ended up driving her out of the York Family, the loss would far outweigh any gain.’
"Just say what you want to say." Chloe didn’t want to listen to Miles York beat around the bush. ’He obviously just wants to ask if I’m moving out.’
"I heard from your mother that you took some of your jewelry and bags. Of course, I’m not saying you don’t have the right to them—they were bought for you, after all. I just hope that if you’re having any trouble, you’ll come talk to me directly. I’ll help you solve it."
Miles York’s every word was a deliberate reminder that he was her father now, and she could rely on him.
"They are mine, aren’t they? Is there a problem with me taking them? It’s not like I can only touch them if I’m in trouble, right? Or am I not allowed to do what I want with my own things?"
"No, of course not. There’s no problem at all. They were gifts for you, so you can do whatever you please with them."
Seeing that he was still trying to talk in circles, Chloe cut straight to the point. "By the way, I won’t be coming back for a while."
"Why?"
"I have the college entrance exams. I need to study. Commuting back and forth every day is a waste of my time. Got it?" Chloe’s tone was impatient. Had the original owner of this body spoken to Miles York this way, he would have already berated her for being a rebellious daughter.
But now, Miles York just smiled amiably at Chloe, his voice gentle. "Chloe, dear, didn’t I arrange a car and driver for you? It’s very convenient."
"I still think living elsewhere is more convenient. Besides, I think my living in the York Family home makes Brooke uncomfortable. Why else would she repeatedly target me at school? So, if I move out sooner, she’ll feel more at ease and will probably leave me alone."
’If Brooke was really behind the original Chloe’s unwed pregnancy in the novel, then I have to tell Miles York about it. Right now, he still sees me as useful because I saved his life. That’s the only reason he’d be willing to discipline Brooke.’
’I’ll wait for Brooke to make her move and slip up. Only then can I remove this cancerous growth for good.’
"Chloe, isn’t there some misunderstanding here? Brooke has always treated you like her own sister."
"Are you sure?" Chloe retorted. Her question made Miles hesitate. ’Of course, he knew it wasn’t true. Chloe had enjoyed the life of a wealthy heiress that should have belonged to Brooke for more than a decade; how could Brooke possibly not resent that at all?’
"Chloe, it’s not safe for a young woman to live alone. It’s much safer at home," Miles said, changing the subject.
"Don’t worry, I feel perfectly safe."
Miles’s mind raced, searching for something to say that would make Chloe change her mind about moving out.
「The Principal’s Office」
"What? Mr. York is here? I’ll be right there." After hanging up, Jordan Walton prepared to rush over to the classroom. The York Family, after all, had made considerable contributions to the school.
"You’re saying Miles York is here?"
Only then did Jordan Walton remember that Ethan Prescott was right there with him, watching the security footage. ’How could I have forgotten?’
He could only brace himself and say, "Yes, Mr. Prescott."
"I’ll go with you."
’He’s coming with me?’ Jordan’s heart hammered in his chest. ’Please, don’t let anything happen that puts me in an impossible situation!’ he prayed silently.
The two of them arrived at Class 3-6. Upon seeing Miles York, Jordan Walton hurried forward with a warm smile, extending his hand. "Mr. York, what an honor! Forgive me for not giving you a proper welcome."
Miles York shook his hand. "Hello, Principal."
After the handshake, Miles turned to greet Ethan Prescott. "Ethan, are you here to see Brooke?"
"No, Mr. York." Ethan looked at Chloe, a hint of a plea for praise in his eyes. "Chloe, I got the video."
Hearing this, Chloe raised an eyebrow. Jordan Walton’s own brows twitched. ’Looks like this is all about to come out right here and now!’
"What video?" Miles York asked, curious. ’What kind of video would require Ethan Prescott to retrieve it and then report back to Chloe that he had it?’
Ethan didn’t hide anything from the curious Miles York. "Mr. York, this video is about an issue with Brooke’s character. It’s also about clearing Chloe’s name."
Miles York understood every single word Ethan Prescott said, so why did the complete sentence make no sense to him?
As for Jordan Walton, he just knew he was in for a long day.
Ethan’s words confirmed it for Chloe: he had seen the video and knew Brooke was behind everything.
"Send me the video, then."
"Okay!"
Ethan Prescott tapped his phone a few times and sent the video to Chloe York.
"Principal," Chloe began, turning to him, "I think a malicious incident like this should be addressed on the main field, in front of the whole student body. It would clear the names of the three of us who were wrongly accused and serve as a warning to everyone else. What do you think?"