Chapter 149: Find the Reason in Yourself

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Find the Reason in Yourself

"You say I’ve never managed the company? Didn’t we build this company together? Could you have founded a company this big all on your own? So what, now that I’m not there, you can just paint me as good-for-nothing? As if I have no stake in the company, only the responsibility? Is that it?"

The two of them argued face to face, both highly emotional.

Brooke York said nothing the entire time, her head lowered as she was lost in thought.

As Miles York and Alice Cole’s argument grew more intense, it looked as if they were about to come to blows.

"That’s enough! Stop fighting!" Brooke York suddenly shot to her feet and shouted.

Startled by Brooke York’s outburst, they instinctively fell silent and turned to look at her.

"What’s the point of arguing about this now? Is there any meaning to it at all?" Brooke York asked, looking at Miles York and Alice Cole.

The look in her eyes was completely different from usual. The fear, the gentleness, the vulnerability—all of it was gone. All that remained was impatience and a cold calm.

Miles York sat back down and stopped arguing with Alice Cole. He couldn’t deny what Brooke York had said. ’It really is pointless to argue with Alice right now,’ he thought. ’She’s not listening to a word I say.’

Alice Cole also stopped talking and sat down. This was the first time she had ever seen Brooke York be so assertive.

"I know a way," Brooke York said, her tone unnervingly calm. "A way for me to get into Southbend University and save the company’s reputation."

’It wasn’t really my idea,’ she thought. ’I just remembered it. I heard about something like this back in the village, so I knew it was an option.’

’If it works, everything will be fine. If it doesn’t, we’ll just be back where we started.’

So, she decided she had to try.

"What is it?" Alice Cole asked. ’I can’t think of a single solution. How could Brooke have one?’

Miles York, however, had no interest in hearing it. ’Whatever she’s thought of, it can’t be anything good,’ he fumed internally. ’The situation is already a disaster.’

But this time, Brooke York was determined to make Miles York listen. After all, he was the only one who could make it happen.

"Dad, find a student from a poor family, one whose scores are high enough to get into Southbend University. Give her a pile of money, and I’ll take her spot."

Alice Cole and Miles York’s expressions were a sight to behold. They never expected Brooke York to say something like that; it was as if they couldn’t believe their own ears.

"Do you have any idea what you’re saying?" Miles York demanded.

He truly hadn’t expected Brooke to come up with this. ’How in the world did she even think of something so vile!’

"I know exactly what I’m saying, Dad. It’s a solution, isn’t it? And as long as the payoff is big enough, they won’t talk, will they?"

Brooke York pressed him with two questions, confident that he would eventually agree. ’This is the best option we have right now,’ she thought. ’It saves me, and it saves Dad’s company’s reputation.’

"Brooke, how could you even think of such a thing? Do you realize what would happen if anyone found out? Stealing someone’s spot at a university... your reputation would be ruined forever. You’d never recover! And it could even lead to criminal charges."

Alice Cole couldn’t help but warn her; she felt Brooke’s idea was far too dangerous.

’She’s my only daughter,’ she thought. ’I can’t let her be ruined like this.’

"I know," Brooke York said, sitting back on the sofa with an air of unnerving composure. "Someone in the village did it before, only it was to get into high school. If they could do it, why can’t I?"

Beyond that, she radiated a firm, unyielding determination to get her way.

"Besides, even if they get into college, what kind of future do they have? Even after graduating, they’ll just end up working a normal job. Will they ever earn as much money as you can give them in one lump sum?"

Throughout the conversation, Brooke York’s tone was disturbingly calm, as if she had suddenly grown up and become a mature, deliberate adult.

"Dad, I know you can make this happen. I’m your daughter, after all. You were willing to donate an entire building just so Chloe York could get into high school. You wouldn’t refuse to do this for your own flesh and blood, would you?"

"Of course, you can refuse. It’s just that the internet is a powerful thing these days. If people ever found out that you donated a building to a school just to get your adopted daughter into high school... I imagine they’d have a field day with that little piece of gossip."

"Brooke York, are you threatening me?" Miles York’s eyes narrowed. ’I’ve really underestimated this daughter of mine,’ he thought. ’She actually has the guts to threaten me.’

"Why would I threaten you? I’m just pointing out that if Chloe York could be slipped into high school without anyone finding out, what’s the problem with getting me into a university?"

"What are you talking about? When I got Chloe York into that high school, it was all above board! The school made a place for her; she didn’t take anyone’s spot. But getting you into university like this means stealing someone else’s place!"

"So what? I’m your real daughter. Shouldn’t I be the one who gets better treatment?"

"Honey, I think Brooke’s idea is a good one," Alice Cole added, her tone softening as she tried to persuade him. "We should try it. What if it works? It wouldn’t be embarrassing then. Plus, we can spin the story like Brooke said—claim she didn’t get a zero, that there was a mistake with her score. We can say that whole business about studying abroad was just a baseless rumor. That would restore our reputation, wouldn’t it?"

Persuaded by both of them, Miles York began to waver. The scandal Brooke had caused recently had left him utterly swamped and at his wit’s end.

The company was still facing a host of problems, all stemming from Brooke’s actions. If her plan was feasible, it could really turn things around for his company. It might even be enough to recoup all the recent losses.

"Fine," he finally relented. "I’ll handle it. But I don’t want this turning into another fiasco like that study abroad incident, blown up all over the internet for everyone to see. Understand?"

As Miles York spoke, he shot a warning glare at Brooke York. She flinched under his gaze, shrinking back.

All her earlier bravado vanished, replaced by fear. She had only put on a calm front by plucking up all her courage. After saying all that, she had been terrified that Miles wouldn’t agree, or worse, that he would send her back to where she came from. She never expected him to actually say yes.

"It absolutely won’t happen again this time, honey. I’m telling you, that whole study abroad mess was Chloe York’s fault. She’s the one who leaked it," Alice Cole interjected, once again dragging Chloe York into the conversation.

"Can you stop blaming Chloe York for everything? Does every single mistake Brooke makes have to be Chloe York’s fault? Maybe you should look at yourselves for a change."