Chapter 166: Brooke York Apologizes

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Brooke York Apologizes

The Study

"I’ve already talked to Brooke." Alice Cole sat down on the sofa in the study, looking at Miles York, who was at his desk. "She’s agreed to apologize to Chloe, and she’ll delete the posts completely."

Sitting at his desk, Miles York’s voice was filled with exhaustion. "That’s good. As long as she’s willing to apologize, this whole thing can be over. Otherwise, if it blows up and affects the company and our partnerships, it’ll be a huge mess."

As he spoke, he reached up and rubbed the bridge of his nose, his face etched with worry for his business. Even the bloodshot veins in the corners of his eyes were clearly visible.

He had spent his entire life building this company. He treated it like his own child.

The company was his life’s achievement. He could stomach it failing under his own hand, but he would never allow it to be ruined by the likes of Brooke York.

Seeing that he truly only cared about the company, with every word being about the business and not a single mention of whether their daughter, Brooke York, was alright, Alice Cole’s tone couldn’t help but become fiercely protective. "Miles, don’t just focus on the company. What Brooke did this time was wrong, but she’s not feeling good about it either."

Miles York looked up, but just as he was about to speak, Alice Cole cut him off.

"No matter what, you’re still Brooke’s father. She did all this because she didn’t grow up with us. She’s insecure. If you had given her enough attention, she never would have done something like this."

As if feeling she lacked presence while sitting, Alice Cole stood up, took a step forward, and looked directly at Miles York. "The fact that she’s willing to apologize this time is already a huge concession. You can’t just think about the company and forget who your real daughter is."

This time, Alice Cole wasn’t angrily confronting Miles York as she had before.

She had discovered that if she argued with Miles and criticized him, he would just shift the blame onto her, saying she had failed to raise their daughter properly.

Miles York was silent for a long moment before finally saying, "I know. Once this is over, I’ll go talk to her."

"Not just talk. Show her you care."

Alice Cole’s tone grew sharp. "Right now, your mind is full of how this affects the company. No, I should say your mind is *only* on the company. As for Brooke? All you have is blame. The fact that she listened to me and agreed to apologize is already a huge grievance for her."

"You’re her father. You should be the one protecting her. Stop pressuring her with company matters."

"Alright, alright, I get it. It was my oversight. Once this is completely over, I’ll go have a chat with Brooke."

He wasn’t saying this because he suddenly wanted to show some fatherly love. He was just afraid Brooke would pull another stunt. ’She already used this kind of trick once in high school; how could she be stupid enough to try it again in college!’

’Is this the kind of dimwitted brain a daughter of Miles York is supposed to have?’

Seeing him finally give in, Alice Cole felt a little better. "Now you’re finally talking sense. Don’t be so anxious about this anymore. Stabilize things at the company first, and we’ll handle the rest slowly."

Miles York grunted in acknowledgment, walked over to the sofa, and sat down. He picked up a glass of water from the table and took a sip, his tense nerves finally relaxing completely.

In the end, Miles York still didn’t tell Alice Cole that Chloe York had made another demand: she wanted 10% of the company’s shares.

If he told her, he was afraid Alice Cole would cause a scene. He would have to wait until he got the shares back before saying anything.

Thanks to Miles York’s arrangements, Chloe York, Brooke York, and Alice Cole all ended up sitting in a private room at a restaurant.

Miles York sat at the head of the table, leaning forward slightly with an eager, fawning smile on his face.

"Chloe, Brooke was in the wrong about this. Dad has already given her a harsh scolding. She was spouting nonsense and taking inappropriate pictures. Please don’t take it to heart."

As he spoke, he quickly picked up a glass of fresh-squeezed juice from the table and offered it to Chloe York with both hands.

He looked less like a father treating his daughter and more like a subordinate showing respect to a superior.

"This is the orange juice you like, freshly squeezed just now with no added sugar. Go on, try it. Think of this meal as an apology from Dad, and from Brooke too. Order whatever you want, it’s all on me."

Chloe York took the orange juice and looked at Miles York. "Oh, I didn’t take it to heart. It was just a post, nothing to make a fuss about."

Her words sounded magnanimous, but they made Brooke York’s expression darken, and Alice Cole’s eyes filled with annoyance at Chloe York.

Seeing this, Miles York’s fawning smile widened. Alice Cole and Brooke York didn’t know it, but Miles did: he had just transferred 10% of the company’s shares into Chloe York’s name last night, which was why she was speaking so generously.

But he couldn’t say that, nor could he let the atmosphere grow cold. He quickly smoothed things over. "That’s good, that’s good. Chloe, you’re the bigger person for not holding a grudge against Brooke. In the future, if anything comes up, just tell Dad directly. Dad will back you up."

With that, he turned to Brooke York, his tone instantly turning cold. "Brooke, did you hear that? Chloe isn’t even holding it against you. What are you standing there stunned for? Hurry up and pour Chloe a cup of tea and give her a proper apology."

Brooke York bit her lower lip, inwardly cursing Chloe York for being so pretentious. Outwardly, however, she had to force a hint of an apology onto her face as she picked up the teapot and poured Chloe a cup of tea. "I’m sorry, Chloe. I was wrong to post those photos online and deliberately frame you for two-timing."

While Brooke York was apologizing, Chloe York took out her phone and started recording.

’Are you kidding me? This person uses these same tricks to ruin my reputation time and time again. No matter what, I have to record this video of Brooke York’s apology.’

’Next time she dares to pull something like this, I won’t even have to do anything. I can just release the video to prove my innocence and show everyone that she does this kind of thing repeatedly.’

Brooke York noticed Chloe York’s action of recording a video. She hadn’t expected Chloe to actually record it.

But there was nothing she could say now. The apology had been made. All she could do was endure it.

After recording the video, Chloe York put her phone away and picked up her teacup. "Brooke, you’re being too serious. I didn’t even take it to heart."

Brooke York glared at Chloe York. ’So pretentious,’ she thought. ’She says she didn’t take it to heart? If she didn’t take it to heart, why force me to apologize and even record a video?’

Seeing this scene unfold, Miles York breathed a sigh of relief internally and started playing the host. "Alright, the apology is done. We’re all one family, so let’s put this behind us. Chloe, order, order."

Miles York passed the menu to Chloe York, letting her choose. Chloe didn’t hold back and started picking out dishes. She had something to celebrate, after all. She was now a shareholder of the York Group.

Alice Cole watched Miles York fawning over Chloe York, treating her like a guest of honor. ’And what about my daughter?!’

She turned her head and saw Brooke York sitting to the side, sulking. Her resentment toward Chloe York grew even stronger.

Her gaze, filled with hatred, fell upon Chloe York’s face. ’Sooner or later,’ she thought, ’I will make sure my daughter gets her revenge.’

Meanwhile, Brooke York was wondering about something else. ’Chloe York has changed so much. Could it be that she’s like me and has bonded with a system? And is it possible she bonded with it even before I did?’