Chapter 223: Putting an End to Brooke York’s Thoughts

Miles York and Sophie Lane soon met up.

“Sophie,” he greeted.

“Oh my, Mr. York!” Sophie Lane smiled sweetly. She looked at him as if he were a walking jackpot, hastily standing up to show her respect.

She didn’t sit back down until Miles had taken his seat.

“How has life been treating you lately?” Miles didn’t immediately state his purpose for finding her, opting for small talk first.

“Pretty good!” Sophie answered truthfully.

“Pretty good? Are you sure there are no problems?”

“Oh, Mr. York, you can just tell me whatever is on your mind.”

“All right, since you put it that way, I’ll be blunt. We originally agreed that I’d give you a million in exchange for your university spot. How could you go back on your word?” Miles’s tone was casual, as if they were merely chatting.

“Mr. York, how can you say that? How did I go back on my word? I haven’t told anyone about this. It would only be breaking my promise if I actually told people, right?”

“I know you’ve always been a sensible girl. Look, if you need money, you can just ask me. Why did you have to go and bother my daughter about it?”

“Well, I figured you were busy working every day and probably wouldn’t have time to see a nobody like me. Plus, I wanted to see what the person who took my university spot looked like. I suppose my actions were a bit inappropriate, haha!”

“Here, this is a million. Take it. If you’re ever short on cash in the future, just let me know.” Miles placed a bank card on the table.

“Mr. York, I couldn’t possibly!”

“It’s fine. I know a young girl like you, fresh to this big city, definitely needs more than just a little pocket change. You don’t have a job yet, and this is exactly when you need money the most. Besides, it’s because of me—because of our family—that you couldn’t go to college and had to come here all by yourself from the countryside. We ought to ensure your living expenses are covered.”

“Since you put it that way, Mr. York, I’d be a fool to decline.”

Sophie picked up the card from the table. Miles nodded, completely unsurprised by her reaction.

“You’ve accepted the card, but I need a guarantee from you.”

“A guarantee of what?” Sophie, who was in the middle of putting the card away, froze for a moment, not quite registering his words.

She wished he had mentioned this guarantee earlier. If he had spoken up sooner, she could have heard his terms before deciding whether to take the card. She worried that the guarantee he wanted might be something terrible.

“You don’t need to worry. My condition is very simple. Keep the card.”

Sophie gave an awkward laugh and placed the card back on the table. “Mr. York, you should probably tell me what this guarantee is first!”

Miles nodded. “The guarantee I want is quite simple, actually. You just have to promise that you won’t breathe a word about the university spot replacement to anyone, and you won’t go to Brooke for money ever again.”

Upon hearing this, Sophie quickly snatched the card back, shoved it into her bag, and zipped it shut before looking back at Miles. “That won’t be a problem at all, Mr. York. It’s not like I’m an unreasonable person. Since I’ve taken your money, I’ll naturally do as my employer says. Don’t worry, I won’t appear in front of your daughter ever again, nor will I ask her for money.”

“You’d better do as you say. If you can’t keep your word, I’ll make you spit out every last penny you’ve taken from us.”

Miles said this with a smile, but Sophie could clearly hear the underlying threat. She suppressed a shiver, knowing that Miles was a man of his word. It would be far too easy for a rich man like him to crush her like a bug.

“Rest assured, this money is safe with me. I won’t be spitting it out, and I won’t make things difficult for you, Mr. York.”

“Good. Look at us, caught up in talking. We’ve been sitting here all this time and haven’t even ordered food yet!”

“No, no, that won’t be necessary, Mr. York. I won’t be eating here. I actually have some things to take care of.” Saying this, Sophie stood up, signaling her intent to leave.

“You’re not going to eat?”

“Right. Enjoy your meal, Mr. York. I’ll be taking my leave now.”

“All right then. Goodbye!”

“Goodbye!” Sophie bowed her head slightly and left the restaurant. As soon as she stepped outside, she touched her bag, feeling the card inside. A deep sense of satisfaction washed over her.

With this much money, she absolutely wouldn’t let herself be scammed again. She was going to use this million to carve out a bright future for herself. As for the “goodbye” they had just exchanged, she sincerely hoped they would never actually see each other again.

After Sophie left, Miles pulled out his phone and called Alice Cole. Alice quickly answered.

“Alice, listen to me. I’ve taken care of things with Sophie Lane. She accepted the million and gave her word that she won’t breathe a syllable about this, nor will she ask Brooke for money again. Pass this on to Brooke and tell her not to resort to any dirty tricks.”

Miles recounted everything he had just discussed with Sophie, instructing Alice to relay the message to Brooke. The reason he didn’t tell her himself was because Brooke hadn’t confided in him to begin with, which meant she didn’t fully trust him as a father. Since that was the case, he would just let her mother do the talking!

Back at the villa, Alice felt a massive weight lift off her shoulders upon hearing Miles’s words. “Really! That’s wonderful.”

“Would I lie about this? You seriously need to discipline Brooke more strictly from now on. Look at the kind of things she’s obsessing over these days. To think she’d even consider doing something so underhanded.”

“I know, I know. But she was driven to it by that Sophie Lane girl! Who told her to approach Brooke directly and demand money in the first place?”

“Fine, whatever. Just make sure you pass on my words to Brooke. You absolutely have to nip those dangerous thoughts of hers in the bud.”

“Okay, no problem. I’ll talk to Brooke. She’ll be thrilled to hear this.”

After ending the call, Miles didn’t stay at the restaurant to eat either. Instead, he headed straight for his car. He had a banquet to attend tonight.

Hanging up, Alice breathed a sigh of relief. She had genuinely feared that Miles wouldn’t be able to handle it. If he had failed, Brooke would have gone through with her horrifying plans! At this thought, she quickly dialed Brooke’s number.

The phone rang for a long time, eventually disconnecting on its own without Brooke answering.

“Huh, that’s weird. Why isn’t she picking up?” Confused, Alice dialed again.

This time, after five or six rings, Brooke finally answered.

“Brooke, you finally picked up! Why didn’t you answer just now?”

“I’m in class!”

“Oh, I see. Listen, Brooke, your dad said he’s taken care of everything. That Sophie Lane girl took his money and promised never to bother you again. She won’t even show her face in front of you. You can rest easy now.”

“I see. Okay, Mom, I got it. I have to hang up now.”

“Why are you in such a rush?” Alice could hear the urgency in Brooke’s voice.

“My class is starting.”

“All right then. Focus on your class, but make sure to get some rest too!”

“Got it.”

Listening to the dial tone of the abruptly ended call, Alice sighed helplessly. “That child…”