Chapter 131: The Frenzied Brooke York
"Thank you!" Chloe York said politely.
With Zoe Roland’s arrival, Stella Winters had grown much quieter, losing her earlier liveliness. However, whenever Zoe spoke, Stella always found something to say back to her.
Zoe, on the other hand, paid her no mind, continuing to chat with Chloe York as if Stella didn’t even exist.
This happened several times, infuriating Stella. Whenever she tried to talk to Chloe, Zoe would always cut in but then ignore Stella completely. It made Stella so angry she wanted to hit Zoe, and it was only Chloe’s mediation that kept them from fighting.
Fortunately, the three of them decided to head back after only half an hour.
After saying goodbye to Stella Winters and Zoe Roland, Chloe York disguised herself a bit, putting on a mask and letting her hair down.
She was always seen on camera with her hair in a high ponytail and wearing her school uniform. Now, in her own clothes, with her hair down and a mask on, she didn’t look like she was sneaking around at all as she headed home openly.
Because of this, the reporters didn’t suspect for a moment that she was Chloe York. Their eyes were still scanning for a girl in a school uniform with a high ponytail.
Back home, Chloe York took off her mask, tied up her hair, and changed into her pajamas, feeling much more comfortable.
She still hadn’t decided which university to attend. In her past life, she had chosen the best one, but the best university here was in this city. She didn’t want to stay, because the winters were too cold.
The York Family Estate
Brooke York hadn’t left the house in days, simply locking herself away at home. Alice Cole, for her part, no longer had the heart to comfort her.
Everyone knew what had happened on the night of the college acceptance party. She had been utterly humiliated. Now, she didn’t even dare to go out for afternoon tea, terrified that the other wealthy wives would laugh at her.
After days of self-imposed isolation, Brooke York opened her bedroom door, her face expressionless.
Over the past few days, she had been trapped in a cycle of self-doubt. ’Why did I get a zero in every subject? Why has Chloe York improved so much?’
’Chloe was the one who could never compare to me. Now, our roles are completely reversed.’
"Same as yesterday? Neither of them came out?"
"Yep, not once. It’s been days. The whole villa feels so gloomy. I don’t even dare to speak loudly. I have to be extra careful when I’m cooking, terrified I’ll make something they don’t like and they’ll fly into a rage!"
"Tell me about it. But don’t you think it’s weird? Weren’t Miss Brooke’s grades supposed to be really good? How did Miss Felicia end up with a 749? And Miss Brooke got all zeros!"
"Exactly! I don’t even know how you manage to get a zero. You’d get something right just by guessing randomly, wouldn’t you?"
"Let me tell you, when I was in school, I could get at least ten or twenty points just by guessing. Not a straight zero like her."
As they spoke, the two began to snicker, causing Brooke York, who was standing at the kitchen entrance, to turn red with fury.
"Have you said your piece?" Brooke York roared, startling the two maids.
When they turned and saw Brooke, the color drained from their faces. They hurriedly apologized, "We’re so sorry, Miss. We didn’t mean anything by it."
They kept their heads bowed, not daring to look up at Brooke York. They never imagined that the person who hadn’t come downstairs in days would appear just as they were gossiping, and hear everything.
"Didn’t mean anything by it? You take my family’s money, yet you have the gall to gossip about your employers? To laugh at me?"
Brooke York advanced on them step by step. The two maids glanced at each other, but neither dared to look up at her.
Seeing them exchange glances, too afraid to meet her eyes, fueled Brooke’s rage even more. She grabbed the unprepared vegetables from the counter and hurled them at the two women.
"You bitches! You’re just like Chloe York—all of you are bitches!"
Right now, Brooke York was like a madwoman, a far cry from her usual gentle and sensible demeanor!
The two maids had no time to dodge and were hit directly. Luckily, it was only leafy greens, so while it was a mess, it didn’t hurt.
To vent her frustration, Brooke York smashed everything she could get her hands on in the kitchen.
The two maids could only cower in a corner. They wanted to run, but Brooke was blocking the doorway. To get out, they would have to go past her.
"Brooke, what’s wrong? Why are you so angry?" Alice Cole rushed to the kitchen when she heard the commotion, only to find it in shambles, with Brooke in the middle of a rampage.
Seeing Alice appear, the two maids’ eyes lit up. "Ma’am, please, help us! The young miss has gone crazy!"
"You two bitches, you dare say I’ve gone crazy? You were bad-mouthing me, laughing at me! Do you want to get fired?!" Brooke hurled a container of seasoning at them.
The two quickly dodged. They didn’t refute Brooke’s accusation.
From this exchange, Alice Cole understood what had happened. She grabbed Brooke’s arm. "Brooke, calm down."
Alice’s words seemed to have a magical effect. Brooke slowly began to calm down, though her eyes were still fixed in a death glare on the two maids.
"The York family has no need for people with such foul mouths. Pack your things and leave now."
The maids knew they were in the wrong. They had been caught gossiping about their employers.
"Since you’re firing us, you’re required to give us severance pay."
One of the maids boldly stood up for her rights.
"Fine. No problem. Go see the butler!"
The two maids didn’t hesitate and went to find the butler immediately. They hadn’t wanted to work here anyway. Compared to other wealthy households, the pay and treatment here were substandard!
After the two of them left, Brooke York had completely calmed down.
"Mom, they were all laughing at me. Am I really that useless?" Brooke hugged Alice Cole, her voice muffled.
"How could that be possible? You’re Brooke York! You’re Alice Cole’s daughter. How could my daughter possibly be useless?" Alice believed that since she herself was so intelligent, the daughter she gave birth to couldn’t possibly be a useless failure!
"But I scored a zero. They’re all laughing at me." Brooke had never been so humiliated in her life.
Zero. In the past, she couldn’t even stand the sight of that word.
Hearing this, Alice Cole took Brooke’s hand and led her out of the kitchen and into the living room.
"Here, Brooke, sit down."
Brooke sat down, and Alice sat next to her with a serious expression. This side of her mother made Brooke a little nervous, unsure of what she was about to say.
"Brooke, do you want to keep being ridiculed like this?"
Brooke shook her head vehemently. "No, I don’t!"
Alice patted Brooke’s shoulder, signaling for her to stay calm. "Then will you listen to me?"
"I’ll listen, I’ll listen."
"Alright then. While there’s still time, I want you to call your teachers. Or better yet, go to the school and find out exactly why you scored a zero."