Chapter 196: Going to the York Family
"Chloe, are you really going abroad?"
"What else would I be doing?" Chloe York shot back. The school’s official website had already announced it. For him to still ask if she was really going abroad was simply laughable.
Ethan Prescott’s expression grew awkward for a moment. "That’s great. Congratulations. Make sure to take good care of yourself when you’re overseas."
Chloe accepted the words of concern. If she refuted him, wouldn’t that imply she couldn’t take care of herself?
"Thanks, I know."
Ethan nodded. For once, he was the first to walk away. Chloe ignored him and turned to leave as well.
After leaving, Ethan went straight back to the Prescott home and told Sophia Quinn what he was thinking.
"What? You’re saying you want to go abroad too?" Sophia was shocked, though her primary urge was to smack her son upside the head.
They had previously asked Ethan if he wanted to study abroad or stay in the country. He had chosen to stay and attend Southbend University, and they had respected his wishes. Now, the moment he heard Chloe was going abroad, he suddenly wanted to go too. She was going as an exchange student arranged by the university. What about him?
He really knew how to make things difficult!
"Mom, Chloe is going abroad. If I don’t follow her, by the time she gets back, I’ll have even less of a chance to get her to forgive me."
Ethan felt he needed to stay by her side. That way, there might still be a chance. If he didn’t stick with her, as time passed, any possibility between them would vanish.
"If I don’t go with her, she might completely ignore me and pretend she doesn’t even know me." Ethan couldn’t accept that possibility. Affection was like a spark; once it ignited, it became increasingly uncontrollable. His feelings for her were only growing stronger and fiercer by the day.
"Now you’re anxious? What were you doing before?" Sophia said dismissively.
She didn’t share Ethan’s anxiousness. After all, her relationship with Chloe was pretty good—no, it was exceptionally good. So even if Chloe went abroad for a long time, it didn’t matter. Their bond wouldn’t fade. As for Ethan, whatever. She had presented such a wonderful prospective daughter-in-law right in front of him, practically spoon-feeding him the opportunity, and he had still messed it up. What could she do?
"Mom, if you don’t help me, I’ll do it myself! I’ll just follow Chloe abroad and live like a vagabond!" Ethan was acting out of desperation, determined to force Sophia to help him. If she refused, he truly had no other options. He couldn’t think of anyone else who could assist him.
"Are you threatening me?" Sophia’s tone instantly turned icy. She hated being threatened more than anything—even if the person doing it was her own son!
"No, I’m just expressing my thoughts." Seeing Sophia’s reaction, Ethan realized he had misspoken and quickly tried to explain himself. He knew his mother well. The one thing that would immediately darken her expression and spark her anger was a threat. In his moment of panic, he had foolishly blurted one out anyway.
"I see. As long as it’s not a threat, that’s fine. Then go ahead and be a vagabond. Honestly, I feel like your head isn’t quite clear right now. While you’re wandering the streets, you can do some thinking. Maybe it’ll clear your mind."
Sophia wasn’t falling for Ethan’s antics at all. He shouldn’t think that just because he was her only son, he needed to be coddled and treated like a king. None of that worked on her. She had only had Ethan in a moment of impulse back then anyway. If it were now, she might not even want to have kids.
With that said, Sophia stood up and left the living room.
Shocked that Sophia actually meant it, Ethan froze in place, unable to utter a single word. Because of his slip of the tongue, he had offended his mother.
Why was his mother so different from everyone else’s? Other mothers doted on their sons—or their daughters, if they had them. But why was his mother so utterly devoid of affection for him, her only son?
Although it was confirmed that she would study abroad as an exchange student, processing the paperwork and handling the various procedures meant Chloe still had about a week before she could actually leave. Therefore, during this week, she still had to attend classes at Southbend University and take care of trivial preparations for her trip.
At the York home.
Ever since Miles York found out Chloe was going abroad, he had been sighing non-stop.
"What are you sighing for? You’re chasing all our good luck away." When Miles sighed yet again, Alice Cole couldn’t hold back and snapped at him. It was annoying to listen to and felt like a bad omen. "It’s not like your biological daughter is the one going overseas. The further away someone like Chloe is from us, the better. Her going abroad is a good thing."
After all, this meant there would no longer be anyone overshadowing her Brooke. For that reason, Alice was quite happy about Chloe’s departure. It would be best if she never came back. That way, life would be wonderful. Her daughter could be happy every day, and Alice wouldn’t have to look at someone she despised.
Miles grew angry at Alice’s words. "You’re so incredibly short-sighted! Do you not know how much profit Chloe brings to the company right now? If she goes abroad and a few years slowly pass by, no one will remember her. Do you realize that means our company will lose its protective charm?"
"Miles, don’t give me that nonsense. You always talk about how much profit Chloe brings to the company, but let me ask you: whose company is it? Who was managing it before? You were! What, you used to be able to manage the company until it was flourishing, but now you can’t survive without Chloe? Who are you trying to fool?"
Alice felt like Miles was just bluffing. If things were really as he said, how had his company survived back before Chloe had changed?
"How is that the same? You only know what the company was like before, but what about its current situation? If the company could earn a million in the past, the profit Chloe brings in now is pushing ten million."
Miles’s revelation startled Alice. She hadn’t expected the difference to be that staggering. She had assumed they just secured a few more collaborations and gained a bit more popularity, maybe earning an extra million or two. She never imagined it was nearly ten million.
"The moment she goes abroad, she won’t be generating any more value for our company. Do you understand?" Miles demanded.
"Well, what can we do? The university is the one sending her abroad. It’s not like we can stop her from going!"
Alice’s words sparked a realization in Miles. They were still Chloe’s parents in name. What’s more, they had raised her for over a decade. They had every right to refuse to let her go abroad as an exchange student.
"Oh, Alice, you’ve been foolish your whole life, but for once, you’re brilliant! Not bad. Keep it up. It doesn’t hurt to be smart once in a while."
Miles’s remark left Alice momentarily speechless. Was he praising her or insulting her?
Little did they know, at that very moment, Chloe was on her way to the York home. Since she was going overseas and there was no telling when she would return, she needed to settle one thing before leaving: officially severing her ties with the York family.