Three Systems Made the Fake Heiress Unstoppable

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Recognizing Brooke York’s True Face

”That’s right. He was supposed to attend a banquet tonight, but on his way back, his car broke down midway. It had been tampered with beforehand. What’s more, assassins came after him.”

’Who would have thought I’d randomly saved such a major figure.’

The Kane Family was deeply entrenched on both sides of the law and held considerable influence. Their web of connections was so intricate that a single disturbance could shake the entire structure.

Adrian Kane was the youngest son of the Kane Family’s main branch. After the head of the main branch passed away from an illness two months ago, Adrian, a college junior, took over as CEO of the Kane Group. The Kane Family was not as peaceful as it appeared; every branch coveted the CEO position.

Whoever dared to try and assassinate Adrian Kane was certainly no small fry. There had to be a formidable power backing them.

Perhaps because she had gone for a run and stayed up late the day before, Chloe York overslept. When she finally woke up, she scrambled to get ready.

When she got downstairs, she saw that only Brooke York was there.

”You got back so late last night, and no one at home even noticed!” Brooke York said smugly when she saw Chloe. When Brooke had returned the previous night, Miles York wasn’t home yet, so she had eaten with Alice Cole—and Alice, of course, didn’t care whether Chloe had returned or not.

Miles York had to leave for a business trip right after returning from a party, and Alice Cole, who watched him like a hawk for fear he was keeping a mistress, had left with him early that morning.

Ignoring Brooke York’s passive-aggressive comments, Chloe York sat down to eat.

”Oh, if *I* hadn’t come home, Mom and Dad would have been so worried. But I guess they only get anxious about the people who matter. As for those who don’t, they probably wish they’d never come back at all!”

Brooke York didn’t care whether Chloe was ignoring her or not. Wiping the corner of her mouth, she flashed a malicious smile, stood up, and walked out.

When she finished eating and went outside, there was no car waiting. ’It’s almost laughable,’ she thought. ’The original Chloe would have been furious. After all, before Brooke came back, she was always the one who used the car. But ever since Brooke’s return, she could never seem to get a ride.’

’I wonder what Brooke did to get Mr. Sawyer to obey her like that.’

Chloe York had just reached the gates of Avallon and was about to take the bus to school when a car pulled up in front of her.

The window rolled down, revealing Evan Shaw’s handsome face.

”Hop in. We can go to school together.”

”Okay.” Chloe didn’t hesitate and got into the car.

Evan Shaw didn’t ask Chloe York why she didn’t have a driver taking her. Even if he paid little attention to school affairs, he had still heard the rumors about the York Family’s real and fake daughters.

At the school entrance, Brooke York had just stepped out of her car when she ran into Ethan Prescott.

”Ethan, good morning!” In stark contrast to Brooke York’s enthusiasm, Ethan Prescott merely gave a cold nod and started to walk away.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Brooke York quickly asked, ”Ethan, when are your parents coming back?”

Ethan Prescott stopped and looked at Brooke York’s expectant gaze. In the past, he would have comforted her. After all, he had always felt that Brooke was the true York Family heiress—sensible and kind. He also disliked Chloe York and believed things should be returned to their rightful state.

But over the past few days, he had discovered that Brooke York wasn’t what she seemed. Chloe York, on the other hand, though spoiled and clingy, was actually the kind one.

”Not for a while.”

”I see.” Brooke York was anxious to have the engagement switched back to her. Every day it remained with Chloe, she felt a growing unease.

”Mm.”

Sensing Ethan Prescott’s coldness, Brooke York rushed to explain. ”Ethan, I’m not trying to be pushy. The truth is, you and Chloe grew up together, so it’s inevitable you have feelings for her. If you truly love Chloe, then I’ll gladly give her the engagement. All that matters is that you and Chloe are happy.”

Having said her piece, Brooke York waited for Ethan Prescott to comfort her as he always did, to assure her that he didn’t like Chloe York, that he would definitely get the engagement papers changed, and that she and he were the ones meant to be together.

But after waiting for a moment and hearing nothing, she looked up to find Ethan Prescott’s eyes fixed on a single point. Following his gaze, she saw Chloe York and Evan Shaw getting out of a car, laughing and talking together.

”Your engagement hasn’t even been called off yet! Even if she’s mad at you, Chloe shouldn’t be getting so close to someone you despise!” Brooke York said, feigning indignation on Ethan’s behalf. But in reality, what angered her more was why everyone seemed to care so much about Chloe York. ’She’s just a fake heiress! What right does she have to be treated so well by them?’

”Brooke York!” Ethan Prescott suddenly said her full name, his voice low and laced with an unmistakable chill.

His voice made Brooke’s heart skip a beat. She instinctively replied, ”Wh-what’s wrong?”

”That night, my family’s driver was the one who took Chloe York home,” Ethan Prescott said. His voice was flat and cold, every word distinct, without a ripple of emotion.

”Wh-what?” The color drained from Brooke York’s face. Her heart plummeted, and a flicker of unconcealable panic flashed in her eyes as her fingers unconsciously clenched the hem of her clothes.

Ethan Prescott, who had been watching her the entire time, did not miss her fleeting loss of composure. He added coolly, ”My grandmother was grateful that Chloe saved her that day, so she had me invite her over for dinner. Afterward, it was my grandmother who specifically arranged for our family’s driver to take her back to the York residence.”

His words struck Brooke York’s ears like a clap of thunder. She suddenly understood. ’No wonder Ethan Prescott has been so cold to me these last two days, not even bothering to talk. He knew all along that I was completely fabricating my accusation against Chloe York that night!’

”I... I must have misunderstood...” she argued frantically, her voice trembling. ”I was just so worried about Chloe, afraid she was being tricked!”

”Brooke,” Ethan Prescott cut her off, his tone completely devoid of its former pity, leaving only detachment. ”I used to dislike Chloe York, and I always felt sorry for you. I thought you were the rightful heiress of the York Family and should have grown up in wealth and comfort. That’s why I thought this engagement, which should have been yours, ought to be returned to you. But looking at things now, I’m going to have to seriously reconsider.”

The color drained completely from Brooke York’s face. She reached out to grab Ethan Prescott’s arm, but he was already striding away.

’No, this can’t happen. The engagement is mine. All of this is mine! Chloe York, you don’t deserve to have anything!’

Just after parting ways with Evan Shaw, Chloe York felt an inexplicable chill creep up her spine.

「The Hospital」

”President, I’m sorry!” a middle-aged man in a crisp black suit said, bowing his head deeply. His voice was laced with unconcealable panic and guilt as he apologized to the pale young man in the hospital bed.

”This wasn’t your fault.”

’I suppose I was too naive. I never expected they would be so brazen in their attempt to eliminate me.’

”As you instructed, President, we’ve informed the board of directors that you’ve gone abroad to negotiate the Yuan An project. Also, the road you mentioned and all of its surveillance cameras have been destroyed.”

”It seems they were fully prepared to kill me this time.”

He just hadn’t expected someone to call for help and have him sent to the hospital. He thought of the girl whose throat he had squeezed last night. Her eyes were so clear, so pure.