Demon CEO's Hidden Love: Mr Grayson Stole Me From My Abusive Husband-Chapter 213: An Ungrateful Niece

Taking a seat across from Sarah, Brooke kept checking her phone for the time, hoping the conversation would run short and she could leave for her date later.

Sarah noticed and asked, "Are you headed somewhere after here?"

Brooke nodded, "Yes, I’m meeting someone important."

"Oh, I’ll try to keep this brief, I don’t want to waste any of your time, it’s just that..." she took a pause, running the next sentence in her head.

Brooke noticed her fingers curl into nervous fists and sensed that the topic must’ve been sensitive. Taking the initiative she asked, "Is this about the phone call you made the other day? I was wondering why you ended the call so abruptly, is something the matter? Are you having any trouble?"

Sarah shook her head, "No, no..."

But Brooke was adamant, she rested her hand over her aunt’s, "You can tell me. Back then you were always so nice to me, I’d like to be there for you too anyway I can."

Hearing those words, Sarah relaxed her features into a smile. "I do have something to say to you-" she was saying but got cut off by Brooke’s phone ringing.

Brooke shifted her gaze to her phone laid face front on the table . Glancing at the screen she saw it was the restaurant calling. She swiftly picked it up and placed the phone to her ear.

"Oh, I’m sorry I have to take this really quick." she said getting up from the table.

Her aunt forced a smile. "Of course." And watched as her niece messily stepped outside to take the call.

Immediately Sarah took out her phone and looked up the name of the restaurant that displayed on the screen. Just before Brooke took off, she caught a glimpse of the caller and saw it was a restaurant.

"This place looks expensive." She couldn’t help but point out as she swiped through the inner decor. She tried to check for their online menu, but soon discovered it was an invitation only restaurant.

Watching her niece outside from the glass, a hiss escaped Sarah’s lips. She swiftly reached for Brooke’s bag and pulled it closer to her side.

Taking a look inside, Sarah’s jaw dropped at the name of the designer encarved inside. She took out Brooke’s purse, making sure she wasn’t being watched and peeked inside.

"Fucking hell!" She swiftly closed the purse and tossed it back into her bag. She pushed the bag back to where it was stationed, her eyes widened in utter stun.

Under her breath she mumbled, "Wh-Where did this girl get so much money?" She recalled the money Brooke has given her when they last met, she recalled finding it odd that her divorced niece had that much cash.

Serena had told her there was no settlement fee, and Brooke was currently working for a bankrupt production house.

There was no way-

"Sorry for wasting your time, I had to take the call." Brooke said as she returned to their table.

Sarah smiled naturally, "It’s alright, anyways, we were talking about my problem."

Brooke nodded, taking a seat. "Yes, I was saying that I’m willing to help you aunt, in anyway I can. Tell me, is Serena giving you a hard time?"

She shook her head, "No, but I’m a bit embarrassed by what I want to ask you." Sarah lowered her head, "I know I’m in no place to even say this."

"Nonsense! Tell me, what’s wrong?" She asked, genuinely worried.

After a bit of contemplating and grumblings, Sarah finally confessed, "Y-You know I went abroad to work, but my company went bankrupt and I was laid off. With the money I made, I tried to start up a business, but it didn’t make high returns. And, after a series of failures and racking debts, I had to come back home."

Brooke gasped, "You’re in debt?"

Tears streamed down the sides of her face, "I don’t know what to do." She began to cry, earning stares their way. She reached for Brooke’s hand, "I don’t know who else to turn to right now. Scott is broke and Serena has a crisis on her hands."

Holding her aunt’s hand she asked, "How much is your debt? Maybe you can take a loan for now-"

Dramatically, she shook her head, "I wish I could, but I’m oweing over two million dollars!" She cried out.

Brooke’s eyes went round, "Two million?"

Sarah nodded, "Brooke, I know that I left you alone, but you’re the only family I have left to turn to. I’m not asking for much, but if you can loan me some money..." she left her sentence hanging for Brooke to catch on to what she was trying to say.

But her niece retraced her hands, "I’m sorry aunt, but I don’t have that kind of money."

Her words were like a splash of cold water on Sarah, her aunt blinked twice, "Y-You don’t?" She asked making sure she heard right.

Brooke sighed in defeat, "I quit my job at Luther’s agency after I got married. And, after the divorce, I didn’t take a settlement from Ethan. Right now I’m working on a movie, but the pay isn’t much. I can’t cough up such a huge amount right now. But I can help with whatever I-" she was saying but Sarah cut her off.

"I understand, but I really need this money, even half would be a great help." She insisted, giving Brooke’s hand a tight squeeze.

Brooke frowned inwardly, ’I can’t let her know I have the money. Mr Grayson said to make sure no one knows my identity yet. For now, I’ll have Gilbert find some indirect way to get her the money.’ Brooke thought, oblivious to the impression her response gave.

"Is that so?" Sarah released her hand, "I guess that’s right. You really are suffering right now, I was too presumptuous."

Brooke’s phone rang once more, and this time it was the driver calling to confirm her location. Brooke immediately gathered her things and signaled the waiter over.

"Aunt, I’ll have to leave for now. But later let’s talk about your issue. I’m always here to listen to you if you have anything you want to unload." Brooke told her, she reached into her purse and slipped some dollar bills to her.

"Please, take care of yourself aunt Sarah." She said, standing up.

Sarah frowned at the amount, she had counted twice more than that with her eyes in Brooke’s purse. Nonetheless, she forced a smile and waved, "You too Brooke, I’ll see you later." She said as she watched her walk away.

Staring at the cash, her brother’s words from last night resounded in her head. He had taken her away from Serena after she tried to expose their lie and tried to convince her otherwise.

At first, she was adamant and refused to listen to him, however he brought up something that piqued her interest.

"Unless Cassie, that Brooke is someone we can’t control, she’s merciless and does whatever she wants. If she finds out her father is rich, do you think we’ll get a single cent out of it?" Scott had asked her.

And she had confidently replied, "You are not entitled to her money. She has suffered long enough and deserves some good-" but her brother cut her off.

"That woman is very cunning and greedy! She married rich and hasn’t once sent any money back! With Cassie, we can manipulate her and get as much money out of Julian as we could ever want." Scott explained.

But Sarah did not believe him. "Brooke wouldn’t lie like that, I saw her the other day, she’s no better than any of us." Though she said that, she recalled the unusual amount of money Brooke had given her.

Was Scott maybe right?

She shook her head, "You abandoned her, Serena has been nothing but cruel to her and Cassie cheated her. Even if Brooke has come into this imaginary wealth, it makes sense that she keeps it from you people, you don’t deserve it."

Scott laughed, "And you think you do? Tell her that her father is rich and see what happens. She’ll completely forget you, and you’ll be the loser in this game."

Sarah argued, "I don’t need her money, I’m not greedy like you two-"

He cut her off, "You act like you’re such a saint, but you’re no different from us, you never were, even back when we were kids, you always acted like a damn hypocrite. You knew Brooke was getting mistreated but you still went abroad without thinking twice."

He looked her head to toe then laughed, "Now that you’re out of money you’re trying to play the saint and use the family you also abandoned. Out of all three of us, I’d say you’re the most despicable one. But know this, Brooke is not the saint she says she is, she’ll teach you a nasty lesson if you’re not careful."

Finally he said, "Don’t say I didn’t warn you..."

Reflecting back on his words, Sarah tightened her grip on the fork in her hand. "Brooke, how dare you? You ungrateful wench. After everything I did for you back then!" She gritted her teeth, her anger rising to the roof!