?Chapter 431:


    Meanwhile, in the car, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Milford held his backpack close, staring out the window in silence.


    Z’s fury was far from abating. She had earned her position at the helm of Apex Group through her skills, not by underhanded means! The unsavory reputation of advancing her career through intimate favors was a narrative spun by Kian, and now she was stuck with it.


    As Z stewed in frustration, her phone rang, the sound ring through the car’s Bluetooth system. She nced at Milford, hesitated, and then decided to hang up.


    Momentster, a text from Kian popped up, providing an address and a hotel room number. His message was clear: he was indifferent to the recent scandals and expected her to press on.


    “When does the new semester start?” Z attempted to shift the conversation.


    “Day after tomorrow,” Milford replied curtly, still avoiding eye contact.


    His aloof response only frustrated Z further, but she reminded herself that he was back now, and they had plenty of time ahead to repair their rtionship. She needed to temper her irritation.


    She still hoped Milford would eventually support her in running Apex Group.


    “I’ll drive you to school the day after tomorrow and take care of your tuition and living expenses.”


    Yet Milford seemed unappreciative. “Just transfer the money. I can get to school on my own.”


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    Z lived a good two hours’ drive from the university, and the bus would take even longer. Despite recently being the target of online trolls, Z kept her voice gentle, but his uncooperative attitude was testing her patience.


    “How do you n to get there? By bus? With all that luggage? I’m trying to help you—don’t be so ungrateful!”


    Milford gave a mocking sneer as he nced back at her.


    “Are you trying to help me or just embarrass me further? At Willowbrook University, business news is like daily bread. Everyone there knows today’s headlines inside and out. Why even bother showing up to drop me off?”


    Milford would be studying business management, a field where every piece of business news was crucial. Scandals, like the one involving Z, would also be scrutinized and remembered.


    “Am I an embarrassment to you?” Z’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel. “Remember, without my help, you’d still be stuck in that miserable ce in Wist Land, surrounded by troublemakers. You could’ve been dead by now!”


    “What does your help have to do with my achievements?” Milford’s voice was firm. “It was Eileen who pulled me out of that mess!” He gripped his backpack tightly, his resolve to distance himself from Z growing stronger.


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