Relief flooded Nikki’s face as she looked at him, gratitude in her eyes. But the moment she met his gaze—along with Brad and Lora’s—her heart sank.
There was no concern.
Only disgust.
"Sister," Lora sighed, her delicate features tinged with disappointment. "Even if you can't marry Howard or Brad, you shouldn’t throw yourself at random men..." Her voice was soft, almost pitying. "I may have grown up poor, but even I know that a woman should keep her dignity. Are you really willing to degrade yourself like this—just to retaliate against me? Or is marrying into a wealthy family worth losing all self-respect?"
The tears that had welled in Nikki’s eyes from the earlier assault froze in disbelief. "It wasn’t—"
Brad cut her off with a sneer. "I think she’s just desperate enough to take whatever she can get."
His voice was cold, dripping with disdain. "Nikki, I really misjudged you. For years, you clung to me and my brother, and I could at least respect your persistence. But this?" He let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "You realize you can’t get into the Hewitt family, so you throw yourself at the first pack of dogs you find? When I think of all those years I spent with you as a kid, I feel sick."