"Sister, you don’t have to do this. Even if you’re not our parents’ biological child, I’ll convince them to keep treating you well. You don’t have to degrade yourself for the Hewitt brothers just to stay in a wealthy family or force them into marriage. That would be too pathetic."
At the time, Howard and Brad merely sneered.
"She’s just afraid of losing her cushy life. To secure a place in the family, she’ll resort to anything—no matter how shameless."
"Exactly. Lora, you’ve been through hardships, so you can’t understand her desperation to cling to a rich family like a parasite."
Their words had struck her like a slap.
She had a sudden, painful recollection of the past—of her real brother, the one who had died in an accident when they were children. The Hewitt brothers had been devastated, crying alongside her.
One had pounded his chest, the other had clenched his fists.
"Nikki is our little sister now! When we grow up, one of us will marry her, and we’ll never let her suffer or cry!"
Their innocent vows had made the adults smile.
"Nikki can only marry one of you. Whoever treats her best will be the one she chooses."