If Nicole successfully entered the high school of Royal Creek Institute, she would be a sophomore just like her. What if they were in the same class? The thought of these made Norah sick.

“Don’t worry; I won’t let Dad and Mom worry about it. I can get into Royal Creek Institute by myself,” Nicole responded indifferently.

“What?” Norah was stunned. “How do you get in by yourself?”

She was just a high school student from the countryside, and she said she could enter Royal Creek Institute?

Was it not that she was just bragging?

“You don’t have to worry about that.” It was tiring to communicate with such a person. Nicole's smile faded from her face, and she went straight upstairs.

Norah looked at Nicole's back, her eyes full of indignation. “I would want to see how you, a country girl, could get into Royal Creek Institute.”

The next day was the weekend. Nicole got up early to go for a morning run.

This was her habit for many years. After the morning run, she found a quiet place and started practicing her skills. She needed constant practice to keep her skills in a tip-top state.

It was almost seven when she returned. As soon as she entered the door, Norah saw that Gloria and Daniel were already waiting for her, and Norah was also standing beside them.

“Where have you been? Dad and Mom were worried about you when they saw you were not here.” Norah saw Nicole approaching and spoke out to blame her preemptively.

Nicole frowned incomprehensibly. “I just went out for a morning run. Is there anything urgent?”

Gloria was relieved. “No wonder. Exercise is indeed a good habit.”

But Norah would not easily take that for an answer. “No matter what I did before, I would tell Dad and Mom in advance so that they would not worry about me. You need to take care of Mom’s feelings, you know?”

Norah effortlessly brought the topic back.

“You all had not gotten up when I went out for morning exercise. Besides, I told the family butler.” Nicole looked nonchalantly at Norah, wanting to see what other charges Norah could dish out at her.

“But—”

“It is just a small matter. There is no need to make a fuss about it. Let’s all sit down and have breakfast.” Danial suddenly interrupted before Norah could continue.

Norah’s face changed dramatically. In the past, she used to joke like this, grumbling about her brothers for making their parents worry about them, and her father had never reproved her like this.

But everything changed after Nicole returned. Feeling hurt, Norah suddenly said, “Does Dad think I am nosy? But I have been doing this all this while. Did I do it wrong?”

Norah was born with an adorable face and looked pitiful as soon as her eyes welled up. Daniel could not help but wonder if he had said things too harshly.

But Nicole, who was standing on the sidelines, had lost patience with Norah’s acting. “You did the right thing, but I am not a replica of you.”

What Nicole said caused Daniel and Gloria to remember that they must accept the difference between Nicole and Norah.

“Nicole is right. Mom will not treat you like a replica of anyone, as long as you are happy to be yourself.” Gloria reached out to help Nicole sort her sideburns. She only wanted her daughter to be happy, and nothing else mattered.

But all this looked different in Norah's eyes.

Before this, she would try to do her best, trying to please Gloria and Daniel in whatever she did, as she was afraid that such a good life would just be a dream. When the dream ended, she would return to the previous hard days.

Now, her fears had come true. Their biological daughter was back, and they indulged Nicole, no matter what she did. But what about her? Had all her previous efforts been in vain?

Norah felt miserable and no longer cared to keep her image as a good elder sister. She turned around and said, “Mom, Dad, please enjoy your meal, but I will have to go upstairs first.”

“Norah...” Gloria tried to stop her, but Daniel stopped her, motioning for her to take care of Nicole’s feelings.

Afraid that Nicole would feel left out in the cold, Gloria stayed and looked at Nicole. “Look at you, you are drenched in sweat. Go get changed, and then come down for breakfast.”

“Okay.” Nicole did not want to make her parents’ life any harder, either, so she turned and went upstairs.

Seeing that both daughters were gone, Daniel said, “Do you now know why Dad asked you to send Norah away earlier?”

Nobody is a saint. Facing their own daughter, who they had lost for many years, and the adopted daughter, who had stayed with them and enjoyed a good life for many years, inevitably, there will be favoritism and imbalance. What Mr. Riddle Sr. was trying to do was to protect both sides. He did not want to see the relationship between the Riddle family and Norah of so many years end up breaking.

“Now I know.” Sadness filled Gloria’s eyes.

The longer Norah stayed, the sadder everyone would be.

After lunch, Gloria brought Nicole to go shopping at the mall. Because Nicole had so few belongings. Gloria was afraid that Nicole was being too considerate and stubborn, not wanting to request for anything. She did not want Nicole to feel unfairly treated.

Norah was also accompanying them. As soon as they entered the mall, Norah gleefully picked up clothes and bags as if she had forgotten entirely about what happened in the morning.

“Mom, do you think I look good in this dress?”

“Absolutely. Nicole, why don’t you pick some for yourself?” Gloria was still mindful of what happened in the morning, afraid of neglecting Norah while snubbing Nicole. She had to keep a delicate balance.

Knowing that Gloria was caught between a rock and a hard place, Nicole asked her to accompany Norah while she browsed the clothes in the store by herself. She always liked things simple yet decent, but this boutique that Norah had come to was selling flashy clothes. So, Nicole just browsed for a short while and said, “Mom, I want to go somewhere else.”

“You found nothing you like? I think this one is not bad.” Gloria immediately came over to show her a piece of dress.

Norah was jealous that her mom went away as soon as Nicole called her. So, when she saw the clothes in their hands, she went over to them with a plan.

“Mom, this dress looks wonderful, but it is too expensive. Besides, not everyone will look good in it.”

So, was Norah insinuating that she did not look good enough to wear that dress?

Nicole cocked an eyebrow and said, “I am not so fond of a dress like this, but since you have said so, I have got to try it.”

“Okay, try it.” Gloria’s eyes lit up as she instinctively knew that this dress suited Nicole, and so she hurriedly urged her.

Norah did not expect Nicole to say that, and she felt upset at the moment. This hillbilly really dared to try.

Nicole took the dress and disappeared into the fitting room. It was not long before she drew open the door curtain and appeared in this gorgeous dress.

She was used to wearing just pants that were convenient for her to move around. By wearing a dress suddenly, she felt naked.

Nicole usually dressed more casually, but thanks to her curvy body lines, she still looked great, even smart, in T-shirts and pants. Changing into this white dress would not look weird, but make her look skin gelatinous and beautiful.

After letting her long hair down, Nicole and Gloria looked even more alike, so too their temperament.

“Young lady, you look beautiful in this dress.”

“Many people have tried this dress, but none of them look as good as you in it.” The boutique manager sounded flattery, but it was true.

Gloria’s eyes were also filled with elation. “This dress it is. It couldn’t look any better on you.”

Norah looked jealous, as much as surprised.

“Mom, I like this too. Can I try it?”

She was the one who was raised in a wealthy family, so she did not believe that she would lose to a hillbilly.

The boutique manager was caught in the middle. “I am sorry, the clothes in our boutique are all handmade, and this dress is a limited edition of the season, so there is only one piece.”

Gloria was also in a predicament. But seeing that Nicole looked so gorgeous in that dress, she could only say, “Norah, the other clothes in this store are also beautiful. Let’s look at the other pieces.” She then asked the boutique manager to issue the bill and walked toward the cashier counter.

Norah almost stomped her feet in displeasure, but she could not lose her composure. Her mouth twitched as she squeezed a smile.

Nicole sneered.

She had never caused trouble, but she would not run away if someone came looking for trouble. Whoever wanted to affront her, she would surely return the favor.

Nicole was not in a hurry to change back into her clothes. Instead, she walked around the store in front of Norah in this dress and then turned to look at other clothes.

Sensing that Nicole would glow in any dress she wore, just like her, Gloria started to put anything beautiful on her.

Norah saw Gloria buy Nicole several outfits and followed suits, getting herself five to six sets. But Gloria, citing the fact that she already had a lot of clothes, only bought two sets for her.

Norah’s face was looking more and more cast down this afternoon. Seeing that Gloria had been holding Nicole’s hand all day and refusing to let go, the fire of jealousy was about to burst out of her eyes.

“Mom, Norah? What are you all doing here?” A voice suddenly spoke.

Gloria turned her head and saw that it was her son, Steve. “What are you doing here?”

“We are here shopping. Steve, do you miss me today?” Seeing Steve, Norah rushed over and held Steve’s hand, looking like they were very close.

Steve pulled Norah’s hand off his, as he felt awkward when other people were around. “Our company plans to invest in this mall, so I came to check out the situation with the person in charge here.”

Nicole heard from Daniel that her second brother, Steve, was a financial wizard.

“Hi, Steve,” she said hello politely.

Just like Sean, Steve inherited the genes of his parents, born handsome. He looked extraordinary with a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. Seeing Nicole, Steve’s eyes lit up. “I just wondered how there was a beautiful girl around my mother. It turns out to be my little sister.”

Nicole smirked, not expecting that this gentle-looking brother of hers was a sweet talker.

Norah pouted, feeling not too happy. “You have never complimented me that way, Steve.”

In more than a decade, they had never been close. Steve could not help but freeze in place. But he quickly responded, saying, “You don’t need me to state the obvious, Norah. You are equally beautiful.”

This obviously sounded insincere. After all, Norah looked much ordinary, and there was actually a slight difference between her and the Riddles.

“Nicole, I am quite busy these days and have no time to go home to see you. But I will bring you out to dinner when I am back in a few days.”

“Sure.” Nicole nodded in agreement.

After saying hello, Steve got busy with his work. Gloria looked on with a smile as Steve and then looked back at Nicole with a doting expression. “Steve’s biggest hobby is to make money, and he is pretty stingy. Judging by his willingness to bring you out to dinner, I guess he values you a lot.”

These words stirred Norah’s jealousy even more.

Indeed, Steve had not invited her to dinner in so many years. But he was so generous to Nicole when Nicole returned.

Was this the difference between biological and non-biological sisters? Why?

She was the sister who had lived with him under the same roof for over ten years, for god’s sake.

Norah was really upset, her teeth almost sinking into her lip. But she had to put up a fake gentle smile as she followed behind the two.

When they arrived home, the three of them noticed a luxury car that they had never seen before parked up in front of the door.

Feeling curious, Gloria entered the house with her two daughters and saw a well-dressed man sitting across Daniel.

Even if the man was not facing them directly, his extraordinary charm made it impossible for people to take their eyes off him.

Norah had never seen such a good-looking man before. She rushed up to Gloria and said, “Mom, who is that person?”

Gloria shook her head and walked in. “Hey, Daniel.”

When Daniel saw Gloria and his daughters, he quickly got up and introduced them. “Jared, this is my wife, and this is my younger daughter.”

As Daniel introduced Nicole to Jared Johnston, the affection on his face was plain to see.

Norah was waiting for Daniel to introduce her, but Daniel did not even spare her a glance.

Jared’s glacial eyes swept over the three of them, and then he stood up and nodded to Nicole. “Hello, I am Jared.”

Jared's words startled Gloria and Norah.

The friendship between the Johnston and Riddle families spanned across generations. Mr. Johnston Sr. and Mr. Riddle Sr. had made a marriage arrangement for their grandchildren in the early years, and Jared was the fiancé whom Norah had been hearing about but had never met. Jared had been studying abroad before.

She did not expect that when Jared finally returned to the country, she was no longer the daughter of the Riddle family.

Noticing that Jared was staring at Nicole, jealousy turned into thorns pricking Norah in the heart. She felt hurt even when breathing.

It was all Nicole’s fault for not coming back at the right time. Otherwise, she would be the only person Jared saw now.

“Nicole.”

The man in front of him was truly charming, but Nicole simply responded with her name and said nothing else.

Gloria felt awkward but guessed that Nicole had just returned, not knowing who Jared was. So, she quickly explained, “Nicole’s is simple and forthright. Hope you don’t mind.”

Jared could not help but take a second look at Nicole. “It is alright. I like such a forthright personality.”

What he said elated Daniel and Gloria.

Jared was the most outstanding grandchild of the Johnston family. It would be great if Nicole could get his likes.

Nicole looked at Jared’s dark eyes and felt that there was more to this man than met the eye. She was good at reading people, but this man had an unfathomable look in the eyes.

The three of them sat down together. Gloria deliberately let Nicole and Jared sit next to each other, and Norah could only sit down by herself.

Nicole felt it weird, wondering why she was seated next to a stranger.

Just then, Jared held up the coffee cup and continued. “My grandfather has not been feeling well recently and wants to meet my fiancée. I know it is odd, but so I am here today.”

Nicole was completely dumbfounded. “Fiancée?” What the hell was going on?

When Daniel coughed nervously, Gloria got the hint and hurriedly said, “Nicole, you just came back, and we hadn’t told you that your grandfather and Mr. Johnston Sr. made a marriage arrangement for you. Jared is your fiancé.”

“What?”

'What the hell?'

She had only been back to the Riddle family for two days and had not even met all the family members. Yet here she met her fiancé?

As cool as she was, she could no longer stay calm. “Arranged marriage, seriously, Mom? Don’t you think this is too outrageous?”

Who would still get married by arranged marriages nowadays?

“I know it is hard for you to accept, but that was the practice during your grandfather’s time,” Daniel said helplessly.

He and Gloria had also worried about this before, but when they saw Jared was such an excellent man, they hoped Nicole would find a good husband like him.

Nicole’s face turned pale, but Norah thought Nicole took things for granted. “Nicole, I was supposed to marry Jared, but now since you have returned, I should return what is rightfully yours. You must not let down Grandpa.”

Norah finally caught everyone’s attention, and even Jared was now looking at her.

Norah saw Jared looking at her, her heart instantly pounding, her face blushed. She let out a smile like a fine lady.

Jared sized her up and said, “So she is the adopted daughter of the Riddle family?”

Jared emphasized the word "adopted" when he spoke. It made Norah feel like a basin of icy water pouring on her head.

This was the biggest thorn in her heart. Norah did not expect Jared to say it so directly. For a moment, the smile froze on her face. She did not want to admit it, but she could not deny it either. All she could do now was to bite her lip with a hurt feeling, her eyes reddening, looking as if she deserved pity.

Norah had known since she was a child that she was not as outstanding as her parents and brothers in terms of looks, but being the sole daughter of the family was her advantage. Usually, she just needed to use the victim card, and everyone would soften and not hurt her again. It was a trick that had always been working.

But Jared did not seem to buy this. He said indifferently, “I appreciate what our grandpas have done for us, but the times are different now. If you do not agree to this marriage, you may also take this opportunity to cancel the arrangement with my grandpa.”

It sounded matter of course to Jared, as if it was just a weather chat. But it completely stunned Daniel and Gloria. “Cancel the marriage arrangement?”