“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?”

Nicole keenly caught a glimpse of the determination in the man’s eyes and suddenly realized that he was seizing the opportunity of her return and came to sound her out, and encouraged her to withdraw the marriage arrangement.

It seemed that he did not want this marriage either. Just that Mr. Johnston Sr. refused, and so he came to dissuade her from agreeing to this marriage.

Nicole frowned slightly. She did not like to be manipulated, and hated being used even more.

“The Johnston family is prominent in San Joto, and Mr. Johnston, you are older than me. It is inappropriate for a little girl like me to cancel the marriage arrangement, and it is going to make the Johnston family look bad.”

Nicole called herself a little girl, but her composure did not look like an eighteen-year-old at all.

Jared looked sideways at Nicole but only met with her unfathomable eyes, his heart trembling inexplicably as if he had been seen through by this precocious little girl.

That was interesting.

As Daniel and Gloria came out of their shock, Daniel said in a deep voice, “Nicole is right. It was Mr. Johnston Sr. who proposed the marriage arrangement. If Nicole were to back off from this engagement, it would upset Mr. Johnston Sr.”

Besides, the impact of canceling the engagement would affect Nicole dearly, and they needed more time to think about it.

Even if Nicole really wanted to back off from the engagement, it should not be Nicole who brought this up. It would jeopardize the friendship between the two families if things were not handled properly.

But the marriage engagement between the two families had long been spread far and wide in San Joto. If the Johnston family was to cancel the engagement, it was going to affect Nicole, too.

Seeing that the Riddle family was in a predicament, Jared thought for a moment and said, “Since it is a matter of two families, whichever side proposes it will hurt the friendship of the two families. So it is better for Nicole and I to go back to the Johnston family together and explain it to my grandfather.”

“Nicole, what do you think?” Daniel and Gloria were very optimistic about this marriage, but if Nicole was not into it, they were not going to force it.

So what if it would affect her reputation? If their daughter chose not to get married, they were willing to support her for a lifetime.

“Sure. Set a time.” Nicole had no objection.

As much as she disliked this pretentious guy, she was more opposed to losing her freedom, especially when she had just returned home. She had more important things to do.

“Then wait until my grandpa gets better and I will come and pick up.” Jared smiled politely at Nicole.

Nicole nodded and said, “Okay.”

Norah watched and quietly cursed as Nicole rejected such a good marriage with just a few words. Not willing to let go, she glanced at Jared and thought of a plan.

After some pleasantries, Jared got up and left, refusing to let Daniel and Gloria see him out.

But Norah insisted, and Daniel let her be. That was the least they could do.

Seeing Jared leave, Daniel looked at Nicole with concern. “Are you really going to back off from the engagement?”

Norah was looking forward to this marriage before this. But when Nicole returned and Jared came to discuss the withdrawal of the engagement, Nicole agreed to it, to their surprise.

They did not want to interfere with it, but they still felt that they were missing such an excellent man like Jared as their son-in-law. Nicole might regret it in the future.

“I am still young and studies are my priority.” Nicole made an excuse that was often seen on TV.

“Nicole is right. She is still young and will have more choices in the future.” Gloria was relieved, and Daniel did not insist anymore.

Outside the door, Norah was seeing Jared out.

Jared now felt unfriendly, completely opposite the gentleness and humility when he was talking inside.

But in order to achieve her goal, Norah still plucked up enough courage and said, “Jared, my sister does not know any better. Please don’t mind what she said for wanting to cancel the engagement.”

Jared glanced sideways at Norah. “I don’t mind.”

Norah was not sure if it was an illusion; Jared seemed to become even more unapproachable.

But there was only one chance, and Norah selectively ignored it, pretending to be shy as she continued. “Actually, before my sister came back, I was your fiancée. Unfortunately, it has all changed.”

After hinting it so obviously, Norah bowed her head shyly, waiting for Jared to respond.

Yet, Jared’s eyes suddenly darkened and his voice icy when he said, “Fish eyes can never be passed off as pearls. All things should return to their rightful places.”

Norah’s face turned pale.

Raising her head and looking at Jared again, she saw his frosty expression. His icy gaze was so in-your-face, piercing into her heart and making her tremble.

Just then, the Johnston family driver had pulled the car up. Jared got into the car and instructed the driver to drive him off.

Norah slowly came out of her daze as she watched the car leave.

Was Jared ridiculing her as just a fish eye and Nicole was the pearl?

Why... Why did these people discard her like garbage when Nicole returned?

“It is all Nicole’s fault!”

Had Nicole not returned, she would have always been the princess of the Riddle family, enjoying the wealth of her parents, the favor of her brothers, and Jared would have been hers.

Norah stared back at the door of the living hall with an extremely sinister look in her eyes. She did not want to be sent away. She was not going to leave this family. Everything here should rightly belong to her.