Chapter 6  

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.”