Nichs was a devoted son. The moment I uttered those disrespectful words, he seemed ready to explode. Before he could react, the maid ascended the stairs and knocked on our door.


    udia''s altercation on campus had drawn the attention of the Hawks. The principal learned that Nichs nned to transfer udia to a different college.


    Worried about upsetting the Hawks, the principal called udia''s parents to apologize.


    Frances appeared concerned as she gripped my hand and reprimanded Nichs, who was seated across from us.


    "We''ve all warned you about spoiling udia too much. Look at her now-getting into fights on campus! She''s still impressionable and far too young!"


    I tightened my grip. udia was getting to an age where her infatuation with Nichs suggested she was more mature than Frances had realized. I sat meekly, watching in silence as Nichs was scolded. Daniel nodded gravely. "She''s been staying with Ari for so long, but hasn''t learned anything positive from her!"


    "Her?" Nichs nced casually at me, sitting across from him and entertained by the scene. He seemed indifferent, and his voice wasced with sarcasm as he continued, "She''s so full of herself. Thankfully, udia hasn''t picked up any of


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    those traits!"


    I widened my eyes in disbelief, catching Nichs'' malevolent grin. udia would''ve borne that p if he hadn''t pushed me out of the way. I gritted my teeth in anger as I recounted the incident of being struck. Frances was concerned for me. She brushed the strands of hair from my face and gasped sharply. "Oh my! It''s badly bruised."


    Daniel grabbed an apple from the table and threw it toward Nichs'' head. The fruit exploded as it hit the floor, sttering juice and pulp everywhere. "What good are you if you can''t protect your wife and sister?" Nichs snapped upright, his piercing gaze fixed on me.


    Frances flung an orange peel at him, her voice sharp. "Quit ring at Ari, you brat! Is this settled, or should we involve your dad?"


    Nichs slouched into a moody silence, sinking onto the couch and staring at me with a crestfallen look. Growing impatient with his silence, Daniel and Frances looked to me for exnations.


    Unsure of the details myself, I redirected the question to Nichs. "I''m not entirely sure about the specifics. He''s handling the aftermath."


    With a worried look for udia, Frances urged, "Spill it, you rascal!"


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    Nichs gave a cold nce, skirting around the truth as he exined, "udia chose to go back to her dorm, but her ssmates thought it was because of the tension between Ariana and me. She was trying to defend us and rify things." I couldn''t help but silently scoff at such a convenient exnation. He was truly bending over backward to defend udia.N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.


    Daniel and Frances turned to me, then to Nichs, fully swayed by his words. After a moment''s pause, Daniel seemed to recall Nichs and I had our arguments.


    He said, "We should clear up this rumor. Let''s host a banquet tomorrow evening!"


    When the stylist told me to take a deep breath while she adjusted my gown, I was on the verge of tears. Nichs had truly screwed me over.


    The gown, with its oceanic hues of aquamarine, was


    breathtaking. Its scale-like patterns echoed the frothy waves of the deep sea, reflecting light from the bodice to the hem.


    The snug fit highlighted my hourss shape. Despite my slender frame, getting into it proved quite a feat.


    Considering backing out, I suggested to the stylist, "Perhaps we should try something else."


    Instantly, a subtle warmth spread across the back of my neck. A finger delicately traced down my spine.


    "Isn''t this the one you picked?" Nichs'' sudden voice startled me. I didn''t realize he had approached from behind and taken over from the stylist.