My parents rushed to pull her behind them. “Hattie!”
They frowned at me, waiting for me to say sorry like before. But I simply turned to sort my flowers, not even giving them a look.
A sigh came. “These five years… we never moved.”
Before walking off, Dad turned around. “If one day you feel regret, we’ll be waiting.”
Before getting into the car, Mom spoke, “Honestly, back then, we truly didn’t mean to ruin your path… We weren’t favoring Brielle…”
I put on a polite smile.“Thanks for your support.”
Mom’s eyes grew even wetter, and Dad lowered his head to hold back tears. Then, the Rolls-Royce pulled away.
My assistant, Ivy Collins, stuck her head out. “Was that a Rolls-Royce earlier? Sis, a big client!”
I neatly trimmed the flower stems. “Just passing by.”
“Wow! Serious gossip alert!”
Ivy let out a breath. “Isn’t that the plate number of the Hopkins family? The biggest corporation in Charleston came to our flower booth!”
“I heard their daughter just finished college and is about to take over the company!”
“Did they show up to buy flowers for the handover event? Sis, did you grab another massive deal?!”
“Not one flowers are sold.”
Hearing my cold tone, Ivy froze.
“A fake daughter, getting flowers from the real daughter to celebrate?”
Ivy’s eyes grew huge. “Huh?!”
The day I was taken back to that house happened to be right before the college entrance exam.
I put all my focus on studying and had no plan to join any “real and fake daughter” mess.
However, my parents’ reply surprised me.
No one thought that my return meant I would replace the fake daughter.
Instead, to make up for the years they missed with me, my parents handed me a monthly allowance of fifty thousand dollars more than the fake daughter.
Each month, the housekeeper would bring pricey health goods to my campus, reminding me not to push myself.
Even if I didn’t score high, I still had my parents as my backup.
After the exam, Mom and Dad even asked where I wanted to travel. It was the first time I learned that “graduation trips” existed.
Brielle had enjoyed them since preschool. So cheerfully, I said, “Portland.”
I was too thrilled back then to notice the tight smile on Brielle’s face.
That night, I heard Brielle sobbing in my parents’ room. “Clearly, I’m the kid who grew up with Mom and Dad. Why should they follow her?”
I paused.