Lora huddled into Howard’s arms, her voice soft and pitiful. "Sister scratched my hand just now... It really hurts. She’s so scary. She’s never like this in front of Mom and Dad."
Brad’s voice dropped to a commanding tone. "Nikki, come here and apologize to Lora!"
But as he turned around, his expression shifted.
Nikki wasn’t standing there.
She was struggling to get up, her body covered in dust and grime. Her hair was disheveled, her clothes a mess, one of her high heels broken.
Then, barefoot and pale, she suddenly sprinted into the fountain.
Desperation fueled her movements as she plunged into the icy water, her hands frantically searching every crevice, every gap between the tiles—like a madwoman chasing a ghost.
Brad and Howard watched, momentarily stunned.
"It’s just a ring," Brad muttered, frowning. "Why is she acting like this?"
His brows furrowed deeper, his voice dropping in disbelief. "She just wants to marry me... doesn’t she?"
Howard’s sharp gaze swept over Nikki’s trembling figure. He noticed the deep scratches on her legs from earlier, the way her red-rimmed eyes stood out against her ghostly pale face.