My voice was hoarse, and I felt utterly wronged.
James said, "Nina, I know you're upset, but do you think it was easy for us these past two years? Having a convict in the family brought shame on all of us. People point and whisper wherever we go. Who knows what people will say about us if you stay here? Can't you think about us for once?"
The brother I sacrificed everything to protect finally revealed his true feelings. To him, I was now just a burden, the reason for their shame. All my sacrifices were reduced to a joke.
I looked at him with deep disappointment and said coldly, "James Kessler, don't forget, the one who should have been a convict is you. The one who shamed the family is you!
"If you really cared about the family's reputation, you should have confessed from the start. Instead, you let me take the fall, and now you have the audacity to blame me for not thinking about you!"