The Divorce That Brought Us Back novel Chapter 258

Nora didn't know what to say.

She murmured blankly, "I don't really have any specific feelings."

Maloney stayed silent for a moment before speaking. "Years ago, David was meant to inherit the family business, but Diana, who started from the very bottom, usurped his power. He couldn't accept it, but there was nothing he could do. So, with the help of the Cole family, he entered politics instead."

"The fact that he can peacefully coexist today with the woman who stripped him of everything proves how skilled he is at hiding his true nature. Whatever his real endgame might be, he's nowhere near as simple as he pretends to be."

"Nora, he's a wolf in sheep's clothing. Don't let sentimentality blind you."

Nora lowered her eyes, deep in thought.

She weighed the words carefully in her mind before finally speaking. "It's like this."

"I've always believed that older siblings have no obligation to raise their younger siblings."

"The ones who treated me poorly were my parents, not Diana or David."

"In the past, Cassidy and Jasmine used to get angry on my behalf. They said my sister and brother knew exactly how miserable I was and had the power to help me, yet they turned a blind eye. Aside from backing me up during the holidays, they never showed any real concern."

"I felt hurt by that for a while, but eventually, I realized that perspective was flawed. It wasn't that they didn't help me; they helped me within their limits."

"They couldn't do any more than that. Was I supposed to expect them to physically rescue me from that house? That's obviously unrealistic."

"They both had their own families. They were busy fighting for control of the company, slaughtering each other in the corporate world. They didn't have time to hold my hand. At the end of the day, people have to learn how to save themselves."

The grip Maloney had on Nora's waist was almost painfully tight.

Nora pried at Maloney's arms, and as he instinctively loosened his hold, she flipped over in his embrace.

They were now facing each other.

Nora continued.

"Did I ever tell you that my parents only had me because they wanted a son to help them steal power back from Diana?"

"With Diana's age, if she had made a mistake when she was younger, she could literally be my mother. My parents caused her endless trouble, yet she was still willing to acknowledge me and have my back. That's already more than enough."

"It's the same with David."

"Whether it's my sister or my brother, whenever I asked them for help, they always delivered. I know they have their own conflicts, and I know they have their own selfish agendas."

"But why should I care about all of that? Without their help, I wouldn't have even been able to live on campus smoothly during high school. If I resented them for not doing more, I'd be an ungrateful wretch."

"Cassidy feels bad for me because she grew up in a completely different environment. She cares deeply about fairness. She thinks parents should divide their wealth equally among all their children."

"But I've known since I was a kid that there's no such thing as fairness in this world."

Nora paused slightly before continuing, "You asked me how I feel about David. I thought about it, and I realized my relationship with Diana and David isn't like normal siblings. I consider them family, and we'll contact each other when we need something, but the moment our interests clash, a wall goes up."

"Honestly, they feel more like an aunt and uncle to me."

"There's a sense of distance, mutual respect, and polite boundaries."

"You said David did something to hurt me, and you're going to deal with him. If I plead for mercy on his behalf, that would be unfair to you. That's why I told you not to worry about me."

Nora rested her chin on Maloney's shoulder. "I meant it."

Maloney gently patted Nora's back, his voice low. "I understand."

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