Gordon yfully pinched Sophie''s nose, chuckling, "Remember to protect the things you love and don''t go trusting people so easily, alright?"


    Sophie nodded eagerly, like a little bird pecking at seeds. "Don''t worry, big brother, I won''t fall for Nichole''s tricks again."


    Clutching the bracelet she had just reimed, Sophie felt a wave of relief. It was a custom gift from her brother, something she had always treasured and kept close. If it hadn''t been for Nichole''s deception, she wouldn''t have let it out of her sight. Gordon watched Sophie with a gentle smile that reached his eyes.


    "Why are you staring at me like that, big brother?" Sophie asked, a bit puzzled. "Do I have something on my face?"


    "The things you love should be held tight so they don''t slip away," Gordon said, ruffling her hair, his words carrying a meaning that went over Sophie''s head.


    Suddenly, Sophie reached up and grabbed the hand that was tousling her hair. This unexpected move made Gordon pause.


    "You said the things you love should be held tightly. I''m just doing what you said," Sophie dered with determination.


    "Silly girl," Gordon murmured fondly.


    He gently sped her hand but let it go in the next moment. "I was talking about the bracelet."


    "But I was talking about you, big brother," Sophie chuckled. "Harold mentioned yesterday that even though I''m not officially part of the Aldridge family yet, I already treat it like home. I''ve spent most of my childhood here, and to me, the Aldridge family feels like my own. You''re the most important person to me besides Mom and Dad, so naturally, I want to hold onto you tightly and never let you go."


    "In life, you''ll meet many people. Someday... someone even more important mighte along."


    "You meet lots of people in life, but there''s only one big brother. To me, you''re the most important," Sophie insisted, her eyes brimming with determination.


    Her steadfast gaze almost made Gordon falter for a moment. But then, as if remembering something, he looked away. "What do you think of Colby, Sophie?"


    "He''s terrible, so annoying. The moment he showed up, he started picking on me. I can''t stand him," Sophie huffed, thinking of Colby.


    swnv


    She had never been so humiliated before. The biggest affront in her eighteen years was what Colby had donest night.


    "How about I give you a chance to get back at him?" Gordon suggested.


    "How?" Sophie perked up, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.


    "Make it so he can''t talk back when you scold him, can''t fight back when you hit him, and lets you bully him as much as you want." "Really?" Sophie asked, half-doubting. "Would he actually agree to that?"


    "He will," Gordon replied with a sly smile.


    "Awesome! I''m going to use


    everything I''ve learned to give him a real hard time and finally get my revenge," Sophie eximed, rolling up her sleeves and ready to put Colby in his ce.


    Gordon chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Just don''t go overboard, okay? I don''t want you to kill him."


    "Don''t worry, big brother, I know what I''m doing. I can''t wait to see him begging for mercy!"