Seeing that she was willing to ask questions and wasn't resistant, the two brothers felt relieved.
Adam quickly took the lead and said, "When you were one year old, our mother took you to the hospital for a vaccination. That's when a group of robbers stormed into the hospital. In the chaos, you and our mother got separated. A nurse hurriedly carried you away, but by the time she reunited with our mother, she realized she had taken the wrong child."
"By the time we went back to look for you, it was too late. Back then, the conditions and technology were nothing like they are now. Finding someone was like looking for a needle in a haystack."
"All these years, our family never stopped searching for you. Everyone has been hoping for your return."
"Was that child the one who was mistakenly taken instead?" Zuri asked.
"Yes. Later, we tried to find her family, but they had disappeared. Grandmother pitied her, as she was also a victim of that disaster, so she was raised in our home."
The cause and effect were simple and clear.
Zuri listened quietly, and when he finished speaking, she looked up at the two of them. "Thank you for explaining."
"Zuri, come home with us."
"There's no need." The simple three words were spoken with unusual firmness. She stood up and softly said to the two of them, "It's late. You should go home."
When she needed them the most, they weren't there.
When she longed for them the most, they weren't there either.
Now, she no longer needed them.
Being alone was just fine!
Faced with Zuri's polite yet firm dismissal, neither Adam nor Nolan knew how to respond.
"Zuri, it's our fault as your brothers for coming too late and causing you to suffer. From now on, we will never..." Nolan began, but Zuri interrupted him before he could finish.
"Mr. Feng, I'm fine on my own. I hope you won't bother me again in the future. Can we keep things as they are?" Zuri's gaze was piercing as she looked at him.
Adam looked at the girl in front of him, as cold as frost, and couldn't help but recall the day she lay on the hospital bed, her heart utterly broken, as if nothing could be more painful. His heart ached even more.
What had she gone through to become like this?
Nolan's understanding of Zuri had always been limited to her business talents. He had never delved into her personal life, nor did he know about her past experiences.
Nolan felt a tremor in his heart.
He raised his eyes to look in the direction of the third floor, his chest feeling heavy, as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on him.
Just then, the roar of a car engine sounded from behind them. In no time, a red sports car drove into the old neighborhood. Owen got out of the car and saw the two of them standing right ahead.
"Oh wow, you guys knew about my good relationship with Zuri and waited for me to go up together." Owen hummed a little tune as he swaggered over.
As he got closer, he noticed something was off about his brothers' expressions, and his smile faded.
"What's going on? Don't tell me Zuri kicked you guys out?" Owen said, gloating.
"With your limited abilities, it's still up to me," Owen boasted as he strutted around them. But the next second, he was met with two cold stares, making him shrink his neck in fear.
Both brothers snorted simultaneously, looking at him with disdain.
"If you can bring Zuri back, I'll give you that sports car you wanted," Nolan said.
"If you bring our sister back, I'll prepare that special medicine you asked for," Adam added.
Owen was overjoyed, grinning widely. "It's a deal."
As Owen walked up the stairs, the smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression.
He knocked on the door.
After a while, there was no response, so he knocked again.
Still, no response.
Owen started to get a bit anxious.
Surely, she wouldn't refuse to even let him in!
"Zuri, it's your third brother. Please open the door," Owen called out, his tone tinged with concern.
"Zuri, are you upset? Did those two jerks bully you? Tell me, and I'll teach them a lesson."
"Don't be mad. You can tell me anything."
"Zuri, could you please open the door?"
Just as he was about to call out again, the door opened.
Owen was overjoyed, but the moment he saw Zuri's icy glare, his excitement dampened.
Owen shrank back a bit, noticing her wet hair. Realizing what might have happened, he flashed an awkward but charming smile.
"Did I interrupt something?"
"What do you think?" Zuri snapped, clearly annoyed.
She had been in the middle of washing her hair when he started banging on the door like a ghost.
If not for his special status and the potential trouble it might cause, Zuri wouldn't have bothered opening the door. She would have let him stand outside calling like a lost soul.
Owen immediately raised his hands in surrender. "My bad."
Then, obediently, he extended his hand in front of her.
Zuri looked at his large hands, puzzled.
"If I've upset you, hit me," Owen said, lowering his head. His usually handsome and flawless face was full of guilt and remorse. If his fans saw this expression, they'd surely melt and feel heartbroken.
However, this tactic didn't seem to work on Zuri.
"Smack"...
A crisp sound rang out as Zuri's small, fair hand landed squarely in Owen's palm.
Owen was momentarily stunned, then broke into a charming smile.
"Now that you've hit me, how about a smile?" Owen asked, beaming at her.
He didn't ask what she and the brothers had discussed or what had happened. As always, he treated her the same, only now his affection and care were even more direct.
Owen unceremoniously plopped himself down on the worn-out sofa, crossing his legs and leaning back lazily, spreading his arms wide. The relaxed, domineering posture made it seem like this was his own home.
"Zuri, tell me, what kind of fate brought us together? The first time I saw you, I felt this bond, like I just wanted to be good to you. Now I realize it's all because of our blood."
"Why didn't we meet earlier? Damn the heavens! If I could, I'd drag it down and give it a good beating."
"What do you think of my idea? Isn't it just awesome?" Owen asked, winking playfully at her.