Regret Came Too Late

The people of Northbrook had long been hardened by la .

Even if the world forget about them , they knew how to fend for themselves.

Theyd hail the gods on makeshift carts to sell in the neighboring city It wasnt enough to make them rich , but in kept food on the table .

Hard work was just part of the deal .

But this year , the relentless downpours had caught everyone off guard .

No one had been prepared for the sheer force of the storms .

dece kept her stance low key , and even when she was injured , she didnt make a fuss .

The gathered fruit farmers exchanged glances , hesitating Then , a few younger ones finally booke the Three days .

Just three days , Shes a streamer .

Maybe she really can help The others still looked uneasy , but in the end , they nodded .

Mandy red or tocheck Graces injuries , but she shook her head .

Im fine .

Fine ? Not a chance .

Her entire back was probably bruised The Grace had already pulled back the flap of a tent belonging to some of the younger farmers and stepped inside , issing instructions as she went .

Send a message to every single customer who placed an order , she told Mandy .

Tell them personally inspected the orchards and found that Northbrook apples are sweeter .

Were switching the shipment to Northbrook apples .

If theyre okay with that , well ship .

If not , they can request a refund .

Mandy frowned Why send that message ? Weve got over to thousand orders lined up .

If we just ship them out , no one will know the difference between Southbrook and Northbrook apples .

We could sell over 20 thousand pounds in an instant .

Besides , Northbrook apples taste great anyway .

Grace caught sight of the younger farmers , whose faces were burning with anger .

She quickly cur Mandy off .

For the people of Northbrook , slapping a Southbrook label on their apples is an it .

Back then , Southbrook treated them like outcasts , pushing them our of the circle of prosperity like a bunch of bandes .

And now if they let their apples ride on Southbrooks reputation , its no different than groveling Like they said , theyd rather let their apples for on the ground .

Some people in this would clung stubbornly to their principles , no matter the cost just liker the people of Northbrook .

Their elders never bowed their heads .

Naturally , neither would the younger generation .

That unyielding pride ran through their veins .

Some might call them foolish , but having a code to live by wasnt such a bad thing .

At least they werent like the people of Southbrook , who repaid kindness with betrayal .

The young farmers beside them lit up at Graces words .

Exactly ! My mom always said we should never ride on Southbrooks cortails .

You have no idea how disgusting they were decades ago .

People died because of them .

Even our most respected His voice choked up .

The chief was killed .

My mom was only a teenager back then .

She always said he was a highly educated man from a top university .

But instead of chasing a cushy city job , he chose to come here , determined to help us build a better life .

It was his idea to start growing apples in the first place .

Back then , Brookfield wasnt split to Southbrook and Northbrook yer .

But then a Southbrook official took all the credit for the apple industry and kept getting promoted , rank after rank Everyone was furious and wanted to set the record straight , but the chief told them to let it go .noveldrama

As long as people could make a living , that was all that mattered .

But soon after , Southbrook completely shut us out .

They blacklisted our apples .

The chief went to negotiate for our rights , but before the meeting even started , he was beaten to death with arake .

Southbrooks government paid his family a measly 300 bucks in compensation .

Three hundred dollars .

That was the price they put on a mans life a man who had given up everything for his people .

Only now did Grace truly understand how Northbrook hadendured all these years .

How could the older generation ever let go of such a grudge ! The young man wiped his eyes .

The chief was only in his 20s back then .

With his background , he couldve lived like a king in the city .

wa rock and This flanele , who was still in the city when she got the news , jumped in her car and drove straight to Southbrook , determined to take him home .

Bet on the way , someone thera shattered her windshield .

She crashed and died too .

Graces fingers curled tighter around the apple in her hand .

Even her breathing felt heavy .

Mandy couldnt hold back anymore , and her face was red with rage .

e you kidding me ? What kind of monsters are they ? Did the murderer at least get the death penalty ? The young man lowered his eyes , pressing his lips ingethe .

They were 10 years old .

Twelve years old .

Achild that age was still was still too young to face real punishment .

They wouldve just been sent to juvenile reform .

Mandy trembled , her chest heaving with fury .

Then , the suddenly realized she had suggested repackaging Northbrook apples as Southbrooks just moments ago .

Shame burned through her .

Im sorry I didnt know .