Although the old Warren household had lived in Russet Village for generations, they weren't the sort of family to favor sons over daughters. Thus, the entire family doted on the child while she was still in the womb.
Even though she was born a girl, she was still deeply cherished. The family even paid to send both children to the village school together.
The two children grew up together, practically childhood sweethearts. Though no one said it aloud, they all knew in their hearts that the two shared no blood relation.
They just never imagined that these two children would later develop a different kind of affection for each other.
Logically, since the two of them had no blood ties, such a thing happening wasn't all that serious.
But everyone in the old Warren household treated Howard Warren as if he were their own flesh-and-blood son. They even secretly scrimped and saved, putting aside a nest egg for him to find a wife.
