NovelXXXChapter 269 Clifford had planned to win this tournament, secure a spot in the World Championships, and only then go find Citrine to apologize.
When they were kids, he'd promised her: one day, he'd make it to the finals, bring hthe trophy, and give it to her.
He never expected to run into her here or that she'd be competing, too.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtDid Citrine even know how to play video games? As far as Clifford could remember, Citrine's whole world had revolved around Sawyer, Norton, and himself. The girl he knew never touched a gcontroller.
This had to be Travis's doing. With SATS right around the corner, those troublemakers from Havencrest Tech had somehow roped Citrine into joining their team. If she ended up neglecting her studies because of them, could they really shoulder that responsibility? Clifford's face darkened. He muttered a quick word to his teammates, then stormed over to Citrine's team's break area, his jaw set.
Travis was in the middle of talking to his team when he spotted Clifford approaching. He looked surprised. "What are you doing over here?" There'd been bad blood between them ever since a dust-up during a basketball game-and Travis had never liked Clifford, especially since he was Citrine's former foster brother and, truth be told, hadn't treated her all that well.
Clifford ignored him, launching straight into a tirade. "Travis, are you out of your mind? You want to screw up your own life, fine, but don't drag Citrine into it. If she falls behind in her studies because of you, are you going to take responsibility?" Travis almost laughed in disbelief. He was nobody's doormat, and his expression turned cold. "Who the hell do you think you are, coming over here and lecturing me? You're just her ex-foster brother. That gives you zero right to talk tolike this." He, on the other hand, was Citrine's actual brother.
At the word 'ex-foster brother,' Clifford's face turned an ugly shade. He shot back, voice low and threatening, "How long have you even known her? Don't forget, before you calong, Citrine was my sister for years." Travis just shrugged. "So what? You're her ex-foster brother. Citrine only recognizesas her brother now." He put extra emphasis on the words 'ex-foster brother,' making sure Clifford felt every syllable.
Before Clifford could retort, Travis cut him off, his tone icy. "Clifford, did you forget how you used to treat Citrine? Seriously, where do you get the nerve to show your face around here? I'm warning you stay the hell away from my sister, or I'll make sure you regret it." He stared Clifford down, his eyes full of wolfish menace.
Clifford didn't back down. His voice was firm. "Citrine and I grew up together. She's my sister, and that's never going to change."
At that moment, Citrine walked up, ticket slip still in hand, just in tto hear him. Without hesitation, she cut in, her voice clear and cold. "I'm not your sister." "Citrine, I'm sorry." Clifford's face went pale. Thinking of all the things he'd done in the past, he suddenly found himself unable to meet her eyes.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Are you feeling alright?" Citrine blinked, thrown. Clifford's favorite pastused to be forcing her to apologize to Jeanette. For someone as self-righteous as him to suddenly apologize... her first thought was that he'd lost his mind.
Clifford managed a bitter smile.
"Citrine, I really am sorry. I know now that it was you who sentthat! e gconsole, you who gave blood for me, you who took care ofwhen I was sick. I'm sorry-I was wrong about you." Ever since learning the truth, memories of his childhood with Citrine kept flooding back. Back then, they were so close that even Jeanette couldn't get between them.
The more he remembered those good times, the more it hurt.
Citrine had no idea how he'd found out the truth-and, frankly, she didn't care.
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