NovelXXXChapter 336 This guy seemed to have a thing for her.
The moment Hastings heard her words, he practically exploded. "What nonsense are you spouting? Why would I be jealous over you? You stole Kali's guy, if anything, I can't stand you!" Citrine just curled her lips into a half-smile, looking at him with mock sympathy. "That's for the best. Whatever you do, don't fall for me. Trust me, anyone who does ends up miserable." It was as if Hastings had been jabbed with a live wire his face twisted in annoyance. "Don't flatter yourself. I already like someone else." Deep down, he reminded himself: There's no way I'd ever like this brat. Kali's the only one I've ever cared about. "Good." Citrine's voice was cool and indifferent. With that, she pressed the accelerator and picked up the pace. By the tthey hit the five-mile mark, people were already dropping behind.
One of the team members, absolutely wiped out, just collapsed on the roadside and refused to budge.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Get up," Hastings hissed, glancing up to make sure Citrine hadn't noticed. Seeing she was busy with the lead vehicle, he leaned down and tried to haul the guy to his feet.
The exhausted man wiped sweat from his brow, gulping air. "I can't do it, Captain. I'm spent." A few more stragglers stumbled up, then flopped down in the dirt, too tired to care. "I'm out too, Captain. No way I'm running another step." "She's going to kill us with this pace," someone groaned. "That girl's insane." "What has she ever done to earn the right to boss us around from the front seat? If she's so tough, she should be out here running with us," another chimed in resentfully.
"All talk, no real skill-just a bunch of ridiculous ideas. She's a demon, I swear, she'll be the death of me." Hastings snapped, his tone icy as he barked, "Enough. All of you, cut it out." He looked down at the slumped figures, frustration clear in his voice. "Those of you still standing, help carry the gear for the ones who can't keep up. Today we have to finish this ten-mile run-no excuses. If we don't, no one's ever going to take us seriously." The last thing he wanted was to be humiliated in front of that infuriating girl.
With that, he ordered, "Move out. Keep running." "Yes, sir!" the group answered in unison.
Citrine's orders they could ignore if they chose, but Hastings was their captain. His word carried weight-there was no ignoring that.
They might tune out Instructor Carmichael, but when Hastings gave a command, they listened.
With teammates helping share the load, even the most exhausted among them found a second wind, and their steps grew lighter as they pressed on.
By the tthe whole group staggered across the finish line, dead on their feet and desperate for a break, Citrine suddenly blew her whistle.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHer eyes were cold as she surveyed them, her voice sharp and commanding. "Line up!" There wasn't a trace of a smile in her eyes. Her gaze was cutting, her presence enough to make even the most rebellious among them stand straight.
Citrine spoke in a tone that brooked no argument. "Everyone-one thousand push-ups. Hastings, you'll do two thousand."
"What? That's not fair! We finished within the tlimit, no one dropped no out-why are you punishing us?" Hastings shot back, convinced she was targeting him on purpose.
Citrine just scoffed, not bothering to spare anyone's pride. "You call letting your teammates hall your pack for you teamwork? What are you going to do in battle -make someone else carry your load because you're tired?" She fixed Hastings with an unflinching stare and said coldly, "You're the one who needs this lesson most. This was your bright idea."
"You think you helped your team, but all you did was hold them back. Tell me, Hastings are you going to do this this on the battlefield, too? If not, then stop acting like you're doing them a favor."
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