NovelXXXChapter 603 Hearing what the Carmichaels and Hilda said, Citrine felt a sudden ache in her chest-a deep, unfamiliar sting.
She remembered how she used to be: always guarded, suspicious, never willing to trust anyone completely. But now, standing on the knife-edge between life and death, seeing so many people willing to risk everything just so she could live, Citrine realized at last- they truly loved her.
She was no longer spitiful, unloved orphan. In this life, she had parents and family who cherished her. She had known so much love-more than she ever imagined possible.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThis warmth, this belonging, was something she'd never tasted in her previous life, not even as she lay dying. To think she'd finally found it now.
Citrine stood frozen, unable to move. Talbot's patience was wearing thin; he frowned irritably and called out in a warning tone, "Citrine Carmichael, you know who these men in camouflage are, don't you? They're mercenaries I hired from overseas. You've seen what they're capable of." He gestured sharply toward the building across the street. "Take a look." Citrine followed his gaze, her heart sinking as she understood.
Talbot gave a chilling smile. "I have snipers stationed over there. If you try anything, all it takes is a twitch of their finger and you'll have a bullet in your skull." He fixed his eyes on her. "Self-preservation is human nature. Look, none of them blyou. Pull the trigger." "If they die, you get to walk away alive." His voice was low, coaxing, as if tempting her to reach for survival at any cost.
People are fundamentally selfish, he thought. When it comes down to it, anyone will do whatever it takes to survive-even if it means turning a gun on their own loved ones.
This, he believed, was the core of human nature.
Talbot, who prided himself on a lifetof manipulating people, was confident that Citrine wouldn't do anything so contrary to instinct now.
Citrine stared at the building across the street. Her instincts were razor-sharp; she'd already pinpointed the sniper's nest after just one glance.
She began silently counting down in her mind.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmTalbot's remaining patience evaporated. His tone turned threatening. "Citrine Carmichael, if you don't start moving, the sniper's next target will be your head." At the mention of snipers, Hilda panicked. All sense of propriety vanished as she screamed, voice raw and desperate, "Citrine, do it! Please, honey, I can't lose you-shoot!" Raymond's heart clenched. He urged her on, "Citrine, pull the trigger. If you're scared, just close your eyes." Weston spoke up gruffly, "Con, kid, do it. I'm not afraid to die. Even if I'm gone, I'll watch over you, like I always have." Manley called out, "Don't be afraid, Citrine. None of us will blyou. You're carrying all of us forward-live for our sakes." Travis's voice cracked. "Citrine, I'm sorry. I should have protected you. Go ahead and shoot, sis. I'm not afraid of pain." Tears burned in Citrine's eyes as she tightened her grip on the gun.
Just as Talbot opened his mouth to speak, Theo Glenwood, unable to stay silent any longer, suddenly leapt to his feet and shouted at Talbot: "That's enough! Just let them send us abroad-end this madness!"
"Abroad?" Talbot snorted, as if Theo had just told a joke. You think we'd be any better off in another country?" Theo shot back, "It's better than staying here and becoming murderers!"
Talbot lit a cigar with deliberate slowness, his tone almost gentle. "Last night I made scalls. Did you know Citrine is the real owner behind the Vindis Medical Institute in the Federated States of Magnolia? She has deep ties with the Opus Rare Collective and the JR Group. If we run to Magnolia, we'll be lambs to the slaughter. Do you really think we'd have a happy ending?"
He scoffed, his eyes cold. "We'd barely set foot in Magnolia before we'd be thrown in a cell if we're lucky N We wouldn't even know how we died. The Magnolia route was blocked long ago." Theo frowned. "We don't have to go to Magnolia." Talbot laughed, shaking his head. "You poor fool. You really think Citrine Carmichael's reach ends in Magnolia?"
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