NovelXXXChapter 612 "Prepared? Prepared for what? What are you talking about? I don't understand!" Hilda grabbed Nathanael by the collar, her eyes red and brimming with tears that spilled down her cheeks uncontrollably.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtNathanael could tell Hilda understood all too well. He knew just how heartbroken she was, so he only gently pried her trembling hands from his shirt. He didn't have the heart to say those two cruel words out loud. Weston, overhearing this, nearly fainted from shock.
Travis couldn't handle it either. The teenager bolted from the room, finding somewhere to sob in secret. Manley was stunned by how things had unfolded and was racked with guilt.
He spotted Raymond sitting on a bench, looking utterly empty-like a puppet with all the strings cut. Manley slowly walked over and took a seat beside him.
Raymond was so lost in his grief, he didn't even acknowledge Manley's presence. Out of nowhere, Manley spoke. "I'm sorry." His voice was unsteady.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmIf this had happened any other day, Raymond would have been shocked-his proud, stubborn little brother, always at odds with him, suddenly apologizing? He'd have made a biting retort just to keep the upper hand. But now, Raymond couldn't muster the energy to care, or the interest to wonder why Manley was acting so out of character.
Raymond kept silent, so Manley pressed on. "You've always wondered why I care about Citrine. Why I treat her the way I do." Without waiting for a response, Manley went on, "It's because Citrine saved bothand Travis." That caught Raymond's attention. For the first time, his eyes flickered with life as he turned to look at Manley. Manley took the hint and continued. "Five years ago, I was abroad on business. That's when I met Citrine She'd clearly been through hell-she was skin and bones, eyes darting with suspicion, like shalf-wild animal. The first twe met, she was so hungry she tried to steal sbread from a bakery, but the owner caught her and threatened to beat her within an inch of her life. Watching her get hit, I couldn't just stand by, so I paid for the bread and took her back to the estate where I was staying." "She was covered in bruises. For the next few days, I made sure she was cared for Travis and she got along instantly, and I grew attached to her, I too. Just when I thought we'd becclose, I offered to bring her hwith us. She agreed. But the next morning, she was S gone-vanished without a trace. That's when I realized she'd never truly trusted us. After she left, Travis and I were both devastated."
"It wasn't until two years later that we I saw her again. Travis and I had been taken hostage by a criminal gang in Magnolia, and Citrine was the rescue team's leader." "I recognized her instantly, but she didn't recognize me." "During the rescue, someone fired at
me. Citrine threw herself in front ofand took the bullet-straight through her chest. The medics. rushed her away, and Travis and 'm I were brought safely home. We never saw her after that. I searched for her, but no matter how hard tried, I couldn't find a single trace. Until you brought her back to the Carmichael family."
Manley looked at Raymond, his expression heavy with remorse. "Raymond, I'm sorry. I should have recognized Citrinel the first twe met and brought her hto the Carmichaels. And I'm sorry. If she hadn't shieldedfrom that bullet, she wouldn't have..." His voice broke, unable to finish the sentence.
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