Chapter 18
Although Citrine never breathed a word about the Iverson family in front of him, the old man knew full well just how cruel they’d been to her.
His concern warmed Citrine’s heart. She hadn’t planned to keep secrets from him, so she simply told her grandfather that she’d cut ties with the Iversons.X
“What?” The old man sprang to his feet, outrage flaring in his eyes. “That Sawyer brat actually dared to treat you like this? 1 ought to wring his neck!”
Spotting the empty table and realizing there was nothing left for him to throw in his anger, Catrine quickly moved to calm him down. She gently patted his back, worried that his fury might get the better of him. “Grandpa, please, don’t get so worked up
She added softly, “I’ve already left the Iversons. And… I found my real father.”
At the first bit of news, her grandfather finally let out a relieved breath. “Good. You’re better off away from those fools. The Iversons never deserved your loyalty.“!!
But then he caught her last words and stiffened, suddenly wary. “Your real father?”
Citrine nodded. “Yes. His name is Raymond.”
The old man ruffled her hair, his expression turning a touch more serious. Listen, sweetheart, if the Carmichaels ever treat you badly, don’t forget you can always come home. As long as I’m here, you’ll always have a place to belong.”
He didn’t try to persuade Citrine to stay. He knew, better than anyone, that she’d made up her mind. After all these years–ofter everything Sawyer had put her through–her longing for love had become an ache that ran deep, a fact he understood only too well.
Even now that she’d found her real father, her grandfather couldn’t help but worry. All he hoped was that the Cormichaels wouldn’t benk her heart the way the Iversons had
Thank you, Grandpa.”
Eyes rimmed red, Citrine threw her arms around his neck. She knew her stubborn old grandfather wished she could stay by his side. The only reason he let her remain in Havencrest was because, in the end, he simply couldn’t stop her!!
Visits like this were rare, so Citrine decided to spend the night. She called the Camichael family’s house manager to let them know in advance.
It wasn’t long before her phone buzzed with a string of unfamiliar numbers. Citrine glanced at the screen and declined the call. But the same number rang again moments later. This time, she answered.!!
“Where are you?” The man’s voice was calm, but underneath there was a flicker of anxiety
Citrine recognized Raymond’s tone and froze in surprise. How did he get her number? Was he actually worried about her? No, that couldn’t be, she told herself, quickly dismissing the thought. After a long pause, she replied, “I had some things to take care of tonight. I won’t be coming home
She hesitated, then added, “1 already told Ismael”
But she never really answered Raymond’s question.
Meanwhile, the Carmichael house was eerily quiet. Raymond sat alone on the sofa, feeling strangely unsettled in the empty silence. For the past week, every time he came home he’d find Citrine curled up in the living room watching TV, or he’d see the glow of her bedroom light upstairs.
Tonight, for the first time, the house was dark and utterly silent. The emptiness unnerved him more than he cared to admit
That was why he called.
When he realized Citrine wasn’t going to answer his question, Raymond felt an odd sense of disappointment–along with a trace of worry he didn’t fully recognize.
After a long silence, just as Citrine was about to hang up, he spoke again. “When am you coming back?”
“Tomorrow”
No more words were exchanged. After a moment, Citrine ended the call.
Suddenly, she thought back to her days living with the Iversons. Sawyer was rarely home. Even if she disappeared for a week, nobody would bother to check on her.
No one had ever cared whether she lived or died.!!
Shed gotten used to it !!
