PopularNovelChapter 45 Citrine could feel the air around Raymond growing colder, bit by bit.
In this moment, it was as if they'd been transported back to their very first encounter-strangers to the core, each harboring nothing but suspicion and the worst intentions toward the other.
That felt right, somehow.
A faint, sardonic smile tugged at Citrine's lips.
Warm, sentimental family moments were never her forte; scenes like this were better left to seasoned performers like Jeanette.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtRaymond, for his part, felt a knot tightening in his chest-he was completely at a loss for the first time. He couldn't begin to guess what was running through the girl's mind, but he knew one thing: this little troublemaker in front of him was just a prickly hedgehog desperate for affection.
He scoffed, shifting uncomfortably. "Kid, don't forget-you're officially part of the Carmichael family now. I'm your father." "What could I possibly want from you?" he went on, voice gruff but not unkind. "I have everything I could ever need. I'm certainly not scheming against a scrappy kid like you." Even if he was out of his depth, Raymond had no intention of stripping away her defenses by force. Someday, he believed, she'd let her guard down on her own.
Citrine stared at Raymond in quiet surprise.
Wasn't he supposed to be cold and dismissive? Wasn't that how he always acted around her? Her eyes went wide and round, her whole body frozen like a startled penguin- adorable, though she'd never admit it.
Raymond reached out and gave her fluffy hair a firm ruffle, chuckling. "Kids are supposed to act like kids. Don't overthink things. The more you worry, the less lovable you become." "I'm not a kid," Citrine grumbled, turning away with a pout. She certainly didn't care about being cute.
But in spite of herself, Raymond's words swept away the gloom that had been hanging over her.
Suddenly, Citrine remembered something and asked, "By the way, were you the one who got the trending story taken down?" If her grandfather hadn't done it, maybe Raymond was involved.
Raymond nodded. "Yeah, that was me." Citrine regarded him seriously. "Could you let it stay up for a few more days?" Taking the story down so quickly only made things easier for whoever was pulling strings behind the scenes. Raymond caught her meaning with a single glance. Without hesitation, he agreed.
On the drive home, Raymond's phone rang several times, but he declined every call without a second thought. The caller was persistent, though, dialing again and again without giving up.
Just as Raymond was about to switch off his phone, Citrine's clear, inquisitive voice cut through the silence. "Aren't you going to answer? What if it's something important?" She stared at his phone with open curiosity.
"It's nothing important," Raymond replied, his gaze hardening as he glanced at the familiar number flashing on the screen.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Something crossed his mind, and his expression suddenly steeled. "Citrine, tonight is your grandfather's sixtieth birthday. Cwithto the party?" He fixed her with a look, as if waiting for her answer.
"Alright," Citrine agreed, unable to refuse when she saw just how much he wanted her there.
She paused, considering. "Do I need to bring a gift?" "No, I'll take care of that," Raymond assured her.
He frowned, thinking of his father and the rest of the Carmichael clan and their usual theatrics.
After a moment's hesitation, he decided to warn her. "TheCarmichaels are...complicated. My father's got a nasty temper. Just stick close towhen we're there."
"And steer clear of Manley and Travis Carmichael," he added, his brow brown furrowing at the mention of father and son. They're both a couple of lunatics. I'd rather they not scare you." Citrine had no idea what kind of mess she was walking into, but she still nodded her agreement.
That evening, Raymond went out of his way to hire a styling team just for her.
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
