NovelUSAChapter 305 By midday, Citrine's fever had finally broken. The fog in her mind slowly lifted, and as she blinked awake, a familiar silhouette cinto focus.
Raymond? That couldn't be. Wasn't he supposed to be in Havencrest? There was no way he'd be here-she must still be delirious.
But then that unmistakable figure stepped right up to her bedside, the surprise clear in his voice. "Citrine, you're awake! Are you hungry?" It wasn't a dream. She was suddenly, acutely aware of that.
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out, still confused. He was supposed to be in Havencrest-why was he standing in her hospital room? Raymond just sighed, a blend of exasperation and affection in his words. "Silly girl. You're sick. Of course your dad's here to take care of you." When Citrine tried to sit up, he was quick to help, adjusting the bed and arranging the pillows behind her so she'd be comfortable.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"What would you like to eat? I'll go grab it for you." He hadn't seen her for only two days, but Raymond was sure she'd lost weight. The thought tugged at his heart.
"I want beef pie," Citrine said, her voice scratchy and soft. Maybe it was the illness, but she felt unusually vulnerable.
There was something about being sick that stripped away her usual defenses. Hearing her father's gentle fussing, she felt her eyes sting with tears she stubbornly refused to shed.
"Alright," Raymond said, his smile warm and a little proud. He loved fussing over his daughter. "I'll get it for you right now." As soon as he left, Citrine froze. She'd just let her guard down in front of her father-shown him a side of herself she'd never meant to reveal. Why? She was supposed to be unbreakable.
Leaving the Carmichael family and coming to Crestwood for college was her first step toward independence, away from everything she'd known. This was exactly the path she had planned for herself so why didn't it feel right? Why couldn't she summon any happiness? Frowning, she stared blankly out the window, her thoughts tangled.
A few minutes later, Raymond returned with a piping hot beef pie. Citrine hadn't moved-she was still lost in her thoughts, eyes fixed on the world beyond the glass.
He set the food down in front of her, bringing her slowly back to the present. The savory aroma made her stomach rumble.
First things first: she needed to eat.
She took a bite, her eyes going wide with delight. "This is really good," she said, grinning and giving Raymond a thumbs-up.
Seeing her enjoy the meal, Raymond couldn't help but feel happy too. But as he watched his daughter, a pang of melancholy hit him-she'd be at university for four years. Four years of being apart, of seeing her only on rare visits.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmAfter a pause, he spoke up. "Citrine, I've been thinking about moving the company to Crestwood. What do you think?" He'd already made up his mind, really.
Citrine looked startled. She suspected his decision had something to do with her, but she still asked, "Why?"
Raymond didn't bother to hide his intentions. "So I can be closer to you, of course. can't stand the thought of barely seeing you for four years."
Citrine pressed her lips together. She was shocked, maybe even a littlen moved, but she didn't let it show. "Do what you want." Raymond knew his daughter well enough to recognize her brand of stubborn affection. Her words meant she was secretly pleased.
Moving the company was a sudden decision and would take months to pull off, but he was determined.
Citrine's illness had cfast and left just as quickly. By the next m afternoon, she was feeling much better, and the doctor cleared her to go home. Raymond handled her discharge, then took her out for a proper meal before dropping her off at campus.
Before he left, he pressed a set of keys into her hand.
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