NovelUSAChapter 421 Citrine's lips curled into a sly, almost mocking smile as she looked at him, her words sharp and venomous. "Forgive you? Sure-if Kali just dropped dead." Hastings recoiled, genuinely stunned by her cruelty. "You... you hate Kali that much?" She held his gaze in silence for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "Relax. I'm just kidding." Rolling her eyes in open exasperation, she waved him off. "Just go already. If you keep pestering me, I'll only end up despising you more." It was obvious now-Citrine couldn't even be bothered to pretend with Hastings anymore.
Whatever hint of warmth had been on his face vanished, replaced by a cold, stormy expression.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Citrine Carmichael, are you just messing with me?" His eyes hardened, an edge of menace flickering there. She shrugged, utterly indifferent. "And if I am?" How ridiculous, he thought bitterly. He was the only son of the powerful Crestwood Cooper family, a man with influence and status-yet here he was, being toyed with by a woman.
Hastings' jaw tightened, his whole body tense and trembling with fury. "You really think you can treatlike this? Aren't you afraid I'll pay you back for it?" Citrine arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "You? Would you really?" She knew full well he wouldn't dare lay a finger on her. That was exactly why she could be so brazen. Hastings let out a strangled, incredulous laugh, his jaw working as he glared at her with a flash of something almost feral. "Why are you so sure I won't?" "Because you're in love with me." She flashed him a wicked grin. "Loyal dogs don't bite their owner." That was enough for her. Citrine stifled a yawn, her patience clearly running out. "Enough. Don't followanymore." Without waiting for a reply, she turned and strode away, making it clear she was done with him. Hastings' face changed in an instant. For the first time, a cold, unfamiliar fear twisted in his chest. Her indifference was absolute-so complete it chilled him to the bone. For the first time, panic crept in. Right then, he realized Citrine might truly be finished with him.
Eyes rimmed red, Hastings stared helplessly at her retreating figure, on the verge of falling apart.
He shouted after her, his voice cracking, "Why... why are you doing this to me?" Citrine stopped in her tracks. Why? She'd asked him the squestion once before.
It was three years into her relationship with Theo. He'd wanted her to meet Hastings and Quentin, his two brothers.
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She remembered it vividly-the first tshe'd met them, she'd com bearing thoughtful gifts. But before she could even hand them out, she'd received a "surprise" that had been carefully planned by those two. Theo had made a reservation at a fancy restaurant, and the place was packed with Crestwood's young elite.
Then, without warning, Theo claimed he had urgent business at the office and left. Hastings and his crew had ushered her to the seat of honor, treating her with such exaggerated respect that she let her guard down completely. When they toasted her, she didn't hesitate to drink. A few glasses later, she was dizzy and weak, barely able to stand.
She had a vague memory of hands grabbing her, dragging her into a cramped private room. After that, everything went black.
She woke up the next morning, sprawled on the icy tile floor. Blinking awake, she found Hastings and Quentin standing over her, arms crossed, looking down with sneering contempt.
Hastings' eyes burned with disgust as he spat, "Just a nobody from the Iverson family, and you dare upset our precious Kali?"
Quentin snorted, echoing the sentiment. "Yeah, an orphan with no family-if I wanted to no one anted to get rid of you, would even notice. If you weren't Theo's girlfriend, last night would've ended a whole lot worse for you."
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