NovelUSAChapter 602 With guilt weighing on his conscience, Manley said softly, "Citrine, I should have recognized you sooner. I'm so sorry." He looked her in the eyes. "Do it, Citrine. Pull the trigger if you have to. I won't blyou. In fact, I'd be glad—if it means you survive, that's all that matters to me." Maybe the others didn't quite understand what Manley was saying, but Citrine did. When she'd first escaped from Mirage Cay and fled overseas, her days were filled with fear and hiding, barely scraping by, never knowing where her next meal would cfrom. She still remembered the day she was caught stealing bread from a café- Manley was the one who'd saved her then.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe memory made her eyes sting as she looked around at everyone.
Weston spoke up as well. "Citrine, it's the Carmichael family who owes you an apology. And I owe you one most of all. When you first returned, I should've treated you better. I was wrong, and I'm sorry for it." He shot a contemptuous glare at Talbot, but when he turned to Citrine, his expression softened, full of grandfatherly affection. "Listen, sweetheart, I've lived long enough-more than enough, really. My life isn't worth much anymore. If trading it could keep my granddaughter alive, I'd do it without a second thought. So, kiddo, don't hesitate." Even though Travis was still young, Carmichael blood ran strong in his veins- fearless and unyielding.
"As long as you're alive, Citrine, that's all I care about," he said, voice steady.
As he finished, Travis spat at Talbot's feet and snarled, "Con, old man-if you want to kill someone, kill me!" In that moment, the Carmichaels stood united-there wasn't a single hint of hesitation among them.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmTalbot had expected to see the family turn on each other, but instead he found them unbreakably loyal. Every single one of them was ready to die for this stubborn girl.
With a slow, mocking clap, Talbot sneered, "Well, well. I never thought I'd see such ironclad resolve from the Carmichaels." He fixed his gaze on Manley and Weston, a smirk curling his lips. "Weston, if I'm not mistaken, Travis is your grandson. You'd really just stand by and watch him die?" "And you, Manley-Travis is your own son. Even a wolf won't eat its own cub, but you'd let your boy die for your niece? That's cold. Anyone watching might think Citrine Carmichael was your real daughter." His words were a blatant attempt to sow discord, but the Carmichaels weren't so easily fooled.
Weston only laughed drily. "Travis is my grandson, yes, and a Carmichael through and through. Of course I don't want to see him die, but I'd rather that than watch him cower and beg for his life. He's brave, and I'm proud of him."
Manley didn't even spare Talbot a glance. "Citrine is not just my son's best friend she's the little sister he loves most. I dare for her deeply, but I En love my son too. Today, I'm proud he's willing to protect his sister, and if it comes down to it, I'll die with him. He'll never face that alone."
Travis's chest tightened with emotion. In all his life, he'd never heard his grandfather praise him-or his father, for that matter, express any affection. He'd always thought Weston despised him, and that Manley, his reluctant father, simply didn't care. Only now did he realize how wrong he'd been. They loved him, each in their own way-no less deeply than they loved Citrine, just quieter, weightier.
He glared furiously at Talbot. "Don't even bother trying to turn us against each other Lettell you something: I'd lay down my life for my sister, no matter what. If my grandfather and my dad both askedto do it, I'd do it without regret." He turned to Citrine, his voice fierce but full of love. "My sister is the best in the world. As long as she's safe, nothing else matters to me."
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