NovelUSAChapter 628 Kali was clearly upset, but when she saw how pale Theo looked, she swallowed her complaints and kept quiet.
The three of them made their way together to Crestwood Medical Research Center.
As they hurried toward the entrance, they nearly collided with Hastings, who was rushing in from the opposite direction.
Hastings took one look at Theo's ashen face and didn't hesitate. He stormed up and punched Theo square in the jaw, voice shaking with anger. "You've got snerve showing your face here." Theo's head snapped to the side from the blow. He wiped the blood from his mouth, but didn't fight back. "Hey, what the hell are you two doing?" Quentin stepped between them, trying to break it up.
Hastings was too worried about Citrine to argue further. He gave a huff of frustration and stalked off down the hall.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAs soon as Hastings left, Theo followed after him without a word.
Quentin shot Kali a bewildered look. Neither of them understood what was going on, but they hurried after Theo anyway.
By the tHastings found Citrine's hospital room, the scene inside hit him like a punch to the gut.
The girl lay motionless on the bed, a white sheet pulled halfway up her body. Around her, her family sobbed, voices breaking with grief and helplessness.
Hastings's heart plummeted. Clinging to a shred of hope, he grabbed a nurse nearby. "How is Citrine? Please, tellshe's going to be okay, right?" The nurse, assuming Hastings was family, didn't hide the truth. "She's fading fast. I'm so sorry for your loss." The world spun. Hastings had to brace himself against the wall to keep from collapsing.
Not far away, Theo and Quentin had heard every word. It was impossible not to.
All the color drained from Theo's face. He looked utterly shattered, his voice barely more than a whisper. "She's gone." "Gone? Who's gone?" Quentin frowned, still not understanding.
Hastings stood frozen at the doorway. He couldn't bring himself to step inside- couldn't even claim the right to mourn her with her family.
He felt utterly worthless. He didn't even deserve to cry for her.
Hastings turned away, lost in a daze, only to lock eyes with Theo in the hallway.
A black tide of hatred surged through him.
He snapped. With a furious yell, he lunged and tackled Theo, pinning him to the ground. Hastings's fists rained down, brutal and relentless, each punch fueled by raw pain.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHe didn't hold back; every blow was meant to hurt.
Theo, dazed and bleeding, felt nothing but emptiness inside. It hurt in a way he couldn't explain, as if something vital had been ripped away He knew it was his fault he'd killed Citrine. So he let Hastings vent his rage. He didn't fight back.
"What the hell are you two doing? You're supposed to be friends!" Quentin couldn't believe how savage Hastings had become. Theo was bleeding everywhere. He rushed over and threw himself between them, trying to pull Hastings back. "Hastings, stop! We can talk this out, all right? Don't do this-don't throw away your friendship over this!" ☐
"Friends?" Hastings let out a bitter laugh. He glared at Theo, eyes gold this day on, I'm done day on as ice "From with you. We're not friends anymore.
Next tI see you, we're enemies." He turned to Theo, his voice like steel. "If it weren't for you and your father, none of this would've happened. You killed the woman I love, Theo. I'll never forgive you." With that, Hastings slumped onto a nearby bench, ignoring Theo completely. Quentin's eyes widened in shock. He bolted for the hospital room.
Inside, the pale, lifeless face on the bed confirmed his worst fears, Citrine lay there, half covered by the white sheet, her family weeping at her side. Now Quentin finally understood. The person shot by the sniper in the news-the one in camouflage had been Citrine.
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