Chapter 9

Clifford had spotted Citrine a while ago. Normally, she'd have rushed over, eager to please him; but today, she didn't even spare him a glance.

"Well, look who's grown a backbone," Clifford scoffed under his breath.

He couldn't stop thinking about how, just yesterday, she'd dared to kick him and call him worthless. His face darkened, his mood shifting from irritation to outright anger.

"Oh, Clifford, isn't that your little lapdog over there?" Laird followed Clifford's gaze, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "She's got some nerve now. How come she isn't glued to your side today?"

Gideon cast a fleeting, indifferent glance at Citrine before turning to Jeanette, serving her food with obvious affection.

Gideon and Laird were Clifford's closest friends-they were thick as thieves, practically inseparable. They treated Jeanette, Clifford's younger sister, as if she were a precious gem.

Thinking back to yesterday's humiliation, Clifford simmered with resentment. Hearing his friends mock Citrine, he didn't bother to stop them; in fact, he took a bit of twisted pleasure in it.

Maybe it was time Citrine learned her lesson.

He let out a cold huff. "She deserves to be ignored for a few days. Let her stew in it; she'll come crawling back, begging for forgiveness."

brother, noting his obvious displeasure, and a

with me. Let me go apologize to her," Jeanette said

nothing wrong, Jeanette. She's the one who

you, the real

her hair affectionately, his

reason for you to apologize. She's the one at fault if anyone's apologizing, it should be her,

paused, then added, "Don't worry, Jeanette. Give it a few days-Citrine

long as she comes home, I'll be happy," Jeanette replied, her eyes wide

softened at his thoughtful sister, and

A flicker of malice crossed his

up and strode over to Citrine, looking down at her with a smug

to her feet, her expression icy. She'd never liked how Clifford

and sneered, "And who asked for your opinion? Know

down her fork and, without

was swift-almost too fast to

it. Keep your hands to yourself," she snapped, quietly stepping in front of Amelia, shielding her from Laird's

into silence for a long moment. When he finally found his voice, it was hoarse with rage.

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