Chapter 16

Citrine's arrival in his life had been completely unexpected.

And for Raymond, that surprise came with a tangle of emotions he could scarcely unravel.

When Citrine first came to him, he hadn't believed her claims. Only after the DNA test confirmed she was indeed his biological daughter did he force himself to accept the truth-however much it unsettled him.

But now, as he watched her, Raymond finally realized just how much he owed this girl.

He had brought her into the world, yet failed utterly to protect her.

That afternoon, when school let out at five, Citrine was wandering the curb, scanning for the Carmichael family's car, when she suddenly spotted a familiar black Phantom idling nearby.

"Don't bother looking-there's no driver today," Raymond called, striding over with his long, purposeful steps as he climbed out of the car.

Citrine stared, wide-eyed, as he approached her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, the question lingering in her mind though she kept her face carefully neutral.

He had taken her out for dinner once before, but Citrine never really believed Raymond wanted to pick her up from school, not after how obviously reluctant he'd been to acknowledge her at first.

be free," Raymond

accepting his explanation without

were both in the car, Raymond broke the silence. "We're going to get your

up his mind about this before he

his sudden concern.

"Why?"

well how hard he had resisted accepting

encounter, and for a brief second,

didn't realize you were really my daughter

what he was getting

thinking of how she might have struggled in the

Citrine shook her head.

been Citrine all her life. There was

assumed she must still feel some attachment to

reached the appropriate office, Raymond handled all the paperwork with brisk

watched as her new details were added-her own page now filed

this time, she wasn't just

She was Citrine Carmichael.

drive her straight back to the Carmichael house-

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255