The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 187

After Zelda dropped off the first aid kit, she quietly slipped away, leaving only Citrine and Manley alone together in the pitch-dark garden.

With gentle care, Citrine dipped a cotton swab into the antiseptic and dabbed it softly onto Manley's injured palm. He could feel the faint sting where the medicine touched his skin.

Since his accident, hope had all but vanished from Manley's life. He ate at odd hours, neglected his health, and, more than once, had turned his frustration inward in self-destructive ways. It had been ages since he'd truly taken care of himself, so it caught him off guard to realize that someone was actually worried about a trivial wound on his hand.

For the first time in a long while, Manley felt a flicker of warmth.

"Does it hurt?" Citrine asked, noticing the way he was watching her, her brows knit in worry. She seemed genuinely concerned.

Manley shook his head. "It doesn't hurt."

he owned, poured out all the

secretly wishing he could claim her

before: "Stay away from your uncle-he's not a good man." But from the very start, Citrine had sensed that Manley was different with her. There was a fondness in him, something that set her at ease every

gave Citrine a sudden burst of courage. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous thought, and she looked up at Manley. "Uncle, do you

gaze darkened. He wasn't sure why she'd asked, but he

for a moment, then pressed on, "So why won't you open the curtains in your room? Wouldn't

nice to

quickly as it appeared. He dropped his gaze, pain flickering in his eyes. After a long pause, he finally managed, "Even if the sun shines in,

light- literally and figuratively. He'd spent the past five years holed up in this shadowy

try, how can you be sure you'll never see the light again?" Citrine grinned, and with a sudden burst of energy-grabbed the