The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 189

At nine in the morning, Travis was still fast asleep.

Citrine glanced at the clock, then decided to head upstairs and check on him.

His bedroom door was half open, the curtains still drawn, leaving the room in a muted gloom. Through the gap, Citrine could see Travis sprawled across the bed, arms and legs spread out.

Seeing he was still out cold, Citrine knocked gently on the door.

"Don't bother me," Travis grumbled, rolling over without even opening his eyes, clearly in no mood to be disturbed.

Citrine sighed. With a resigned shake of her head, she pushed the door open and walked straight in, crouching beside his bed.

"Time to get up, big brother," she called softly, her voice gentle but clear.

The moment her words registered, Travis's eyes snapped open. He shot upright, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he squinted at the phone on his nightstand. Guilt flashed across his face. "Sorry, Citrine. I overslept."

He'd stayed up way too late gaming last night, and the realization that his little sister had been waiting on him made him mentally kick himself.

"I'll wait for you downstairs. Come

closed the door behind her as

few minutes later, Travis trudged

just

through the windows. It struck him as surreal. For the past five years-ever since his dad hurt his leg-the house had been sealed in perpetual twilight, heavy curtains drawn tight year- round, even at lunchtime with all the lights switched on. Not a single ray of sunlight had been

dad at the breakfast

was actually

to Citrine, eyeing Manley as if he'd seen a ghost. "Wait...

just flip upside down? As far back as he could remember, Manley never touched

problem?" Manley shot Travis a frosty glance, clearly in no mood

no problem." Travis shrank under his father's gaze, suddenly eager to keep his head down. For the

He ate in silence.

"Hey, Sylvan and the others messaged-they want to come over

a wary glance at Manley,

cut him off. "If they want to come, let them. We've