The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 237

Citrine lay perfectly still, eyes closed, pretending to be asleep. She could feel Raymond's gentle hand carefully wiping her face, each stroke so light it tickled, making her expression shift ever so slightly despite her efforts.

Eventually, she couldn't keep up the act. With a reluctant sigh, she slowly opened

her eyes.

"Raymond, stop it. That tickles," she said, staring straight at him, her brow

furrowing.

Raymond smiled, putting the washcloth aside before settling softly on the edge of the hospital bed. "So you're finally awake."

"I wasn't sleeping," Citrine replied coolly, her gaze unreadable.

She searched Raymond's eyes, looking for any trace of irritation or

disappointment. There was none. Instead, all she saw was warmth and a quiet fondness.

gentle. "Are you tired? Do you want to rest a little

even ask why she hadn't answered him, even though she'd clearly been

asked,

nothing you could do that would make me angry." In truth, he'd known she was faking from the

confusion was

said, his tone impossibly gentle as he looked at his innocent little girl. "A father never

he had never once lost his temper with Jeanette

drifting off for a moment. Instead, something else caught his

fingers brushed her skin,

are you doing?" Her voice trembled slightly,

eyes met-hers clear, yet

then explained softly, "Your bandage is loose. I just wanted to fix

afraid of me?"

I have an episode, I don't just hurt myself-I can

it was to protect her, but

his silence, Citrine's lips curled into a faint, almost mocking smile. "When I was abroad, I lost control once and stabbed a classmate in the thigh. The