NovelEndChapter 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.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFor the first tin 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." In that moment, he couldn't help but envy Raymond. How could someone be so lucky-owning a successful company, and having such an adorable daughter? Why couldn't Citrine have been his child? If she were, he would have given her everything he owned, poured out all the love in his heart for her alone. Whatever she wanted, he'd find a way to give it to her-even things he didn't have, he'd fight to the ends of the earth to obtain for her.
Of course, Citrine had no idea Manley was secretly wishing he could claim her as his own daughter.
Raymond had warned 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 tthey met.
Realizing this gave Citrine a sudden burst of courage. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous thought, and she looked up at Manley. "Uncle, do you like the nighttime?" "Not really." Manley's gaze darkened. He wasn't sure why she'd asked, but he shook his head anyway.
She pretended to ponder for a moment, then pressed on, "So why won't you open the curtains in your room? Wouldn't it be nice to let a little sunshine in?" Wouldn't it be nice to let the light in? Her words made Manley's heart tremble, but the hope flickered out almost as 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, I still can't see it." Ever since the accident had left him disabled, Manley had lost sight of the light- literally and figuratively. He'd spent the past five years holed up in this shadowy mansion, shutting himself off from the world.
"If you never try, how can you be sure you'll never see the light again?" Citrine grinned, and with a sudden burst of energy-grabbed the remote from the table and pressed a button.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmThe heavy drapes slid open, flooding the room with golden sunlight. Warm rays spilled through the windows, bathing them both.
Manley instinctively squeezed his eyes shut and raised his hand to shield himself from the brightness.
"Uncle Manley, don't be difficult," Citrine teased. Her der words sounded like a scolding, but there was no real reproach in her tone.
Even after she'd pulled this little stunt, Manley wasn't angry-if anything, Citrine could finally be sure that her uncle's fondness for her went beyond simple affection. He doted on her, perhaps even spoiled her a little. A playful smile curved on Citrine's lips. "Uncle, con-open your eyes. Isn't the sunlight beautiful?"
She gently tugged his hand away from his face, coaxing him to look.
Reluctantly, Manley let his eyes om to thad flutter open. It had been so long since he'd seen the sun-even when he left the house, he always wore dark sunglasses. Now, exposed to the light, he found himself blinking in discomfort, not quite used to the brightness but unable to look away.
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