RedNovelChapter 109 The Carmichael Group was CICI Group's ideal partner, and both Raymond and Carlotta knew it all too well. With Carlotta also aware of Citrine's true identity, it took them barely five minutes to hammer out the details and seal the deal.
Citrine, however, didn't participate in the negotiations. Propping her head on her hand, she drifted off, lost in thought over whether she should buy out the Iverson family if their business went under. She was so absorbed that she didn't even notice the meeting had ended until Raymond called her nseveral times, snapping her back to reality.
Noticing the furrow in her brow, Raymond asked, "What's on your mind?" She looked at him, her tone calm. "I was thinking about the Iverson family." Raymond paused, surprised. Citrine was young, and even if she'd cut ties with the Iversons, he imagined she couldn't be entirely indifferent. As he was searching for comforting words, she continued, "I'm wondering when the Iverson family will finally go bankrupt." Raymond blinked, taken aback. "Do you really want to see them go under?" The bitterness in her voice hinted at deep resentment.
She met his gaze and answered earnestly, "Absolutely." The Iversons' company, she reasoned, would make a perfect branch office for CICI Group in Havencrest.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtBut after a moment, she added, "But now's not the time." If they went bankrupt now, it would be letting them off too easily.
Raymond's expression darkened, his eyes impenetrable.
What on earth had the Iverson family done to her? If all they'd done was slander her and send her abroad, surely that wasn't enough to warrant this level of hatred. There had to be something else, something he didn't know.
Suddenly, a memory from that day's hypnosis session flashed in his mind-the vivid, unsettling vision that felt less like a dream and more like a memory. Every the recalled it, a chill ran down his spine. It was all too real. Just then, Weston approached, taking a sleek black box from a bodyguard and handing it to Citrine. "For you a little welcgift," the old man said, his usual sternness softened by a hint of awkwardness. "Thank you." Citrine smiled politely and accepted the box.
She understood that Weston was expressing both gratitude and a quiet apology for the past. He had never actually harmed her, and she saw no reason to hold a grudge.
It was the first tRaymond had seen his father go out of his way to be kind to someone, and he couldn't hide his surprise.
"Go on, open it," Weston encouraged, a rare warmth flickering across his usually severe face.
Citrine glanced at him and opened the box right there.
Inside lay a jade bracelet, luminous and beautiful—a piece that clearly carried both value and meaning.
"It's stunning," Citrine said sincerely.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"You have a good eye," Weston replied, unable to hide his pride.
"Dad, is this the bracelet you once bought for Aunt Margaret?" Raymond's shock was unmistakable.
Years ago, Weston had been close to his older sister. He had spent millions at auction for this very bracelet,m intending to give it to her. But before he could, she passed away, leaving him with lifelong regret. The fact that he was now giving it to Citrine was proof enough of how much he valued her. As they left, Weston pulled Raymond aside and said, "Remember to bring your daughter to the family estate next Friday." He gave Citrine a final look before climbing into his car.
By May, the weather was starting to turn warm.
Havencrest Preparatory Academy was once again holding its monthly exams, and, unsurprisingly, Citrine took first place with a record-breaking score of 749, beating the runner-up by more than twenty points-the highest score in the school's history.
What truly shocked everyone, though, was that Jeanette, the former top student, failed not only to hol@drito first place but even dropped out of the top ten, landing all the way down at twentieth. Alicia also slipped, barely making it into the top fifteen. During Monday's awards ceremony, Citrine stood on stage, basking in the school's praise.
Down below, Jeanette sat pale and rigid, glaring up at Citrine with bitter envy, clutching her pen so tightly she nearly snapped it in two.
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
