MainNovelChapter 207 Night had fallen deep and heavy.
Citrine had just finished her nighttroutine and was about to crawl into bed when her phone suddenly lit up with a call from Amelia.
A call at this hour couldn't be for anything trivial.
Without hesitation, Citrine answered, an edge of worry in her voice. "Hey, Amy, is everything okay? Did something happen?" Just hearing Citrine's voice made Amelia's eyes sting with tears, her reply shaky and thick with emotion.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe sniffled. "Citrine, I... I ran out of the house. I just couldn't stay." "I'm not feeling great." "Amy, where are you right now?" Sensing something was seriously wrong, Citrine's tone turned urgent.
It took Amelia a moment to answer. "I'm at the downtown park." Citrine quickly soothed her friend before saying firmly, "Stay where you are. I'm coming to get you." She hung up, threw a light jacket over her pajamas, slipped on a pair of flats, and rushed out the door without a second thought.
Her heart was pounding the entire drive.
Luckily, the Carmichael family estate wasn't far from the city park. In no time, she arrived.
Citrine hopped out of the car and hurried through the park, searching until she finally spotted that familiar figure. Seeing that Amelia was safe, Citrine let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
As Amelia looked up, she caught sight of Citrine-still in pajamas and slippers, hair a little messy, clearly having rushed over as fast as she could.
"Citrine." Amelia's voice trembled as her eyes filled with tears, shimmering in the glow of the streetlights. Truthfully, Amelia had only called because she needed someone to talk to. She never expected Citrine to call the way out, especially so late at night.
"Citrine, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have dragged you out here at this hour," Amelia said, guilt coloring her words. "Don't apologize. We're friends, aren't we?" Citrine, usually so calm and composed, still looked a little rattled. Amelia rarely saw her like this. Realizing that Citrine's panic was all because of her, Amelia felt a warm glow inside a strange sort of happiness.
The temperature in Havencrest dropped sharply after dark, even in the summer. If you didn't throw on a jacket, you'd catch a chill in no time.
Citrine glanced at Amelia's t-shirt and shorts and gently pulled her up from the bench. "Con, it's late. Let's go to my place." When Amelia hesitated, Citrine looked at her, puzzled. "Why aren't you moving?" "Citrine, I... I don't want to be a bother," Amelia stammered, her eyes downcast. Amelia cherished their friendship more than anything-Citrine was her only real friend and she couldn't help but worry she was being a burden.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"You're not a bother. You're my friend. How could you ever be a bother?" Citrine gave her an exasperated look, but her voice was soft and reassuring.
Children who grow up without love are always afraid of troubling others-Citrine knew this all too well. e She and Amelia were so much alike beneath the surface, and she understood Amelia's skittishness and longing for affection.
It wasn't long before they reached the Carmichael family's grand estate. om Amelia gaped at the sprawling mansion, eyes wide in awe. "This place is incredible... it feels like I've just walked into a castle."
She couldn't help it-she'd never seen anything like this before. Sure, she'd always known Citrine was Raymond Carmichael's daughter, and intellectually she understood the Carmichaels were wealthy-but seeing it firsthand was something else entirely. By this hour, the whole house was quiet. Citrine led Amelia up to her room.
Amelia paused at the doorway, glancing at the plush carpet inside, clearly hesitant to step in.
"Con in," Citrine urged, beckoning her forward.
Amelia hung her head and murmured, "My shoes are dirty... I don't want to mess up your carpet." There was a flicker of insecurity in her eyes.
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