NovelEnglishChapter 139 Citrine could tell Clifford was oddly fixated on this, and she couldn't help but find it amusing. "We're family-and related by blood. Why shouldn't I call him my brother?" At that, Travis's expression shifted as something clicked for him. He knew a little about Citrine's background, and since Clifford's surnwas still Iverson, Travis quickly figured out who this guy was.
"So, you're Citrine's old brother?" Travis shot Clifford a cold look, his eyes flashing with a dangerous edge.
Travis had heard plenty about how poorly Citrine was treated by the Iverson family, so he didn't have the slightest affection for anyone from their clan.
Citrine thought for a moment and corrected him, "Not quite. Ex-foster brother, actually." Ex-foster brother, for crying out loud.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSylvan nearly lost it trying to stifle his laughter.
Clifford, on the other hand, practically choked when he heard that. Since when did this brat get so good at getting under his skin? He couldn't be bothered to bicker with her, so he turned his attention to Travis and the group hovering behind him, making no effort to hide the contempt on his face.
"Really, Citrine? You call this sort of guy your brother? Don't you find it embarrassing? Look at the people trailing behind him-they're all rejects from Havencrest Technical College. If you hang around trash like them all day, aren't you worried you'll turn into garbage yourself?" The words landed hard. Sylvan and his friends looked like they'd been slapped, but there was nothing to say- everything Clifford said was true, and they knew it. Travis's pupils shrank; all the color drained from his face. His fists clenched so tightly that his nails bit into his palms, but he didn't even feel the pain.
He couldn't bring himself to meet Citrine's eyes, terrified he'd see disgust or disappointment there.
Because deep down, he knew-he really was a nobody at Havencrest, just another delinquent with nothing to show for himself.
Sooner or later, Citrine would start to look down on him too, especially since she was so exceptional. That thought made fear and self-doubt surge inside him, threatening to swallow him whole.
He was so caught up in his own misery that he barely registered Citrine's clear, icy voice until it cut through his thoughts.
"I'm warning you: watch your mouth," she said, her tone sharp as glass. "My brother is not trash-he just never had anyone patient enough to teach him. And the students at Havencrest aren't garbage either; they're just walking a different path from you, that's all. If you have so much tto judge others, maybe you should worry about your own sister's grades. If I recall, she failed pretty badly on her last exam." Citrine glared at Clifford, making no attempt to hide her disgust.
"Con, Travis. Let's go." Without waiting for a reply, she took Travis's hand and led him toward the lounge on the other side of the hall.
Travis stared at her, still replaying everything she'd just said. His heart, which had felt so heavy moments before, suddenly felt unbearably soft.
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When Citrine fell silent, Travis grew anxious, worrying she might actually be upset with him. He apologized in a small, tentative voice, "I'm sorry, Citrine. I embarrassed you." Citrine looked at him, mystified. "Are you kidding me? You're my brother-how could you possibly embarrass me? Since when do sisters get ashamed of their brothers?" Travis was speechless.
She frowned, exasperated. "Honestly, for a guy with your reputation, shouldn't you at least stand up for vel yourself when someone tries to put you down? Next time, don't just let them talk-make them eat their words."
So that's what she was mad about.
Travis's eyes lit up, and warmth 'm flooded the corners of his heart. He ruffled Citrine's hair and softened his voice. "Guess I'm not living up to my reputation as a troublemaker, huh?" "Travis, what's gotten into you? You sound like a wimp." Sylvan, who'd been quietly fuming after being called a reject, suddenly shuddered at Travis's gentle tone.
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