NovelEnglishChapter 181 After returning from the Carmichael estate, Norton found himself lost in thought.
Three-year-old Citrine was a quiet, withdrawn child. In her tiny world, her father Sawyer was the only person she let in; she refused to let anyone else cross that line.
Sawyer, wanting Citrine to have friends her own age, had decided to adopt two children so she wouldn't have to grow up alone.
The first tNorton met Citrine at the orphanage, she was wearing a frilly princess dress, peeking out shyly from Sawyer's arms. Her big, innocent eyes were full of curiosity.
Back then, Norton was nine. He was locked in a daily struggle for survival, competing with the orphanage's dogs for food. That day, he let the dogs bite and scratch him as he wrestled a half-eaten chicken drumstick from their jaws-he was desperate, and the hunger gnawed at his insides.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtWhen the dogs finally left, Norton carefully pulled the battered drumstick from his pocket and wiped it off on his sleeve.
Moving slowly, wincing from pain, he limped over to his little brother Clifford and held out the drumstick. "Eat up, kiddo," he said gently.
Clifford turned his face away, swallowing hard. "You eat, big brother. I'm not hungry." "You need it more. I'm not hungry," Norton replied, forcing a smile as he ruffled Clifford's hair. His head was spinning from hunger, but he didn't even glance at the food.
Clifford tried to refuse, but Norton insisted. Finally, the little boy gave in, clutching the drumstick and gnawing at it hungrily.
That was when Norton noticed the pink-cheeked girl watching him from a distance.
She was a rosy little thing, cradled in the arms of an elegant man who kept planting gentle kisses on her cheek- clearly a doting father.
It was obvious the girl had grown up surrounded by love, a world apart from the harsh reality Norton and Clifford knew. She was like a cloud-soft, untouched, unreachable.
Norton was about to look away when the little girl tilted her head and gave him a sweet, dazzling smile.
She was adorable. Norton felt his heart melt.
Suddenly, she snuggled closer to her father, pointed at Norton, and said, "Daddy, I want that boy to play with me." Sawyer followed her gaze and saw Norton, filthy and ragged from fighting the dogs.
At nine, Norton was old enough to understand the difference between his world and hers. Sawyer saw it too, and for a moment, he hesitated. Someone like Norton might be dangerous for a delicate child like Citrine.
He paused, pinched Citrine's chubby cheek, and asked softly, "Citrine, sweetheart, this boy is much older than you. Wouldn't you rather have a friend your own age?" "But Daddy, I only want him as my brother," Citrine insisted stubbornly-for the first time, not giving in.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmSawyer sighed, rubbing his temples.
After a long moment, he nodded. "Alright, we'll bring him hfor you." He couldn't bear to see Citrine upset, so in the end, he agreed.
Citrine lit up with joy. She wriggled out of Sawyer's arms and bounded over to Norton.
"Chwith me, big brother!" she exclaimed, her face beaming with delight. She didn't didn't hesitate,m barreling right into his arms. She was Π all softness and warmth, like a little ball of cotton, and Norton found himself enveloped in her gentle embrace.
Afraid she might stumble, Norton stayed still, letting her hug him. An sweet, milky scent washed over him, and for a moment, his heart trembled.
In that orphanage, aside from his brother, no one ever wanted to be near Norton. Citrine's open affection was a sudden, unexpected warmth for his cold, lonely heart. She would never know it, but in that moment-when she asked to take him h-Norton felt an ache in his chest and a sudden urge to cry.
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