The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 6

There was a heavy silence, stretching on for what felt like forever.

Suddenly, an idea flickered in her eyes, steely and resolute. "You might not believe me," she said, "but the Carmichael family might."

"You're threatening me?" Raymond let out a short, incredulous laugh.

In all his thirty-some years, no one had ever dared to threaten him—least of all a scrawny slip of a girl.

But Raymond knew his father, Weston Carmichael, valued profit above all. The elder Carmichael was obsessed with the medical robotics project, and whether or not there was a blood tie, just that project alone would make the old man keep this girl around.

She'd clearly done her homework on the Carmichael family before coming here. Raymond studied the child before him, his gaze darkening. Clever kid.

Adler, standing nearby, barely dared to breathe. He'd never seen anyone so reckless as to threaten President Carmichael-especially not a child.

He could only hope his boss would show her some mercy.

"So what if I am threatening you?" Citrine didn't bother to deny it. She knew she wasn't above using whatever means she had.

Her childhood had taught her: you only survived if you fought with everything you had.

Those clear eyes locked onto him, and a sharp, unbidden pain twisted in Raymond's chest. The feeling—so out of his control-irritated him.

His chest had been hurting a lot lately. He'd even gone to the hospital several times, but the doctors could never find anything wrong.

He grew impatient. "Do you have any idea what happens to people who cross me?"

want to live,

stoop to a fight with

fall at some point. Standing alone in the downpour, Citrine stared at the well-dressed man under his umbrella,

Raymond wanted her dead, she wouldn't

life was as

to abandon your child!" she shouted at him, her voice trembling

turned and strode into the

now this

Raymond's chest seized with pain worse than ever

girl in his dreams blurred together with the stubborn stare of the girl who'd just walked

sympathy. "Sir... are you really

pain, and frowned. "What else am I

could get into trouble out there..." Raymond hesitated, then waved a hand, his voice oddly strained. "Fine. Go

into a 24-hour convenience store after leaving. She sat there, watching the ebb and flow of

snapped

Carmichael would

sharp-she recognized the

back? Was Raymond actually afraid

followed Adler to the sleek

and drawn. Citrine glanced

Raymond turned to

the first thing he noticed wasn't the stubborn set of her jaw; it was

stabbing pain shot through his chest. Before he could think, he

her voice flat as she shrugged. Whether she truly didn't