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?"

to

stoop to

downpour, Citrine stared at the well-dressed man under his umbrella, suddenly all too aware of her own

had nothing. If Raymond wanted her dead, she wouldn't make

life was as insignificant as

the law to abandon your child!" she shouted at him, her

strode into the pouring rain, her shoulders squared with stubborn

day full of accusations and now this final rejection,

disappeared into the downpour, Raymond's

blurred together with the stubborn

his sympathy. "Sir... are you really just going to let her

fighting the pain, and frowned. "What else am I supposed

mutter, "It's late, she could get into trouble out there..." Raymond hesitated,

leaving. She sat there, watching the ebb

voice beside her snapped her back to

President Carmichael would

was sharp-she recognized

was taking her back? Was Raymond actually

to the sleek black

sat beside her, rubbing his forehead, looking pale and drawn. Citrine glanced at him, then quickly looked

Raymond turned to

he noticed wasn't the stubborn set of her jaw; it was the discreet black hearing aid in

stabbing pain shot through his chest. Before he could think, he blurted out, "Your

Citrine replied, her voice flat as she shrugged. Whether she