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 live, get

wasn't about to stoop to

some point. Standing alone in the downpour, Citrine stared at the well-dressed man under his umbrella, suddenly all too aware of her

nothing. If Raymond wanted her dead, she

as insignificant as an

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

would never take her home, Citrine turned and strode into the pouring rain, her shoulders

this final rejection, all her strength

thin figure disappeared into the downpour, Raymond's chest seized with pain worse than ever

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

his sympathy. "Sir... are you really just

and frowned. "What else am I supposed to

into trouble out there..." Raymond hesitated, then

sat there, watching the ebb and flow of strangers outside, lost in

her snapped her back to

Carmichael would like to see

memory was sharp-she recognized the

he was taking her back? Was Raymond actually afraid of going to

to the

pale and drawn. Citrine glanced at

her gaze, Raymond turned

of her jaw; it was the discreet black hearing aid

expression darkened and a stabbing pain shot through his chest. Before he could

voice flat as she shrugged. Whether she truly