The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 14

After that, Sawyer simply decided to adopt the little one.

Two lost souls, clinging to each other for warmth.

It was the lowest point in Sawyer's life, a time when he had nothing to his name. And yet, with that small bundle of joy by his side, he found a rare, precious comfort he'd never known before.

Though it all happened more than a decade ago, Sawyer remembered every detail, as if it had just happened yesterday.

Back then, that little girl had eyes only for him-she'd cling to his leg, refusing to let go until he picked her up. Now, that same girl was demanding to sever all ties, as if their father-daughter bond meant nothing at all.

And just like that, she'd found her biological father.

The thought that Raymond was her real dad left Sawyer feeling unexpectedly hollow inside.

That night, he didn't sleep a wink.

Meanwhile, after returning home, Raymond immediately ordered someone to investigate Citrine's time overseas.

Sawyer had mentioned she'd lived abroad-and the child's reaction had been anything but normal.

too, found himself unable to sleep that night—a rare

slept soundly, drifting

hadn't slept well in ages. Ever since her return six months ago, she hadn't had a single restful night

she'd finally sleep so well under the Carmichaels' roof?

for breakfast, she learned that Raymond had already left early

didn't give it much thought. After finishing her meal, she headed off to

walked into the classroom, she spotted

wrong?" Citrine asked. It was rare to

head, looking as if the life had been sucked

under her eyes. "Don't tell me you

nodded. She'd spent the entire night poring over her textbooks, but

at the bottom of the class again this time,

strict rule: if a student ranked in the bottom five for three consecutive monthly exams, they'd be expelled and have

another Havencrest campus could take the entrance exam at

course, that entrance exam was notoriously

this, then rummaged through her desk and

not getting expelled," she said with quiet

that always made people believe her.

stared at the notebook. "What's