The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 16

Citrine's arrival in his life had been completely unexpected.

And for Raymond, that surprise came with a tangle of emotions he could scarcely unravel.

When Citrine first came to him, he hadn't believed her claims. Only after the DNA test confirmed she was indeed his biological daughter did he force himself to accept the truth-however much it unsettled him.

But now, as he watched her, Raymond finally realized just how much he owed this girl.

He had brought her into the world, yet failed utterly to protect her.

That afternoon, when school let out at five, Citrine was wandering the curb, scanning for the Carmichael family's car, when she suddenly spotted a familiar black Phantom idling nearby.

"Don't bother looking-there's no driver today," Raymond called, striding over with his long, purposeful steps as he climbed out of the car.

Citrine stared, wide-eyed, as he approached her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, the question lingering in her mind though she kept her face carefully neutral.

He had taken her out for dinner once before, but Citrine never really believed Raymond wanted to pick her up from school, not after how obviously reluctant he'd been to acknowledge her at first.

be free," Raymond replied, his expression stiff for a moment as

accepting his

broke the silence. "We're going

mind about this before he

paused, puzzled by his sudden concern. She

"Why?"

still remember all too well how hard

that first, uncomfortable encounter, and for a brief second, he

an explanation: "I didn't realize you

understood what he

thinking of how she might have struggled in the Iverson family. "You don't have to keep

Citrine shook her head.

her life. There was no

attachment to the Iversons and let the matter

Raymond handled all the paperwork with brisk efficiency. Everything went smoothly, and in

new details were added-her own page now filed neatly

time, she wasn't just

She was Citrine Carmichael.

thought he'd drive her straight back to the Carmichael