The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 19

Raymond sat alone in the empty living room, his mind wandering. He suddenly remembered that, back at the office, the kid had always been on her own.

She must have felt scared, right?

For a moment, he'd actually wanted to press her, to demand exactly where she'd gone. But he forced himself to let it go.

After all, to her, they were little more than strangers bound by paperwork. If he started interrogating her now, she'd probably end up resenting him.

Still, Raymond couldn't help but worry. He dialed Adler's number.

At that very moment, Adler was tangled up with his girlfriend, their goodbyes dragging out with reluctant kisses. Just as things got heated, his phone buzzed on the nightstand, making both of them jump.

The interruption instantly killed the mood. Adler's girlfriend groaned, "Who the hell is it?"

Adler glanced at the screen, jaw clenched. "Damn corporate overlord," he muttered under his breath, the light in his eyes flickering out.

He groaned, half to himself, "I swear I'm quitting tomorrow. I'm done with this."

But as he grumbled, his body betrayed him he was already pulling his shirt back

on.

A few seconds later, he answered the call, suddenly all meek politeness. "Hello, Mr. Carmichael."

voice dripped

where Citrine went today," Raymond said curtly, then hung

hour later, Adler

Citrine went to Crestwood. Beyond that,

his expression growing

up anything, someone must have gone out of their way to cover

next afternoon, when Citrine came home, she found Raymond stretched

his eyes were

commanding, unflappable man now looked oddly fragile in his illness.

the back of her hand

"Damn, he's burning up."

like this

this week, so the only ones home were

she saw the thermometer nearly hit 104, she quickly gave him one of her own fever

him on the couch, then dampened a towel and placed it gently on

she headed to the

Iversons, Aline had never given her an allowance. Whenever Sawyer

staff not to cook for

in the kitchen,

medicine, was barely conscious. Citrine managed to

to keep an eye on him, Citrine simply grabbed a blanket and camped out on

the morning, Raymond's fever had finally broken. The fog in his head had lifted, leaving his mind