The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 23

Citrine froze, staring at Raymond in confusion. Wasn't he just telling her to get out?

Seeing the way the girl tensed up, Raymond's dislike for the Iverson family only deepened. Clearly, she'd been blamed for things she didn't do more than once in that house.

He knew she was sensitive, so his tone softened as he quickly explained, "No one's asking you to apologize."

Then, glancing at the red mark on Valerie's cheek, he asked in an even voice, "Did your hand get hurt?"

Citrine blinked, her large, beautiful eyes widening in surprise. "Aren't you going to ask why I hit her?"

Back at the Iversons', whenever something like this happened, Sawyer never cared about the reason—he'd just force her to apologize. Citrine had gotten used to it.

Raymond just shrugged, as if it were nothing. "You already told me she deserved it. That's good enough for me."

For a moment, Citrine's calm heart started to race with a strange spark of excitement. She looked at Raymond, eager for reassurance. "You really believe me?"

glittered like the night sky,

a sudden warmth in his chest as he met her gaze. "Of course I

a moment, then added, "Right or wrong doesn't matter. What matters is that no one gets to push

tries to mess with you, you have

fear in Havencrest," he finished, a touch of pride in

someone everyone wanted to stay

long time. The two of them, father and daughter, grew closer

next morning, Raymond drove Citrine to school himself

trouble from start to finish. Raymond's expression stayed icy the whole time, but

he called Adler into his office. "Tell Valerie not to come in tomorrow. And let it be known-any company that hires

but then hesitated. "Mr. Carmichael, you

Raymond frowned. "So what?"

said she was an excellent asset,"

let out a sharp laugh. "She's good at her job, sure. But The Carmichael Group isn't hurting

not ones who