The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 28

As soon as she stepped out of the police station, Citrine was stopped at the entrance by Amelia.

"I'll wait for you in the car," Raymond said, casting a glance at Citrine. He headed to the parking lot, leaving the two women alone.

Now it was just the two of them standing by the entrance.

"It was your choice to get involved. I'm not going to apologize, and I don't feel guilty about it."

Citrine was the first to break the uneasy silence. She knew that after today, she was likely to lose this friend.

A restless irritation simmered in her chest, making her words come out sharper than she intended.

After a moment, she added, "I told you I'd have your back. The Chase family won't ever be a threat to you or your family. That much, I can promise."

Amelia's heart twisted with guilt. She hurried to reassure her, "Citrine, I never asked you to apologize. And there's no reason for you to feel guilty."

She had never blamed Citrine for any of it.

Citrine had always tried to help her, but her own family never appreciated it. In the end, for the sake of money, they signed the settlement papers. Now it was Amelia who felt she'd let Citrine down.

"From now on, just pretend you don't know me at school. I can't promise there won't be another family like the Chases who'll try to make things hard for you."

flat, as if she were a porcelain doll—

seen Citrine so

all the right things to push her away, but the look in her eyes was pleading-don't

Amelia felt she truly understood her. And her heart ached for

at her, just like she used

I ever pretend I don't

I'll see you

the distance in her eyes melting away. Genuine warmth spread across her face in a rare,

They were still friends.

"See you tomorrow."

family's fortunes had been dwindling for years. When the Carmichael family abruptly announced they were cutting ties, rumors spread like wildfire. People speculated

The entire Chase family business

one night, Johnnie Chase had begged every contact he could think of, but

day, news broke that Chase Group Holdings had stolen research from a string of

a chart listing every company

the

dropped: Chase Group Holdings

to see the news at the

paperwork done-Chase Group Holdings is now under your name," Ogden's voice boomed with pride over