The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 30

Citrine's eyes suddenly turned cold, lips flattening into a hard line.

The air went still in an instant.

No one would have guessed that Citrine and Alicia had once been inseparable as children the kind of best friends who practically shared everything.

When they were little, Citrine was an adorable, cherubic child, the sort everyone wanted to scoop up and hug.

She was just three and a half when she first met four-year-old Alicia at preschool.

Alicia, even then, was obsessed with beauty. The moment she saw Citrine, she was utterly enchanted by her.

She went home in tears, begging her mother, Irma Chase, to bring Citrine home to be her little sister.

Back then, Aline and her son hadn't yet returned to the Iverson family. Citrine was still a little girl wrapped in warmth and affection.

Faced with the clumsy adoration of a child her own age, Citrine felt awkward and lost.

After all, the other kids at preschool didn't like her. The reason was almost laughable: she always answered every question the teacher asked and earned the most gold stars.

Alicia was the first child who ever said she liked her.

carefully chose a gift for her very first friend

wherever Citrine went, Alicia was sure

when Aline brought Jeanette back

the love of

family wanted to listen to

that is,

would always step in

brat picking on you again? Just wait—-I'll

if no one

won't talk to Jeanette, that annoying pest, ever again. Please don't

"Citrine, no matter how much you change, you'll always

"Citrine, let's

make friendships so easily, but sometimes, the smallest storm

The housekeeper was off

was the day the fire broke out. Citrine and Alicia didn't notice anything was

was happening, she dashed out of the room and caught sight of

you doing?" Citrine shouted,

laughed,

Citrine." The fire flickered across her face, making her look monstrous. "Once you're dead, everything the

on her face was

she were staring at a demon—not a