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.

at preschool. When she got home, she carefully chose a gift for her very first friend and brought it to school the next morning

then on, wherever Citrine went, Alicia

brought

by bit, Citrine lost the

in the Iverson family wanted to

that

was upset, Alicia would always step in front

is that brat picking on you again?

sad. Even if no one else believes you, I always

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

you

"Citrine, let's

friendships so easily, but sometimes, the smallest storm can

were ten, Alicia came over to play. The housekeeper was off that day;

and Alicia didn't notice anything was wrong until the

she dashed out of the room and

you doing?" Citrine

just laughed, loud and

burn you alive, Citrine." The fire flickered across her face, making her look

look on her face

felt as if she were staring at a demon—not a