The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 34

But Citrine had overtaken her with almost no effort at all-she'd scored more than twenty points higher, winning first place as if it were nothing.

Jeanette felt utterly humiliated as the runner-up. The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Aline watched her daughter's furious expression, lost in thought for a moment.

Suddenly, old memories surfaced. Her voice grew cold as she asked, "Jeanette, do you remember why none of the other kids your age liked Citrine when you were little?"

Jeanette didn't think much of it-she scowled and spat out, "It's her own fault. She was always stealing the spotlight. No wonder she never had any friends."

Aline smiled faintly but said nothing.

Her Jeanette was still too young. Too innocent.

But Aline knew better.

Even as a child, Citrine had been shockingly smart. She taught herself how to solve math puzzles meant for much older students; by kindergarten, she was breezing through grade school material, and by grade school, she could handle middle school coursework without breaking a sweat.

like

"idiot friend" standing next to a

Citrine this way: "She has an exceptional intellect and rare emotional intelligence—a true prodigy. But prodigies are fragile. If she's protected, there's no limit to

a child wouldn't simply fade

or whether her top score was just a fluke, one thing

glanced at her daughter, reaching over to gently pat her head in reassurance.

who dared

a few more words of comfort, Aline checked the time and said, "Alright,

the mention of Sawyer, Jeanette did her best to smooth her

couldn't let

up the whole thing in front of Clifford and his two

breaking rules— smoking behind the gym, sneaking drinks, picking fights. He never

near the bottom of the sophomore class-just like him, always bringing up the

somehow come

Clifford nearly choked on his food,