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.

could possibly like someone so

be the "idiot friend" standing

retired professor from Crestwood University had once evaluated 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 how far

child wouldn't simply fade into the crowd as she grew

hiding her abilities these past six months, or whether her top score was just a fluke, one thing was certain: this girl couldn't be allowed to

over to gently pat her head in reassurance. "Don't worry, Jeanette.

personally remove anyone who dared stand in their

words of comfort, Aline checked the time and said, "Alright, calm down. Don't let

of Sawyer, Jeanette did

couldn't let this

of bringing up the

troublemaker in their grade, was famous for breaking rules— smoking behind the

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

now, she'd somehow come in

he heard Jeanette's story, Clifford nearly choked on his food, barely managing to