The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 78

She never imagined their next meeting would happen like this. With her face buried against her knees, Alicia felt her eyes sting; tears slowly seeped into her black dress, dampening the fabric.

A moment later, she sensed something draped across her shoulders.

Citrine had slipped off her coat and gently placed it over Alicia's back.

"You should head home. Be careful-there are some real creeps out at this hour."

Noticing Alicia had no interest in conversation, Citrine didn't press. She left her with that parting warning and turned to go.

As Citrine's footsteps faded into the distance, a surge of indescribable loneliness washed over Alicia.

She clutched the coat tighter, then suddenly stood and called after her, "Citrine!" Hearing her name, Citrine turned around, familiar yet changed.

"It's really you?" Alicia met Citrine's gaze, searching her face for traces of the girl she used to know. Citrine looked calm, almost indifferent, though there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

"Thank you for helping me," Alicia said, holding Citrine's eyes, her own heart in turmoil.

hadn't changed much-still echoing the girl from their childhood -but now there was a coldness about her, a distance that kept Alicia firmly

me?" Alicia gave a bitter

had fallen so far, reduced to a plaything for others'

lowest. She must think Alicia deserved every bit of

What rotten luck." Citrine's reply was blunt, with

her coat, wincing inwardly; it was designer, expensive. But now that it was draped over Alicia's shoulders, she couldn't

froze, feeling as if a piece of her heart had been carved out. She pressed her lips together and forced herself to speak.

I wouldn't have bothered." Citrine

the pain Alicia had caused her. Citrine was

"You must be enjoying this, seeing me like this,

at her

my father-the man I thought loved me-would force

my parents have become ugly strangers. The home I loved is gone. I have

bottled up, all

unmoved. "That's not

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