The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 79

Alicia's face was already streaked with tears; in this moment, she let go of the last shreds of her pride.

"Citrine, I regret everything," she choked out.

Her voice echoed across the room as she called out to Citrine.

Citrine hesitated, taken aback. She knew exactly how proud Alicia was-and just how hard it must have been for her to say those words.

But what did it matter to her now?

Alicia had been the one to betray her first.

With a quiet, almost mocking laugh, Citrine replied, "Too bad there's no such thing as a second chance in this world."

She paused, then added, "Everyone has to live with the consequences of their choices. I'll leave you with that."

for Jeanette, and Citrine, by terrible coincidence, had just learned that she'd lost all hearing in her left ear. Citrine had locked herself away for days,

then, asking, "Do you regret it? If you hadn't saved me, you wouldn't have lost your

Citrine had already started shutting her out. She'd only given a flat,

heard those words thrown

her chest. Months of shame and guilt finally broke her down; she collapsed to

sorry, Citrine. I shouldn't

you hadn't risked yourself to save me, your ear would never have been hurt. It's

with you at school just to get your attention. And when I saw you making new friends, I just... I

cries were raw and

her, her eyes

betrayed me because of your family," she said quietly.

memories from long ago the ones Citrine tried hard not to revisit-always

and walked away, not sparing Alicia another glance. As she passed the balcony, she suddenly

had dredged up memories she'd tried to bury: the injury to her left ear, her best friend's betrayal, her family's lack of trust, the ridicule and bullying from classmates.