The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 82

She ran out to the balcony and looked down, but by then, the man was already gone.

Well, I guess I'll just have to return it to him next time, she thought.

Not the worst thing, really—a good excuse to keep in touch.

That night, after running Sebastian's clothes through the wash, Citrine quietly hung them up to dry on the balcony outside her own bedroom.

Only then did she finally feel at ease and drift off to sleep.

She slept soundly, but while her night was peaceful, things were far from calm over at Siren's Whisper.

The two thugs who'd gotten into a brawl with her at the karaoke bar-along with their boss—had been ambushed, thrown into the back of a van, and dragged off to an abandoned factory by a rival group. By the time they staggered back, they were barely alive.

This whole thing had been set in motion by the manager after consulting with Raymond. Citrine knew nothing about it.

The next morning, Citrine had barely reached the classroom door when Jeanette and Clifford blocked her path.

"Citrine, can you come outside with us for a moment?" Jeanette glanced

shoulder at the

news first thing in the

hesitate. "Nope, I need a

spare them a single glance, just brushed past and

of herself," Clifford muttered, fuming. He

it go, Clifford. She clearly doesn't want to see us," Jeanette hissed, grabbing his arm to pull him back before he could make things worse. She was all too aware that angering Citrine could ruin her

morning and thought she'd finally have some peace—at least for today. But right after lunch, Jeanette turned up again

time, she

we talk?" Jeanette approached Citrine's desk. Most of the students hadn't returned yet, so

around, Jeanette had dropped her usual fragile act. Her

she's finally dropped the act, huh, Citrine thought, studying her with a newfound

want to

want to talk about the Iverson family shares." Jeanette's gaze was

shares?" Citrine's

of The Iverson Group. The contract goes into effect when I turn eighteen." Her tone was proud, almost triumphant, as if she finally had the

who'd given

Sawyer had started keeping her out