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 people

Bad news first thing in

I need

spare them a single glance, just brushed

way too full of herself," Clifford muttered, fuming.

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

thought she'd finally have some peace—at least for today. But right after

time, she

we talk?" Jeanette approached Citrine's desk. Most of the students hadn't returned yet, so the classroom was almost empty. Jeanette slid into the

fragile act. Her voice was even, her eyes clear-no

Citrine thought, studying her with

do you want

family shares." Jeanette's gaze was steady, brimming

family shares?"

into effect when I turn eighteen." Her tone was proud, almost triumphant, as if she finally had the upper

was Sawyer who'd

about this. Somewhere along the line, Sawyer had