The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 112

The display cabinet in the Iverson family home was filled with Jeanette's awards and certificates, tracing her achievements from childhood all the way up. Most were for second or third place, and some were little more than participation ribbons, but Sawyer treasured them all, carefully arranging each one as if it were gold.

Citrine used to dream of having a cabinet like that for herself. But when she'd asked, Sawyer brushed her off with a flimsy excuse about there not being enough space in the house.

She remembered a competition when Jeanette came home in tears because she hadn't won anything. That time, Citrine had actually placed, and she'd run to Sawyer, beaming. "Dad, look! I won an award!"

Instead of celebrating with her, Sawyer lost his temper.

He snapped, "Keep your mouth shut. What's there to brag about with some silly prize? Can't you see your sister's upset? How can you be so insensitive?"

He wasn't done. His voice went cold: "I don't ever want to see you waving your certificates around this house again."

Sawyer's face was more severe than Citrine had ever seen. The scolding frightened her so much that she never brought home another certificate.

awards, Citrine's eyes stung. She whispered, "In the Iverson family, there was never room for my

expression darkened, his voice sharp with anger. "That's the

couldn't help but laugh, genuine and light. "This is the first time I've

Raymond." She could feel how much

need for thanks," Raymond said

found herself wishing from the bottom of her heart that he would always be this kind. But then something seemed to trouble her; her smile faded and she

children of your own." She glanced aside, unable to

father-daughter intuition, but he could sense how much this

always be my only daughter.

only natural. Who knew if he'd turn out just like Sawyer? Still, Raymond's words filled her with a kind of joy she'd never known before. Her whole body seemed to hum with

high spirits that day. Maybe her mood rubbed off on him, because when he went to work the next morning, nothing could bring him