The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 146

At that moment, the man suddenly appeared at the top of the stairs. Raymond could feel Citrine's whole body flinch.

He instinctively stepped in front of her, trying to shield her, but it was useless— neither of them could see him.

The man looked down at Citrine, a cold smile tugging at his lips. "I thought you were dead. Turns out you're still alive. Well then, get out there and make some money." With that, he turned and walked away.

The door slammed shut. As soon as the sound echoed through the house, Young Citrine scrambled to her feet.

But just as quickly, she collapsed back down, her legs giving out beneath her. Raymond reached out to catch her, but his hand passed right through her like she was made of mist.

He could do nothing but watch helplessly as blood began to seep through her socks, staining them red.

Young Citrine sat on the stairs, her face scrunched in pain as she gritted her teeth and yanked out several shards of glass from her foot.

When she finished, she limped upstairs, dragging a bulging bag of empty bottles and cardboard boxes down to the entryway.

everything was blanketed in white. The trees wore a fresh coat of

littered with garbage and streaked with dirty slush and mud. To Raymond, it looked so filthy he couldn't imagine

shivered the moment she

the cold bit at her delicate cheeks, turning them bright red within

on through the biting wind, dragging her burden all the way to

here?" The owner of the depot hurried over when he saw her, snatching the bag from her hands and grumbling

Could you weigh these for me?" Young Citrine just smiled up at

smile. Inside, he weighed her recyclables. The total only came to a couple of

the money and headed out. But she didn't go home. Instead, she made her way to the city's busiest

bills tightly in her fist, muttering under

Raymond's heart ached.

Young Citrine's eyes lit up. She spotted someone across the street and, with a burst of hope, ran over to throw

"Sawyer," Raymond breathed, stunned.

shock was

had never once called him "Dad." She had never clung to him with that kind of affection. But