The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 181

After returning from the Carmichael estate, Norton found himself lost in thought.

Three-year-old Citrine was a quiet, withdrawn child. In her tiny world, her father Sawyer was the only person she let in; she refused to let anyone else cross that line.

Sawyer, wanting Citrine to have friends her own age, had decided to adopt two children so she wouldn't have to grow up alone.

The first time Norton met Citrine at the orphanage, she was wearing a frilly princess dress, peeking out shyly from Sawyer's arms. Her big, innocent eyes were full of curiosity.

Back then, Norton was nine. He was locked in a daily struggle for survival, competing with the orphanage's dogs for food. That day, he let the dogs bite and scratch him as he wrestled a half-eaten chicken drumstick from their jaws-he was desperate, and the hunger gnawed at his insides.

When the dogs finally left, Norton carefully pulled the battered drumstick from his pocket and wiped it off on his sleeve.

Moving slowly, wincing from pain, he limped over to his little brother Clifford and held out the drumstick.

kiddo," he said

hard. "You eat, big brother.

not hungry," Norton replied, forcing a smile as he ruffled Clifford's hair. His head was spinning from hunger, but

but Norton insisted. Finally, the little boy gave in, clutching

the pink-cheeked girl watching him from a

cradled in the arms of an elegant man who kept planting gentle kisses

world apart from the harsh reality Norton and Clifford knew. She

away when the little girl tilted her head and gave him a

was adorable. Norton

pointed at Norton, and said,

saw Norton, filthy and ragged

was old enough to understand the difference between his world and hers. Sawyer saw it too, and for a moment, he hesitated. Someone like Norton might be dangerous for

cheek, and asked softly, "Citrine, sweetheart, this boy is much older than you. Wouldn't you rather have