The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 183

Norton never imagined that his most humiliating moment would be witnessed by the little one.

He had already formed the words in his mind, ready to coax her into taking

Clifford with her as well. But when he looked at her innocent face, he just couldn't bring himself to say them.

She was pure, untouched by the world's ugliness-someone he shouldn't deceive.

Norton silently berated himself for even considering such a low tactic.

Just then, the little girl tugged gently on his sleeve, her wide, trusting eyes fixed on him. "If bringing your brother home too would make you happy, I'll ask Dad. I'll tell him to bring both of you back with me."

Norton's head shot up in surprise.

"You'd really do that?" His voice trembled, eyes stinging as they filled with tears.

"If you're happy, then I'm happy too." She grinned and threw her arms around him, nuzzling into his chest.

Citrine, both Norton and Clifford ended up returning with Sawyer to the

new home-but Citrine's warmth quickly drew

But ever since Citrine had spoken those words, the past

reflect-had he really been too cold toward

vanished almost as soon as it

Citrine had become more and more outrageous over the years. A flood of

he was supposed to take his entrance exams, mischievous Citrine locked him in his room on purpose, causing him to miss

filled his room with fresh flowers,

was the summer he took Citrine scuba diving. When her oxygen tank malfunctioned, he didn't hesitate: he took off his own mask and put it on her, using

off on her own-she

that, whatever affection he'd had left for his little sister vanished

Norton did everything they could-calling in favors,

jaws, and their eyes were

continued to plummet. On the fourth

hoarse, worn thin by exhaustion and