The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 234

Meanwhile, Manley and Travis looked deeply unsettled, their faces drawn with worry.

Yates turned to the Carmichaels, his tone grave. "Think back-has anything unusual happened to Citrine lately? Has she done anything out of the ordinary? If we start there, maybe we'll find a clue."

Weston considered for a moment, then spoke first. "Citrine came with me to

Elbert's birthday party recently. At the party, Elbert wasn't exactly kind to her..." As Weston spoke, he recounted the harsh words Elbert had directed at Citrine, along with the gossip and whispered judgments from other guests.

"Do you think something someone said could have upset her?" he asked Yates earnestly.

Yates listened and shook his head with certainty. "No. Those comments were petty but harmless. They wouldn't have hurt Citrine."

Raymond took his turn, recounting in detail how Phelps and some of the younger Jensen family members had come looking for Citrine.

shook his

eyes lit up. "Wait-on Regina's insistence, Citrine played a piano piece at the party that

moment Weston spoke, both Yates and Raymond's

a moment's pause, he spoke. "When we were overseas, someone sent Citrine several pianos. Each time she saw them, she'd completely lose control-once, she even smashed them to pieces. She absolutely hates the piano. She can't even bear to look

sorry. I should've taken better care of

teacher in Citrine's dreams, someone with sinister

He hadn't realized this was the reason. Guilt gnawed at him. If only he'd stopped her from

remorse, Yates simply urged them, "You absolutely

Yates's first time meeting Citrine's biological family, he could sense how much they cared. Their concern was genuine,

her family. With your care, maybe she'll slowly heal from the past and stop

voice steady with resolve. "Don't

side, never leaving her for a moment and praying that she'd