The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 282

"I really don't know what kind of parents raise a kid like that—absolute

troublemaker. If that's how they turn out, they'll only cause chaos in the world later

on."

...

Jeanette listened to the crowd's scornful words until she couldn't bear it anymore. She finally burst out of the room.

Meanwhile, Clifford glanced at Sawyer, his tone bleak. "Dad, do you see it now? That's who Jeanette really is."

Sawyer pressed his lips together, at a loss for words. After all, the security footage didn't lie.

When the Christmas party ended, school let out for winter break.

Winters in Havencrest were bitterly cold, and for several days, Citrine barely left her bed. She felt down and listless.

She hated winter more than anything.

For people struggling to get by, winter was a nightmare. Citrine remembered all too well how, as a child, she didn't even own a proper coat. In the dead of winter, she washed her face and cooked with icy water, her hands always swollen and raw with chilblains.

got, she had to go out and scavenge for scrap to

gave her life, and just as easily, threatened to

in this half-awake haze until the day

nothing more than to hide away in her room, but Raymond told her there was a Carmichael family gathering that evening. She had no choice but

arrived at the

instinctively to Raymond. "Why are the

Raymond didn't answer.

room suddenly lit up with a wash of colorful lights,

Citrine could see

with fresh flowers, and on the lawn, there were dazzling arrangements shaped like trees-trees made entirely of cash, each

furniture were custom-made,

glanced at Raymond. "I've never celebrated my birthday

your eighteenth, Citrine. I missed the first

of the Carmichael family is here tonight," Weston added, nodding for once instead

and Manley, Citrine

Travis, Amelia, Carlotta, and the

Citrine. You

always be here

you joy and peace every