The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 287

The Carmichaels' hearts leapt into their throats.

And, of course, the internet chose that moment to freeze.

Their nerves stretched to the breaking point-even Raymond looked rattled.

"This crappy wifi!" Travis grumbled, logging out and back in, his frustration clear in every movement.

This time, the page loaded smoothly.

But the results screen stayed blank.

Instead, a single line appeared at the bottom: Placed within the top 50 in the state. Full results available on the 23rd.

Weston stared at the screen, eyes wide, then burst out, "Top fifty in the whole state! No wonder she's my granddaughter-our Carmichael family is going places!"

"The kids in our family really are something else," Weston crowed, beaming with pride. They didn't even know Citrine's exact score yet, but just making it into the state's top fifty was enough to set everyone's hearts racing. After all, the Carmichaels had never been famous for academics; business was their game. No one in the family had ever ranked this high before.

Just then, Citrine, still groggy from sleep, stumbled downstairs after a quick wash —and walked straight into chaos.

Weston, Raymond, and Travis were dancing around the living room in pure celebration.

Stone-faced, serious Weston was twisting and shimmying with even more enthusiasm than the rest, looking for all the world like an overgrown, wild-eyed snake.

and stared, torn between

family's cat-came out to liven things up, but the wild scene made her fur stand on end. She bolted up the stairs and jumped into Citrine's arms, a

on the staircase, unsure whether to join the madness or make a discreet

notice his daughter hovering above them. "Citrine, you're

immediately stopped what they were doing and turned

nearly disappeared. Waving her over with both hands, he called, "Citrine, come down

descended, clutching

looked like they'd just won the

hauled her onto the sofa. "Sis, do you know where you ranked in

happened," she answered calmly, tossing out the bold

disbelief. "How

knew everything on the exam.

widening. "Congratulations to

a magic trick. "How

Sylvan and

Travis had

entered

a congratulatory

before he burst out laughing. "Citrine! Mr. and Mrs. Carmichael! We're here to bring you wonderful

highest in the state! She's this year's top science student. It's a huge honor for our school to have

and Raymond's smiles stretched