The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 340

A single, decidedly unflattering comment left Hastings blushing in an instant.

Citrine's laughter was dazzling, and for a moment, Hastings couldn't tear his eyes away. By the time he realized he was staring, even the tips of his ears had turned pink.

The room erupted into applause for him.

"Captain, you're incredible!" someone called out.

Noticing the growing flush in his cheeks, another teammate nudged closer. "Hey, Captain, are you coming down with something? Your face is bright red."

"Even your ears are red!" another chimed in.

"Oh, cut it out," Hastings shot back, pushing them away.

Almost reflexively, he turned to look straight at Citrine.

She was watching him too.

always attuned to people's moods. Now, she gave Hastings a subtle, knowing

when, out of nowhere,

smile vanished in an instant, but the color in

and moved on, shifting her focus to put each team member through a round of one-on-one

everyone made noticeable progress in their

special training sessions, Citrine organized a series of simulated military drills, helping the team adapt ahead

by both sides, analyzing strategies and counter-strategies. She'd even explain what she might have done if she were

end of the month, the real combat drill against the Magnolia squad was about to

their final day of preparation, Citrine stood before the group-not mocking, not aloof, but genuinely focused. She gave

she said, "You've all done an outstanding job

with Hastings, and despite the team's initial resentment, in this moment, Citrine saw them all as true defenders

soldiers with stinging eyes. Somehow,

instructor," someone said

it weren't for you, we'd never have pushed past our limits,"

had pushed them hard-sometimes to the point of breaking, sometimes calling them useless they all knew, deep down, there was a reason for everything

their temperaments had steadied.