The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 349

Hastings didn't seem the least bit annoyed.

He looked at Citrine with a small smile. "How about we grab dinner together, Instructor Carmichael?"

Citrine hesitated, about to refuse, when out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of Kali standing not far behind Hastings.

She let her lips curl into a slight smile and changed her mind on the spot.

"Sounds great," she replied cheerfully.

Hastings's eyes lit up, genuine surprise flickering across his face. "Does this mean we're calling it even?"

"Of course." Citrine nodded, her expression pleasant even as she scoffed inwardly.

Meanwhile, Kali watched the exchange, stunned. She'd always been able to twist Hastings around her little finger, but now, here he was-beaming at Citrine like an overexcited kid.

The way Hastings looked at Citrine, there was no mistaking it: pure infatuation.

Why her? Kali's face twisted, her jealousy impossible to hide.

If Hastings had fallen for someone else, maybe she could have stomached it. But Citrine? Of all people—after just a month of training?

clench her fists so tightly her nails bit into

Citrine had

the entire auditorium—just the two of

rows of seats, she paused for a moment,

whole place. He really must be smitten, she thought with a wry amusement. So this was

theater was dimly lit, shadows blending into silence. But Citrine's lips curled up in

had planned to watch a horror movie-his favorite. But at the last

sat facing the giant screen. Citrine looked perfectly at ease, while Hastings,

posture, and chuckled. "Nervous?" “Not at all,” Hastings replied quickly. "I'm

he wanted, but the veins standing out

just smiled, saying

movies with Kali before and never felt anywhere near this wound

playing for a while that he finally

on the screen, but Hastings found himself stealing glances

from the huge screen, painting shifting

watched her profile,

look at him. "Why are you watching me instead of the

the movie boring, or is