The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 398

Travis yelped in pain, "Let go, let go, Grandpa... you're going to rip my ear off!"

But after a moment, he got used to the stinging pain.

Meanwhile, Citrine was nibbling on a little cupcake. She only realized, as Travis walked into the room, that she'd completely forgotten about her brother.

Her head drooped, a wave of guilt washing over her.

Travis, who knew his sister almost inside out after all these years, immediately noticed the subtle shift in her expression. He could guess, just from the way she looked, that she was beating herself up for forgetting him.

He strolled over, ruffled her hair, and grinned, "What's with the guilt? It's not like anything was your fault. So you got a little distracted by dessert-who can blame you for having a sweet tooth?"

Citrine had been feeling genuinely remorseful, but at his last remark, she couldn't help herself-she burst out laughing.

Later that afternoon, after lunch, Citrine was about to head home when Raymond asked her to stay.

that father and daughter needed a moment

the enormous living room felt cavernous, just the two of them left. Raymond was the first to break the

asked, "Citrine, did I do something wrong? Ever since you started college, it feels like you've

voice cool and even. "I told you before—after I turned eighteen, I would leave the

woman in the house-new children, a new family. Eventually, she'd just be left behind, discarded, the same way she'd been cast aside by the

the lesson you learned last time-never expect too much,

pain flashed in Raymond's eyes. "Citrine, you're still upset about that first day we met, aren't you? Because I refused to accept you as my daughter?" "No. I've never blamed you for that," Citrine said, her lips tightening. She was the

why Raymond had resisted-he'd never even known she existed. Suddenly discovering you have a daughter? Who wouldn't be thrown off? Raymond's voice was raw as

spending more time with the Carmichaels,

to get herself back under control,

Raymond, whose brow was furrowed with worry, and said, "Raymond, I'm not exactly a good person. I put on a show for everyone. The version of me you see? It's not the

twitched into a small, unwavering smile. "You're my daughter,

pause, she spoke again, more serious this time. "There's something I have to do soon. If I stay with the Carmichaels, I might drag all of

"It could