The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 423

Back home, Citrine uncorked a bottle of red wine. Settling onto the sofa with her cat curled up on her lap, she absentmindedly stroked its fur with one hand and sipped her wine with the other, her thoughts gradually growing hazy.

In her previous life, after their first bitter falling out, the hostility from Hastings and Quentin had only intensified with each passing day.

They made it their mission to humiliate her-pulling childish pranks, setting her up to embarrass herself, hurling insults at every opportunity. It became a relentless campaign of ridicule.

The moment that seared itself most deeply in her memory happened at Theo's birthday party. That day, in front of everyone, Hastings jabbed a finger in her face and spat out:

"You're nothing but Theo's pathetic lapdog, always at his beck and call. Living off his charity like some worthless parasite, and you actually think you matter? I can't stand women like you-no self-respect, all vanity and cheapness."

For some reason, of all the things from her past life, Hastings' words remained crystal clear in her mind.

So much so, that the first time she saw Hastings in this life, she found herself scheming.

If Hastings despised women without dignity, why not let him experience it himself? Let him become the lapdog, the one stripped of pride, the very thing he loathed

most.

but think-it

learned about Citrine's blood

like her as a backup blood donor,

decided to bring the matter to his father. He knew that if

powerful family—a man whose influence stretched over the entire city. More importantly, he controlled an

elite families—the Coopers, the Aldridges, and several others-under his sway, sometimes even making them

heard about the situation, Talbot moved quickly, reaching

billion dollars. Be my

he was being exceedingly generous, but Citrine didn't hesitate

one, especially not someone

to be as cautious as possible, but there was only so much she could do. The next few days

street. Then someone followed her, trying to corner her. After that, a stranger tried to jab her with a needle. Luckily, Citrine managed to deal with each incident, never

she couldn't keep dodging threats forever. There was only one real

became the chairwoman of CICI Group, even Talbot would be forced to think twice before acting. Businessmen like him didn't make reckless moves unless they were sure they could destroy their opponent in one blow, and Talbot knew the Glenwood Group

she'd announce her identity in a few days. At that moment, in a private lounge at an