The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 431

Hilda stood rooted to the spot, her gaze fixed on the man's retreating figure. She watched him for a long while, unable to pull her eyes away.

As she observed, it became clear just how affectionate he was toward Citrine- and, more strikingly, how comfortable Citrine seemed in his presence. The two of them interacted with an easy familiarity, no different from the thousands of ordinary fathers and daughters out there.

A sharp pang twisted in Hilda's chest. She stood there, overwhelmed with a bittersweet ache.

Her own daughter refused even to acknowledge her, yet got along seamlessly with her father.

To say Hilda wasn't jealous would have been a lie. The jealousy burned so fiercely inside her she could barely stand it.

Afraid that approaching would only provoke Citrine's rejection, Hilda kept her distance and simply watched from afar.

When the evening banquet finally began, the business leaders and heirs all made their way to their assigned seats.

Raymond tried to have Citrine sit beside him, but she politely declined.

He could only watch as Citrine walked straight to a seat at the front row-the place marked for the Chair of CICI Group. Moments later, Carlotta sat down in the spot reserved for Citrine's assistant.

Citrine caught his eye, she offered him

said it all, confirming what he'd suspected deep down. There was

Then there was Carlotta at Citrine's birthday party, her deferential treatment, the close collaboration between CICI Group and The Carmichael

Now, everything made sense.

he'd always felt Carlotta acted

turned out Carlotta really was

daughter wasn't one for practical jokes. Seeing her sit so unruffled in that seat made it perfectly clear-she wasn't just taking

time they met, when Citrine told him she held the patent for a cutting-edge medical robot. He

she'd been telling the truth-the patent was for

identity laid bare, Raymond

only risen to prominence after acquiring HavencrestChase Group Holdings

swamped with coursework and not even legally an adult. Whoz could have imagined that a teenager could in such a short span, transform the company into

of brilliance and business acumen

as a commotion stirred

sitting in the Chair's seat and clearly took

and tapped her on the shoulder, his tone sharp and patronizing. "Hey, kiddo, you're in the wrong place. That seat's reserved for the Chair of CICI