The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 439

Sensing the tension in the room, Citrine couldn't help but laugh. "Relax, I'm not going to bite you," she teased. "Seriously, lighten up."

She glanced around at her friends. "No matter what my background is, we're still roommates—and friends." The last thing she wanted was for her identity to change the way they treated her.

Her words seemed to break the ice. The girls visibly relaxed and slipped back into their usual selves.

Ingrid looked genuinely moved. "Citrine, you're unbelievable. You're not stuck up at all. I swear, you're the most down-to-earth CEO I've ever met."

Lisa grinned. “I can't believe the chairman of a Fortune 500 company is my roommate. Makes Crestwood University feel totally worth it."

Jane's eyes practically sparkled as she stared at Citrine. Who could blame her? Her idol was standing right in front of her.

She was so excited she could barely get the words out. "Citrine, you're honestly amazing. You're my role model."

Listening to their praise, Citrine just smiled. "You're all incredible, too. If you made it to Crestwood, that means we're all exceptional.”

The girls glowed with pride at her words.

all, it wasn't every day the

vow: no more skipping 8 a.m. classes.

so inspiring-they wanted to follow her

was hit with a mix of shock and dread when he heard

news.

All this time, he'd assumed her only connection was to the Carmichael family,

now, this girl he'd thought of as ordinary suddenly turned out to be the head of a multinational corporation. The realization left him shaken and more than a

been struggling these past few days, unable to snap out of it, and now seeing her name trending online only made things

collar open, a cigarette dangling from his lips-he'd lost count of how many

after hours of wrestling with himself, he changed clothes and drove

he arrived,

let him in right away. Instead,

moment later, leisurely cradling her cat

stood frozen, taking

a simple nightgown,

makeup-free and