The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 481

Everyone raised their glasses in a toast, their faces masked with polite smiles that felt as thin and brittle as glass.

Citrine glanced around the table, her lips curling into a faint, enigmatic smile. "Thank you all for your kind words."

From start to finish, she hadn't even touched her glass.

She could easily tell that most of these people were fawning for their own gain; genuine admiration was in short supply.

But Citrine didn't care. Now that she stood at the top, she no longer needed to cater to anyone's whims.

She would drink if she felt like it—and if she didn't, she could just as easily flip the table and walk out.

The others kept their glasses raised, their eyes flickering uneasily toward Citrine, smiles freezing uncomfortably on their faces.

Still, no one dared to speak up. Finally, someone tried to break the tension, smiling as he said, “President Carmichael, you're young, brilliant, and truly inspiring. We'll finish this round in your honor-please, join us if you wish."

With that, the group downed their drinks in unison, the awkward atmosphere dissolving somewhat.

A sharp one, Citrine thought, letting her gaze linger on the man for a moment longer.

Mr. Shaw from Crestwood Hospital. He's very interested in

nodded, understanding at

more widespread, hospitals and corporations everywhere were eager to invest

standard-most advanced, most reliable, and most successful in the country, making them every business's first

tests or lacked essential features;

at the table was scrambling to highlight their hospital's

strengths. Citrine listened intently, sometimes

quick word

had just

Mr. Fuller, his

in an oily grin, looked at Citrine and

so much at such a young

too busy for

am I right?"

by his sudden turn to her private life.

flashed in Mr. Fuller's eyes. He glanced meaningfully at

with

Fuller..." Carney hesitated, his face going chalk white,

and muttered under his breath, "Do you want