The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 582

Ever since school let out for the holidays, she'd been living in the Carmichaels' Crestwood villa. After so much time, going back there had started to feel routine.

By the time Citrine returned that evening, darkness had already settled over most of the sky. She wondered if everyone had already gone to bed.

Not wanting to wake anyone, Citrine tiptoed to the front door and quietly entered the security code.

She eased the door open. The villa was pitch black, not a single light on.

Assuming everyone had called it a night, Citrine let out a silent sigh of relief and reached for the light switch. But before she could turn it on, a burst of cheerful music filled the air. One by one, soft lights flickered on around the grand hall.

Gone was the usual minimalist decor. The whole house was strung with twinkling lights and fresh flowers, pale pinks everywhere. Wisps of white fog curled across the floor, making the villa look more like a fairytale castle, dreamy and unreal.

At that moment, Citrine spotted a gigantic music box spinning toward her, topped with an enormous bouquet of roses.

Were those real or fake?

She'd never seen roses so large. Eyes wide, she stepped closer, reaching out to touch them.

Suddenly, with a loud pop, the bouquet burst open. Red roses began leaping out, showering the room in a continuous cascade-a veritable rainstorm of blooms.

As Citrine approached, she realized that each rose was carefully folded from crimson bills.

A money shower, masquerading as a rain of roses.

Tacky? Maybe. But she loved it.

Just as she was puzzling over what special day it could be, the music swelled, and several people popped out from inside the enormous rose.

"Surprise!"

"Happy birthday, Citrine!"

There wasn't room for everyone in the giant flower, so the rest of them emerged from every corner of the villa.

Looking at all the faces, it finally dawned on Citrine: it was her birthday.

Except for last year, she'd hardly celebrated her birthday before.

never allowed herself to expect

and

Travis, Sylvan, Carney, Springer,

al

friends were all here. Even her three college roommates

they'd been invited;

families and with nothing extraordinary in their resumes, they'd

be attending the birthday

was the

thing

the rest of

the three chimed in, grinning from ear to

imagined anyone would go

"No, thank *you*! We should be

pulled out her phone, sidling up to Citrine. "Citrine, can I get a

surprise,

wild with her phone, snapping shot after

the photos, nodding approvingly. "Look at you,

edited a post, arranging her and Citrine's

and my superstar friend. (Mom, look! Even

since school let out for the holidays, she'd been living in the Carmichaels'

darkness had already settled over most of the sky. She wondered if everyone had already gone to

to the front door and

the door open. The villa was pitch black, not a

But before she could turn it on, a burst of cheerful

flowers, pale pinks everywhere. Wisps of white fog curled across the floor, making the villa look

Citrine spotted a gigantic music box spinning toward her, topped with an

real

Eyes wide, she

pop, the bouquet burst open. Red roses began leaping out, showering the room in a continuous cascade-a

Citrine approached, she realized that each rose was

as a rain

But

over what special day it could be, the music

"Surprise!"

"Happy birthday, Citrine!"