The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 601

Talbot's gaze lingered on Citrine, and a twisted idea flickered across his face. His voice slithered through the room. "Originally, I planned for both of us to go down together tonight. But now, I can't help but pity you."

A manic smile split his lips. "I've changed my mind."

He jabbed a finger toward Raymond Carmichael and the others. "How about this: kill those five, and I'll let you walk free. What do you say?"

Citrine said nothing. Her eyes were as dark as a starless night.

Talbot pressed on, his tone almost coaxing. "Don't you hate them? If not for them, would you have been tortured half to death on Mirage Cay?"

"Come on, be good. Kill them, and I'll let you live."

Watching her murder her own family seemed far more entertaining than simply killing her himself.

Expectation flickered in Talbot's eyes.

Saunders listened in horror, piecing together the fragments of Citrine's suffering a horror they'd never truly imagined before. Beaten on Mirage Cay, torn at by dogs, forced to witness cannibalism up close... These were nightmares

had seen glimpses of her torment in his dreams: his daughter bullied, then later lying motionless in a hospital bed. But hearing a stranger recount Citrine's pain out

he said rang true: every ounce of Citrine's suffering could be traced

found her sooner, if only they'd protected her,

she hated them, who

crashed over Raymond

of the Carmichael family was no better off; shame kept their eyes fixed anywhere

he'd craved. She'd helped Manley Carmichael, once lost in despair, stand tall again and find hope. Even Travis Carmichael, who'd been reckless and wayward, had turned his life around-he

the family's

Carmichaels, and yet every one of them had failed her. If time could turn back, they would have moved heaven and earth to bring

everyone knew life

Carmichaels were drowning

were already slick