The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 608

Citrine caught a glimpse of Talbot's movement out of the corner of her eye. She paused for a moment before turning away and speaking, her voice calm but cold.

"Talbot, I know you've given up on life. But I suggest you think about your son. If you lay a finger on anyone, your son will go down as your accomplice. He'll be executed right along with you."

Talbot stiffened, his hands freezing mid-motion. Whatever fight he had left seemed to drain out of him in an instant; he looked as if he'd aged a decade in the span of a breath.

Just then, several members of the Vermillion Vanguard came down from the sniper's perch, moving with crisp precision as they approached Citrine. They stopped before her and raised their hands in salute.

"Boss."

"Well done." Citrine nodded, her voice warm yet authoritative.

Hastings Cooper stood nearby with the others, but unlike the rest-whose eyes shone with awe and respect-his gaze was fixed solely on Citrine, intense and burning.

The details of this mission had been kept tightly under wraps. The higher-ups had only said it was a rescue operation, with the Boss working in tandem from inside. Hastings hadn't realized the truth until he spotted Citrine's face from the sniper's nest and couldn't help but ask the seasoned veterans beside him. They, all loyal subordinates of the Boss, had told him everything.

Until that moment, Hastings had never imagined that Citrine was actually Boss C -the legendary, undefeated leader of the Vermillion Vanguard.

insisted on enlisting. But his one driving goal in joining the Vermillion Vanguard had always been the Boss-this war hero, this living legend, was his role model. Because

eyes brimmed with admiration and something close to reverence. So much so, he barely even registered his best friend Theo standing

collar and shoved him toward

soldier caught Talbot and secured

to the present,

subtle signal. "That other old acquaintance of

and found Theo

Hastings' face, his voice tight and pale with

just hung his head,

face darkened as he dragged Theo forward, disappointment heavy in every line of his posture. The two stood side by side, both looking utterly defeated-neither better

quietly,

arrested his closest friend; the other had

what must be going through their

Citrine could dwell on it, Sherman appeared, leading a group of

a distance, his voice thick

not know, but everyone in the