The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 707

The next day, Gorman took Jeanette shopping at the mall and treated her to a new wardrobe along with a collection of sparkling jewelry.

Life lately had felt almost too good to be true. Gorman's unwavering indulgence had swept her off her feet, and Jeanette found herself rediscovering a sense of pride and self-worth she thought she'd lost.

Perhaps sensing how much Gorman doted on her, Jeanette grew bolder. She started asking for things—a car, a designer bag, another necklace—and without fail, Gorman granted every wish.

Jeanette was practically beaming, her happiness radiating as she suddenly remembered Aline. She turned to Gorman and said, "Mr. Gorman, there's one more thing I'd like your help with."

Gorman's brow creased, suspecting she had her eye on yet another handbag or piece of jewelry.

"If there's something you want, just let the house manager know. He'll take care of it. No need to come to me about these things," he replied, his gaze clouding over for a moment. Though he kept his expression neutral, there was a flicker of discomfort-Jeanette's requests for gifts had begun to feel transactional. Still, he agreed. After all, to him, her wishes were nothing more than a matter of money.

And money was something he had in abundance.

Was this man starting to see her as a gold-digger?

The thought struck Jeanette like a slap. Color drained from her face and she rushed to explain, terrified of falling from his favor. "No, Mr. Gorman, that's not what I meant. It's not about that, really."

to salvage her image in his eyes, she repeated, "It's

expression didn't change. "Then what is it?

went abroad, we've lost touch.

her mother, Gorman's eyes

right. I'll look into it as soon as

investigators came back with

to your email. Just a heads up-Jeanette's reputation online isn't

replied, ending the

and saw the

dossier on Jeanette-and, to his surprise, on Citrine

the information, his expression growing

the daughter of Hilda, matriarch of the Saunders

nearly made Gorman laugh out

and again, girls who'd seen the missing person notices showed up at the Saunders estate, but every single

certain-this Citrine Carmichael was just another

too convenient for the real daughter to suddenly materialize. Something was