The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Seeing that Hastings was acting strangely, Citrine grew anxious something might go wrong. She turned, signaling to Sebastian, "Let's head back."

Sebastian glanced at Hastings, then nodded at Citrine.

"Come on," she signed again.

Without another look at Hastings, Citrine swam upward, steady and determined. Sebastian followed right behind her.

The two of them treated Hastings as if he didn't exist, not sparing him even a glance.

Watching their silhouettes rise toward the surface together, Hastings' expression darkened, his face twisted with resentment.

He had come all the way down here just to find her, and yet she couldn't even be bothered to look his way. All she saw was Sebastian.

A heavy, burning anger settled in Hastings' gut, drowning out all reason.

Suddenly, he surged upward, eyes locked fiercely on Sebastian.

Sebastian, focused on keeping up with Citrine, didn't notice anything amiss-until a sharp pain clamped around his ankle. In an instant, he was yanked downward, plunging toward the ocean floor.

a wicked satisfaction bloom

only then that Citrine sensed something

see Sebastian's limp form drifting

into her throat. Without hesitation, she spun

spread his

He'll make it up on

only wanted to teach Sebastian a lesson-he

Sebastian wasn't that

stared him down, face grim, and slipped past him with

she reached the ocean floor, Sebastian was motionless, his eyes closed, not

surged through her as she pulled him upright-and

over. Citrine immediately unfastened her own oxygen tank,

could do was watch helplessly as the woman he loved

in his chest was unbearable. If Citrine's cold words before had sliced him like a knife, this moment was a sword driven straight

the moment air

flawless, beautiful face of Citrine, so close he

given him everything-her oxygen, her gear. Realization dawned as he felt the mask on his