The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 764

It had been several months since Raymond Carmichael left the country for work. For the first couple of months, Citrine would still hear from him now and then-an occasional message, sometimes a video call. But over the past month, he seemed to have vanished. None of her messages got a reply; with each one she sent, only silence answered back.

That night, Citrine tossed and turned, her sleep restless and uneasy.

She dreamed of the days back on Mirage Cay-old memories she hadn't revisited in a long time. But she also dreamed of Raymond.

In her dream, Raymond was there on Mirage Cay too, only he wasn't safe. He was being dragged along by a group of strangers, blood soaking through his shirt.

Citrine's face paled. She tried to run to him, but before she could reach him, a gunshot rang out. Raymond collapsed instantly, and everything was swallowed up by a blinding wash of red.

She jolted upright in bed, her breath ragged, every nerve in her body on edge. Sleep was now impossible.

Reaching for a tissue, she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. It was three in the morning.

That meant it was midday in the Federated States of Magnolia-where Raymond was supposed to be.

Citrine opened her phone's messaging app and, seeing her last unanswered message, typed out another.

"Dad, when are you coming home?"

maybe fifteen minutes, but there was still no response. Citrine frowned, worry prickling at

tried calling him with a video chat.

Her anxiety only deepened.

private investigator in Magnolia and pulling every string she had overseas, asking them to look into Raymond's

spent the morning pacing, waiting for news. It wasn't until

came back with the same conclusion: Raymond was missing. And it

the message. Her face drained of color, and she shot to her

turned to stare at

that something

sorts all morning. Is something the

pressed her lips together, her

Dad.”

knew better than

It was hell on earth. If Raymond had truly been taken by people

might

Isn't he

shook her head, her

a month. I tried reaching