The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Citrine had just stepped out of the shower when the Archer family's butler arrived to summon them for dinner.

"We'll be right down," she replied, her gaze flickering away from Sebastian's. There was a trace of panic in her eyes, and she avoided meeting his altogether.

Without glancing back to see Sebastian's expression, Citrine hurried after the butler, keeping her head down.

"What, do I look like I bite?" Sebastian chuckled behind her, unable to help himself.

By the time Sebastian joined them downstairs, Citrine was already seated beside Vester.

She kept her eyes lowered, quietly discussing treatment plans with Vester, never once glancing in Sebastian's direction.

No matter how hard she tried to banish the memory of what had happened upstairs, when Sebastian pulled out the chair across from her, she couldn't stop her heart from tensing up just a little.

Jason, who'd been called into his father's study for a stern lecture the night before, had plenty of opinions about Citrine. Tonight, though, he knew better than to express them.

It wasn't until Darius Archer, the family patriarch, sat at the head of the table that everyone finally picked up their forks.

Vester was always quiet at meals, and with the strained relationship he had with his father, he barely said a word throughout dinner.

if he wanted to speak, but when he caught his father's warning glare, he quickly

lost in thought, silent as well. No one noticed the way she watched Sebastian, eyes gleaming with a predatory certainty, as if she could already

silent. Vester and Jason, meanwhile, exchanged uneasy glances, sensing something was off between the two. The whole table was left to

of their business collaboration again. Citrine brushed

over, Vester asked Citrine

garden. Citrine settled onto the old wooden swing, gripping the ropes, her head

ground, she spoke up, cutting straight to the point. "Mr. Vester, you didn't

subtle, approving smile. "I prefer talking

a look, inviting him

Darius Archer's business proposal?" Vester didn't answer directly, his

didn't bite. Instead, she tossed the question back at him. "I'd rather hear your thoughts

her eyes. "Getting anything out of you, Ms. Carmichael, is harder

a halt. She fixed Vester with

to tell me what you think

have a

that." Maybe it was just