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.

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

way she watched Sebastian, eyes gleaming with a predatory certainty,

the entire meal, Citrine and Sebastian both remained silent. Vester and Jason, meanwhile, exchanged uneasy glances, sensing something was off between the two. The whole table was left to wonder if Citrine

of their business collaboration again. Citrine brushed him off politely,

asked Citrine to step outside with

front garden. Citrine settled onto the old wooden swing, gripping the ropes, her head tilted back as she let

straight to the point. "Mr. Vester, you didn't bring me out here to talk about

to face her, the corners of his mouth lifting in a subtle,

shot him a look, inviting him

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

Instead, she tossed the question back at him.

couldn't help but smile at the spark in her eyes. "Getting anything out of you, Ms. Carmichael,

the ground, bringing the swing to a halt. She fixed Vester with a steady look

me what

a

honesty... I like that." Maybe it was just because