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.

speak, but when he caught his

thought, silent as well. No one noticed the way she watched

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

the topic of their business collaboration again. Citrine brushed him off

was over, Vester asked Citrine

garden. Citrine settled onto the old wooden swing, gripping

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

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

look, inviting him

Darius Archer's business proposal?" Vester didn't

Instead, she tossed the question back at him. "I'd

the spark in her eyes. "Getting anything out of you, Ms. Carmichael, is harder than I

fixed Vester with

me what you

have a saying: honesty

it was just because it was