The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

In less than an hour, the team had taken control of the entire island.

When she saw Raymond again, he was slumped against the wall, a far cry from the sharply dressed man she remembered. He looked gaunt, almost unrecognizable.

"Dad." Citrine usually kept her emotions tightly under wraps, but the sight of him now made her eyes burn with tears she couldn't hide.

She spun around and shot a furious glare at the island's owner behind her, ready to explode. Jeff hurried to explain, tripping over his words. "No, it's not these wounds were from before. After you visited, I made sure he was well looked after. I swear, no one touched him again. The clothes are old, and the bloodstains— they're from before. It just... looks bad."

Jeff's voice trailed off into a mumble.

Raymond spotted Citrine then. His eyes went wide with disbelief.

"Citrine."

For a moment, Raymond wondered if he was dreaming.

"Dad." The way she looked at him made his heart ache. Her eyes shimmered with tears, and in the next instant, she flung herself into his arms.

Raymond staggered back a step, startled by the force of her hug, freezing up in surprise.

This was the first time he'd ever sensed such raw emotion from his daughter.

Something inside him softened. He awkwardly patted her back, trying to comfort her.

Then he felt the warmth of her tears soaking through his shoulder-hot, wet, and searing straight into his heart. Raymond found himself at a loss.

he had no idea what to do. His face tensed awkwardly

his sleeve to show her, eager to prove

skin was scabbed over, it was

tone only made Citrine angrier. Her eyes

she

for your business trip-why did you have to come to Mirage Cay? Were you trying to

Raymond hadn't expected her outburst. He stared

Crestwood suddenly looked like a chastened child, caught and scolded,

If they'd spoken to their own

could command soldiers on the battlefield, then

the way back, Citrine's anger

to me," Raymond pleaded,

his much shorter daughter, trying desperately to win a smile from her, left everyone around them

pitiful expression softened even the toughest soldiers, but Citrine remained unmoved, hard as steel,

continued to follow, coaxing, "Citrine, please forgive

a hand in a solemn

on coming back from the dead next

frosty look, quickening

walk faster, Raymond hurried

"Sweetheart, I was wrong."

now on, I'll do

...

Raymond plead