The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

From that night on, among all the homes lit up across the city, there was finally a light burning just for her. Citrine was no longer the lonely girl nobody loved.

Now, she had someone she wanted to share her life with. The emptiness inside her heart felt as if it was finally being filled.

She hurried downstairs, unable to contain her excitement. But when she saw Sebastian standing perfectly still in the foyer, her eyes stung suddenly with

emotion.

"When did you get here?" she asked.

"Not long ago," Sebastian replied. The moment he saw the woman he'd been longing for day and night, his voice came out rough and raw.

"Not long? How long is 'not long'?" Citrine eyed the red flush on his cheeks and the tips of his ears, both chapped from the cold. Clearly, she didn't buy his

answer.

Sebastian looked at her with a gentle gaze, unable to look away. "Three hours."

"Three hours?" Citrine was stunned.

"Why didn't you call me?" she demanded. "Standing outside in this freezing weather for three hours-are you made of stone or just plain thick?"

Was this man an idiot?

That thought barely finished in her mind before Sebastian looked at her, eyes shining. "You were with your family. I didn't want to disturb you."

His voice was so soft and warm, and the way he looked at her made her feel like she was the center of his world.

of her younger self-how she used to give all her affection to Theo, chasing after someone who would never return it. The ache in her chest was sharp, but it faded as quickly as it came. She didn't love Theo anymore, not in

before her, Sebastian, a grown man, looked for all the world like an obedient schoolboy waiting for approval. Citrine couldn't help

from her neck and

too tall-I

asking, he did as

neck,

are you out of your mind? Did you want to freeze to death out

sharp, but Sebastian's heart

at her. "I

annoyed, half amused. "Still arguing? Good thing I came down when I did. What if

answer, just looked at

the answer on his face-he absolutely

Citrine shook her head, pausing for a beat. How had she never noticed just how hopelessly earnest he

didn't expect him to respond, but suddenly Sebastian met her gaze, eyes burning with sincerity, and said, "I just really

center arced high into

night, and the one she loved stood right before

like

but clear. "I don't

Sebastian almost thought

eyes shining, desperate for confirmation. But Citrine,

then," she said, putting on a show

Sebastian's face lit up with joy. Afraid she might take it back, he

but