The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 818

As the clock struck midnight, ringing in the new year, Citrine was no longer a little girl without a home. From this moment on, every day was something to look

forward to.

The next morning, she was woken by the persistent buzz of her phone. Still half- asleep, she groggily rubbed her eyes and fumbled around her nightstand until her hand finally closed around her phone.

"Hello?” Her voice was thick with sleep, a raspy softness that made her sound endearingly young.

Sebastian's heart melted at the sound. His reply was gentle, warm: "Happy New Year, sweetheart."

They'd only just made things official the night before, and Citrine still couldn't quite believe she actually had a boyfriend now.

"Sebastian..." The moment she heard his familiar voice, she snapped awake.

He let out a soft, amused laugh at the way she said his name. "Hmm?"

was something teasing in his tone that sent a little shiver through her. Citrine swallowed. "Happy New

and pleased. "When you get up,

just excited about the weather and didn't think much of it. Sebastian didn't explain, just let out a soft laugh. "Yeah, it's a beautiful day." They chatted a

in the bathroom, she was about to head downstairs when something made her pause. She walked over to

glow. Citrine couldn't help but smile at the rare appearance of the sun, her spirits lifting with the morning light. Just as she was about to turn away, something caught her eye-a thick red envelope sitting on the

the window open, grabbed the heavy envelope,

was a neat stack of crisp bills, so full the envelope nearly burst. On top of the money lay a small white

New Year. I hope my

a promise to stay together forever, or a demand for

name what she was feeling. Her heart hammered

senses, grabbed her phone, and opened the chat labeled "Hubby [heart]"-a nickname Sebastian had stubbornly set

Citrine couldn't help but smile, biting back a

you get up here? This

was almost

of