The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 215

Elbert could feel his blood pressure spike just thinking about his wayward granddaughter.

That girl—barely a teenager and already running wild. Instead of studying, she insisted on hanging around with those no-good troublemakers outside of school, pretending to be some kind of gangster queen.

Recently, she’d even dyed her hair a flaming red. If today weren’t his birthday celebration and he hadn’t insisted she wear a wig, she’d probably have shown up with that ridiculous hair, making a spectacle of herself and him both. He could already picture the laughter behind his back.

Elbert shot a sidelong glance at his disappointing granddaughter, his tone thick with exasperation. “Leila, you should take a page from Regina’s book. Look at her—hardworking, responsible. If you put half as much effort into your studies, you wouldn’t have to worry about getting into a good university.”

Leila and Regina both attended the prestigious Westbrook Academy—one was top of her grade, the other dead last. Elbert never missed a chance to compare the two.

She’d heard this speech so many times, her ears might as well have grown calluses.

But Elbert’s health wasn’t what it used to be; he was too old to handle too much excitement. Leila shot Regina a venomous glare, grinding out a perfunctory, “Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

Regina, meanwhile, had Elbert eating out of the palm of her hand, his booming laughter ringing throughout the room.

From start to finish, Elbert hadn’t spared so much as a glance for Citrine, who stood quietly beside Weston, as if she were invisible.

Citrine didn’t mind in the least. She was perfectly content to play the background, enjoying the peace.

When Elbert and Regina finally finished chatting, Weston seized the moment to make introductions. “Elbert, this is my granddaughter, Citrine Carmichael—Raymond’s daughter.”

“Oh, Raymond’s girl, is she? I’ve heard her mother’s a mystery,” Elbert finally deigned to look at Citrine, his tone dripping with disdain.

He might as well have pointed at her and called her Raymond’s illegitimate child.

“Hello, Elbert,” Citrine replied evenly, picking up immediately on his hostility. Her voice was as cool and detached as his.

Elbert’s face darkened, his brows drawing together in disapproval.

Every other child at least had the decency to call him Mr. Elbert, but this girl? She called him by his first name, as if she’d never been taught basic manners.