The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 30

Citrine's eyes suddenly turned cold, lips flattening into a hard line.

The air went still in an instant.

No one would have guessed that Citrine and Alicia had once been inseparable as children—the kind of best friends who practically shared everything.

When they were little, Citrine was an adorable, cherubic child, the sort everyone wanted to scoop up and hug.

She was just three and a half when she first met four-year-old Alicia at preschool.

Alicia, even then, was obsessed with beauty. The moment she saw Citrine, she was utterly enchanted by her.

She went home in tears, begging her mother, Irma Chase, to bring Citrine home to be her little sister.

Back then, Aline and her son hadn't yet returned to the Iverson family. Citrine was still a little girl wrapped in warmth and affection.

Faced with the clumsy adoration of a child her own age, Citrine felt awkward and lost.

After all, the other kids at preschool didn't like her. The reason was almost laughable: she always answered every question the teacher asked and earned the most gold stars.

Alicia was the first child who ever said she liked her.

That day became the happiest Citrine had ever had at preschool. When she got home, she carefully chose a gift for her very first friend and brought it to school the next morning to give to her.

From then on, wherever Citrine went, Alicia was sure to follow.

But everything changed when Aline brought Jeanette back to the Iverson family. Bit by bit, Citrine lost the love of everyone around her.

No one in the Iverson family wanted to listen to her anymore.

Everyone changed—everyone, that is, except Alicia.

Whenever Citrine was upset, Alicia would always step in front of her, ready to protect.

She'd say, "Citrine, is that brat picking on you again? Just wait—I'll show her not to mess with you."

She'd say, "Citrine, don't be sad. Even if no one else believes you, I always will."

She'd say, "Citrine, I won't talk to Jeanette, that annoying pest, ever again. Please don't be mad at me, okay?"