The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 305

By midday, Citrine’s fever had finally broken. The fog in her mind slowly lifted, and as she blinked awake, a familiar silhouette came into focus.

Raymond? That couldn’t be. Wasn’t he supposed to be in Havencrest? There was no way he’d be here—she must still be delirious.

But then that unmistakable figure stepped right up to her bedside, the surprise clear in his voice. “Citrine, you’re awake! Are you hungry?”

It wasn’t a dream. She was suddenly, acutely aware of that.

“What are you doing here?” she blurted out, still confused. He was supposed to be in Havencrest—why was he standing in her hospital room?

Raymond just sighed, a blend of exasperation and affection in his words. “Silly girl. You’re sick. Of course your dad’s here to take care of you.”

When Citrine tried to sit up, he was quick to help, adjusting the bed and arranging the pillows behind her so she’d be comfortable.

“What would you like to eat? I’ll go grab it for you.” He hadn’t seen her for only two days, but Raymond was sure she’d lost weight. The thought tugged at his heart.

“I want beef pie,” Citrine said, her voice scratchy and soft. Maybe it was the illness, but she felt unusually vulnerable.

There was something about being sick that stripped away her usual defenses. Hearing her father’s gentle fussing, she felt her eyes sting with tears she stubbornly refused to shed.

“Alright,” Raymond said, his smile warm and a little proud. He loved fussing over his daughter. “I’ll get it for you right now.”

As soon as he left, Citrine froze. She’d just let her guard down in front of her father—shown him a side of herself she’d never meant to reveal. Why? She was supposed to be unbreakable.

Leaving the Carmichael family and coming to Crestwood for college was her first step toward independence, away from everything she’d known. This was exactly the path she had planned for herself—so why didn’t it feel right? Why couldn’t she summon any happiness?

Frowning, she stared blankly out the window, her thoughts tangled.