The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 742

Sebastian stared at Citrine, her words echoing in his mind long after she’d finished speaking. It felt as though something inside him was about to burst, his heart pounding so fast he could hardly breathe.

He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. “You’re right,” he finally said, voice low but certain.

He admired her deeply—for her vision, her compassion. He knew, too, that he would never be able to match her, not really.

In that instant, Sebastian understood why so many people were drawn to Citrine, why they fell so easily under her spell. She was worth it, plain and simple.

By the time Citrine and Sebastian reemerged from below deck, each in a dry change of clothes, they found Quentin surfacing near the boat, dragging Hastings with him.

Quentin’s face was drawn and serious. He barely spared them a glance before shouting, “Give me a hand! Hurry!”

With his eyes squeezed shut and several fresh cuts on his arms, Quentin looked more battered than either of them had ever seen. Citrine took one look at the situation and was at the railing in an instant, Sebastian right behind her.

“Give me his arm!” she called, reaching out to Quentin.

Sebastian moved into position, bracing himself to help.

Quentin, not wasting a second, hauled Hastings up and passed his limp body to them before clambering onto the boat himself, drenched and out of breath.

“I ran out of air down there,” Quentin said quickly, voice tight with worry. “Hastings passed out against the rocks—he was completely unresponsive.”

Citrine ignored him, turning her focus fully to Hastings. “Lay him flat,” she ordered Sebastian.