The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 770 Citrine was about to get into the car when she spotted Sebastian striding toward her, clearly agitated.

She paused, caught off guard by his unexpected appearance.

"What are you doing here?" Sebastian's face was unreadable, his eyes fixed on her.

"Where are you going?" She blinked, unsure what he meant.

"Sorry?" His voice was low and tense. "Why did you suddenly lay out a five-year plan for the company? What's going on?" Citrine hesitated, searching his face before answering. "I have sthings I need to take care of." She clearly had no intention of elaborating.

But Sebastian refused to let it go, stubbornly holding her gaze. "What kind of things?" Citrine pressed her lips together and glanced away, avoiding his eyes, silent for a long time.

"Has something happened?" Sebastian's frown deepened. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong-Citrine would never just walk away from the company she cared about unless it was dire.

She looked back at him and shook her head. "It's just spersonal business. That's all." Her evasiveness only fueled his worry.

After a moment, he tried again. "I'm not who I used to be. SC Group's influence is all over Crestwood now, and we've got sreach abroad, too. If you need anything-" But before he could finish, Citrine cut him off. "Thank you, but I can handle it myself." Sebastian started to protest, but she anticipated him. "I have to go. There are things I need to do." With that, she climbed into the car, leaving him standing there with any further words dying on his lips.

After she left, Citrine headed to a random hotel owned by CICI Group, her suitcase in tow.

Meanwhile, chaos erupted at the Saunders estate.

Hilda Saunders had just finished arranging the details for her trip abroad when she returned to fetch something- only to discover that Citrine was gone.

Now she sat on the living room sofa, her expression thunderous, as though she were ready to explode at any moment.

Monica Saunders and Wade stood off to the side, too frightened to utter a word.

Hilda's voice was ice-cold as it cut through the silence. "Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on her? How did she manage to leave?" Her glare pinned Monica and Wade in place.

When neither answered, Hilda slammed her palm on the table.

"Well? Speak up, or do you wantto deal with you the old-fashioned way?" Wade flinched involuntarily.

Hilda noticed immediately.

"It was you, wasn't it?" she demanded, her tone sharp.

Wade knew his aunt well enough-she wouldn't let this go until she got answers.

"It was me," he admitted, staring down at the floor.

Before Hilda could respond, Wadę pressed on. "Aunt Hilda, I just couldn't bear to see my sister so miserable. You don't understand-if we stopped her, she would have been devastated." Hilda's voice trembled with suppressed fury. "You couldn't bear to see her upset, but you can bear to watch her walk into danger?" The word "danger" sent a chill through Wade, and pain flickered in his eyes. But he quickly gathered himself.

tCitrine's ever "This is the first tir been so serious about something," he said, looking Hilda straight in the eye. "You know her better than anyone. She's terrified of regret. If we keep her from going, she't spend the rest of her life haunted by what-ifs." As her mother, Hilda understood all too well.

A flash of anguish crossed her eyes.

"All I want is for my daughter to live a long, happy life," she whispered. "Even if it means she'll hatefor it." She took a shuddering breath, then turned icy again.

"Wade, get on your knees." Monica's face went pale. She immediately knelt beside him.

"Aunt Hilda, please let Wade off this time. It was my fault, too. I was upstairs that day. I could have stopped him, but I didn't." It was true-Monica had seen everything and chosen to turn a blind eye.

Wade dropped to his knees as well.

Hilda's expression only grew colder.

"I should have known. Monica, you're always so reliable-unless you wanted this to happen. Since you're both responsible, you'll both be punished." She signaled to the staff, who quickly filed out of the room, leaving them alone.

Once the door closed, Hilda spoke.

"All right. Tfor the family discipline." Two of the house's m security staff stepped forward, handing Hilda a leather strap. She ran her fingers over it, her eyes steely, and was just about to bring it down when a commotion erupted outside. She paused, scowling. "What is it?" she snapped at the flustered maid who rushed in.

"It's Miss Citrine-she just called," the maid said, holding out a phone. "She tried the house fine, but no one picked up, so she called me." Sof the tension drained from Hilda's face. She snatched the phone, urgency in her voice.

"Give it here." Before she could say anything, Citrine's voice cthrough the line, steady and resolute.

"Mom, I have to go to Mirage Cay., Please don't punish my brother sister. If you need to blveland someone, wait until I cback and punishinstead." "You're killing me, Citrine," Hilda choked out, furious yet helpless.

"Mom, if I don't go, I'll regret it for the rest of my life." Before Hilda could answer, Citrine hung up.

Behind her, the bodyguard still held out the strap. "Madam, should we continue the punishment?" Hilda didn't reply. She just shot Monica and Wade a cold glare before sweeping out of the room.

Only after she'd gone did Monica and Wade breathe a sigh of relief.

Wade managed a shaky laugh. "Thank God for my sister. If not for her, I'd be stuck in bed for days."

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