The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Raymond's injuries from Mirage Cay hadn't fully healed yet. Citrine didn't let him linger in the hospital room, brushing him off with a few quick words and sending him on his way.

Now, in the spacious room, only Citrine and Sebastian remained.

Citrine carried a bowl of fresh fruit over to the bed and sat down beside him.

Sebastian kept his eyes tightly shut, uncertain if he should open them or just keep pretending.

Until Citrine broke the silence.

"Alright, enough. You can stop faking."

Sebastian opened his eyes, blinking in surprise. "How did you know?"

Citrine casually speared a piece of fruit with a fork and held it to his lips. "I saw you blink a minute ago."

Not wanting her to misunderstand, Sebastian quickly explained, "I wasn't trying to fool you. I just... didn't know the right moment to wake up."

After all, none of this felt exactly appropriate.

"Alright, just eat." Citrine nudged the fruit closer.

Sebastian stared at the forkful for a second, then obediently took a bite.

Citrine drew her hand back, a hint of exasperation in her voice. "What my dad said was really something else..."

Honestly, how many fathers in this world would ever approve of their daughter becoming a heartbreaker? Her dad was way ahead of his time.

She wasn't some femme fatale, but his words had still left her oddly happy. Through all that awkwardness, she'd felt the warmth of a father's love.

Thinking of Raymond, Citrine couldn't help but smile to herself.

But she quickly snapped out of it and turned her attention to Sebastian. "How are you feeling now? Any discomfort?"

"No." Sebastian shook his head, utterly sincere.

"Alright, open up." Citrine offered him another bite.

Having learned from before, Sebastian opened his mouth without hesitation.

She kept feeding him piece after piece, only stopping when he finally shook his head, too full for another bite.

Setting the fruit bowl aside, Citrine fell quiet, watching Sebastian as she spoke slowly. "Why did you shield me back then?"

If that bullet hadn't missed, he could have died. The thought still haunted her.

If something had happened to him because of her, she'd spend the rest of her life drowning in guilt.

Meeting those clear, earnest eyes, Sebastian felt his heart skip a beat.

"There's no reason," he said softly.

"What?"

Citrine paused, searching his face.

Sebastian continued, "In that moment, I didn't think about anything. My body just moved on its own."

"I just didn't want anything to happen to you."

Citrine looked up, her heart racing.

For once, the usually quick-witted her was at a loss for words.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself, before saying quietly, "I know. You like

me."

Forcing herself to keep her

steady, she asked, "Am I realice et

important to you than your

life?"

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He'd nearly died for her.

Citrine had lived two lives-she'd seen

Call kinds of love, most of it

crumbling in the face of

angeet

self-interest.

or

But she couldn't deny, seeing Sebastian put himself between her and that bullet, her heart had skipped a beat.

Maybe it was twisted, but she liked being loved by someone who'd value her above his own life.

Citrine's eyes sparkled, drawing Sebastian in like a whirlpool.noveldrama

He found himself staring, lost in her gaze.

After a long moment, he finally spoke. "I don't know if you're more important to me than my own life. But at the edge of death, all I wanted was to protect you, as much as I could."

He thought for a moment, then said, "Maybe... I don't just like you."

"Maybe I'm falling in love with you."

Citrine had been confessed to before, but nothing had ever made her heart pound like this.

She didn't know if she liked him back-but it was clear: Sebastian was different.