The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 802 It wasn't just the Saunders family who received letters and gifts-everyone in the Carmichael family did too.

At the Carmichael house, the mood was just as tearful. Weston Carmichael and his son Travis clung to each other, sobbing so hard they could barely catch their breath.

"My little girl..." "My precious grandson..." *** Overseas.

Citrine hadn't shown up for three days straight, and Raymond, ever perceptive, immediately sensed something was wrong.

After pressing Sherman for answers, he finally got the truth.

Raymond rushed to Sebastian's hospital room, only to find his daughter sitting alone on the sofa, quietly peeling an apple.

Though Sebastian was the patient here, Raymond couldn't help but feel a little annoyed with him.

He didn't linger at the door long before pushing it open and stepping inside. Citrine turned, shocked to find her father standing there, his expression dark. "Dad?" she blurted out, clearly surprised to see him.

It only took her a moment to figure out what had happened-so, she hadn't managed to keep this from him after all.

Raymond's face remained stern and silent. Even when Citrine approached to speak to him, he acted as if she weren't there.

After all, she was the one who'd hidden things from him. Feeling a bit guilty, Citrine sat back down next to him on the sofa, carefully beginning, "Dad, I didn't mean to keep this from you." When he still didn't reply, she added, "Besides, it's not like I'm seriously hurt or anything." Even as she said it, a flicker of guilt flashed in her eyes.

Just as Citrine thought she might be able to brush things off, Raymond's gaze swept over her arm. He scoffed, "Don't think I don't know-you should be resting that arm of yours. Why are you here watching over this guy? What, are the nurses just for show?" There was a hint of anger in Raymond's voice.

Citrine winced-she hadn't expected him to be this upset.

But instead of being afraid, she felt a surprising warmth blossom inside her.

She knew her father was just worried about her.

"It's just a scrape, nothing serious. See? I'm fine." To prove her point, she even flexed her injured arm in front of him.

"Stop that," Raymond barked, reaching out to gently set her arm down.

His expression was stern. "You're hurt. Take proper care of yourself-don't go making things worse." His tone was still gruff, but much softer than before.

Seeing that he'd calmed down, Citrine smiled. "Got it, Dad." She picked up the half-peeled apple from the table, preparing to finish the job.

Raymond, spotting her movements, immediately snatched the apple from her hands. He shot a fierce glare at Sebastian, who was lying in bed, and gritted his teeth.

"Snerve he's got, eating apples my daughter peeled. I haven't even had that privilege myself." His daughter was meant to be cherished, not put to work-her delicate hands were for piano keys and paintings, not kitchen chores. And yet this Sebastian had the gall to let her fuss over him.

Raymond cursed the boy a thousand times in his heart.

But no matter how much he grumbled, he still had to think of his daughter's feelings.

With that in mind, he took the fruit knife from her and muttered, "He's lucky today. I'll do it myself." Then he set about peeling the apple himself.

"Alright, Dad, don't be so jealous. I'll peel one for you too, okay?" Citrine couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Raymond shot back, "No need. You're still injured. Sit tight." Then, with a fierce huff, he added, "If that punk wasn't asleep right now, I'd be peeling his skin instead." Citrine couldn't help but laugh at his over-the-top protectiveness.

Meanwhile, across the room, the supposedly sleeping Sebastian pressed his lips together, lashes trembling. For a second, he didn't know whether he should wake up or keep pretending to be unconscious.

After shesitation, he decided to keep playing dead. He definitely didn't want to risk "having his skin peeled." Raymond kept peeling the apple, sneaking glances at his daughter's face.

After a moment, he asked, a bit awkwardly, "Citrine... What's the deal between you and that boy in the bed?" Citrine paused mid-sip from her water. She thought for a second, then answered, "We're... friends, I guess?" Raymond shot a sidelong glance at Sebastian, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. "This is the first tI've seen you worry so much over a male friend." Citrine bristled, like a cat with its tail stepped on. "He got hurt because of me! Of course I care about him!" Raymond looked at her for a long moment before finally saying, "Citrine, I'm not against you dating." All these years, he'd only ever heard her mention this one boy.

Thinking of her past with Theo Glenwood, Raymond suspected she must still have sscars.

He was afraid she wouldn't be able to move on. Sighing, he tried to reassure her, "Citrine, you're strong now. You have the Carmichael family the Saunders family behind you. Just do what makes you happy.

We'll always have your back." Raymond was torn. He didn't want her to be afraid of love because of the past, but he also dreaded the thought of her getting hurt again.

After a moment's thought, his eyes brightened. "You're still young and beautiful. If ul. If you meet someone you like, go ahead and try it out. Compare your options, see what works. We don't have any old-fashioned rules in this family-be bold, do what makes you happy." Citrine: "......" It started off normal, but the more he talked, the stranger it sounded.

Was her dad encouraging her to be a heartbreaker? She wasn't sure, but she definitely had her doubts.

Meanwhile, Sebastian's face on the hospital bed shifted from delight to horror.

At first, he thought Raymond was nudging Citrine toward dating him, but as he listened, the message grew n.

more and more alarming. Compare her options? Really?

I Sebastian nearly sat up to protest this corrupted line of thinking, but the end be restrained himself. After all, Raymond was the last person in the world he wanted to offend.