The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

His tone was resolute. "I don't want this either, but today, one of us has to die before this door will open. She's the weakest."

"If you want to blame someone, blame her for being too weak."

Una glanced at Farris, who was standing beside Sellers. "Is that how you see it too?" she asked.

Farris said nothing, but drew his knife in silent reply.

Una read their intentions instantly. Her eyes turned cold and sharp. "Citrine, I'm not letting them touch you. As long as I'm breathing, no one is going to hurt you."

She took a few steps back, pulled out her own knife, and positioned herself protectively in front of Citrine, ready to fight.

Hanson stepped back with her, his gaze steady as he looked at the others. "For the past three years, Citrine has been like a little sister to me. If you want to kill her, you'll have to go through me first."

Seeing their determination, Sellers and Farris dropped the pretense and attacked without another word.

Una was a woman and Hanson was just a teenager-neither stood a chance physically against the two burly men. The fight was quick and brutal. Within moments, both Una and Hanson were wounded and sprawled on the ground, unable to move.

Citrine, terrified she'd only make things worse, had hesitated to get closer. But as Sellers raised his knife, ready to drive it into Una's chest, Citrine rushed forward, clutching her own blade.

She plunged it hard into Sellers' back.noveldrama

Roaring in pain, Sellers spun around and grabbed Citrine, ready to finish her off. At the same time, Una lunged forward, trying to stop him. In the chaos, Sellers' knife drove straight into Una's chest, even as Una's own blade found Sellers' throat.

Both collapsed, dead before they hit the ground.

Across the room, Farris stabbed Hanson in the gut. The boy bled out instantly.

The two people who had cared for Citrine most were gone.

And finally, the door opened.

Citrine knelt in the dirt, clutching Una's and Hanson's bodies, sobbing uncontrollably. As the door creaked open, she sprang at the island's master, sinking her teeth into his hand, her eyes burning with hatred. "I'll kill you!" she snarled.

"You little beast, let go!" The island master yanked her hair, trying to kick her off.

But Citrine wouldn't let go. She nearly bit off half his finger before they managed to pry her loose with a stun baton, shocking her until she went limp.

Afterward, she was beaten again for her defiance.

But once her wounds healed, Citrine made up her mind: she would escape this hell, no matter what it took.

In three years, she had learned every route on the island. That very night, she put her plan into action.

She'd tried to run countless times before—each attempt ending in disaster and nearly costing her life. But this time, she got away clean. Citrine finally escaped the island.

At that exact moment, miles away, Raymond jolted awake from his sleep.

He sat up abruptly, wiping the tears from his face. He no longer believed these were just dreams. He knew now that everything he saw was real.

The first thing he did was order Adler to launch a full-scale strike against the Iverson family. The second was to investigate any connection between Crestwood, the Glenwood family, and Mirage Cay.

The Carmichael family held considerable power in Havencrest, but in Crestwood, they were outmatched. If Mirage Cay was truly linked to Glenwood, Raymond knew he might not be able to protect his daughter.

He had only one option: make the Carmichael Group even stronger.

That same night, Raymond caught a red-eye flight home.

When he landed, he went straight to the old family estate.

It had been over a month since Citrine last saw Raymond. When they finally met

again, she noticed immediately-he looked exhausted, worn to the bone.