The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

The next day, Citrine and her team boarded a flight to the Federated States of Magnolia.

After making all the necessary arrangements, Citrine took the initiative to reach out to the island's owner.

She had spent so much time on Mirage Cay that she knew plenty of inside information; getting in touch with someone from there was hardly a challenge for her.

Later, Citrine changed and went alone to a quiet restaurant.

Her contact was already waiting when she arrived.

From across the room, she immediately recognized his familiar silhouette. Calm and composed, she walked right over and took the seat across from him without hesitation.

The man wore a mask, revealing only a pair of eyes-eyes that now bore the fine lines of age at their corners.

Citrine narrowed her gaze, studying those eyes she knew so well.

"Well, Mr. Jeff, it looks like the years have finally caught up with you," she said smoothly.

He stared at her for a long moment before replying, "That's true. I've gotten old, while you somehow you're just as sharp as ever, always a step ahead."noveldrama

She offered a wry smile. "Yet for all my cleverness, I still ended up locked away on Mirage Cay for years, courtesy of you."

With that, she glanced at the waiter and said softly, "Could I have some tea, please?"

It was strange-here they were, enemies by all accounts, yet they sat across from each other like old friends who hadn't met in years, sharing a pot of tea.

Once her cup was empty, Citrine casually started ordering food, taking her time with the menu.

The man's gaze never left her, his eyes searching her face, trying and failing to read her intentions.

When she finished, she handed him the menu. "See if there's anything else you'd like," she said, almost offhand.

He didn't take it. Instead, he shook his head slightly at the waiter. "That won't be necessary," he said, his tone cool. "You can go now."

"Oh? You don't want to eat with me?" Citrine teased, feigning innocence.

"You know I never dine in public," he replied, brows drawing together, a flicker of emotion finally breaking through. "Just tell me why did you ask me here today?"

She eyed the mask covering his face and smiled, her voice laced with irony. "From my very first day on Mirage Cay, you've always hidden behind a mask. All these years, what exactly are you hiding from, Jeff?"

He gave a sudden, humorless laugh. "You haven't changed a bit still reckless as ever. Aren't you afraid I'll throw you back on Mirage Cay?"

Citrine put on a show of fear, shrugging dramatically. "Oh, I'm terrified! But honestly, Jeff, I doubt you'd risk it—not with what I know. After all, your biggest fear is that someone finds out about your sister, isn't it? Given your reputation, if the truth came out, there are people out there who would tear her apart just to get to you."

She tilted her head, lips curling into a sly smile. "Isn't that right, Jeff?"

His smile vanished. He glared at her, fury darkening his expression.

"How... How did you find out?" His voice was tight, almost strangled. "What have you done to my sister?"

He looked stricken, unable to believe that she had uncovered the secret he'd guarded so carefully.

Watching him squirm, Citrine allowed herself a satisfied smile. "Relax, Jeff. What could I possibly have done to your sister?"

He tore off his mask, his face flushed with anger. "Where is she?" he demanded, voice raw.

Citrine didn't bother to lie. "Crestwood Medical Research Center."

She smiled, almost sweetly. "Jeff, your sister is sick. What good did it

do to leave her in the Aldridge

family's hospital? You must know those doctors are useless.

She leaned back, pride in her tone. "If anything, you should be thanking me. I was the one who took your sister out of that place and brought her to my own research facility."

Jeff's hands clenched into fists, knuckles white. There was murder in his eyes.

Unruffled, Citrine poured him a cup of tea. "Calm yourself, Jeff. Have some tea." He didn't move, so she shrugged. "Suit yourself. No tea, then."

Her tone remained light and breezy, betraying nothing—until, in the next instant, she slammed her cup onto the floor, shattering it.

Her gaze turned icy. "You just don't know when to quit. Planning to kill me?" She scoffed. "By all means, go ahead. But just remember-if you lay a finger on me, your sister will be right behind me in the afterlife. I won't be lonely."

Jeff's expression was ashen, stricken with rage and fear. After a tense silence, he called the waiter over, asked for a new cup, and poured himself some tea.

"I lost my temper earlier. I apologize," he said, pushing the cup toward her with both hands.

Citrine accepted it with a dismissive snort.

Once she'd finished her tea, Jeff spoke again. "Miss Saunders, what is it you want?"

Citrine didn't bother with pretense. "Help me take down Mirage Cay. Get everyone out-alive and unharmed."