The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 13

His daughter had become Raymond's daughter.

The realization struck Sawyer like a blow to the chest—a dull, lingering ache he couldn't ignore.

For some reason, his mind drifted back to memories of Citrine as a child.

Back then, Sawyer had nothing—no money, no connections. He was just starting his company, which had already lost a fortune on its first projects, leaving him drowning in debt. He spent months in a haze of despair, convinced he'd reached rock bottom.

That was when he met Citrine.

One night, after drinking far too much, he stumbled down the street on his way home. That's when he saw young Citrine.

She couldn't have been more than three, dressed in ragged clothes that made her look like a little street urchin. Head held high, she called out to him.

"Daddy."

Her eyes sparkled—bright and clear, as if holding a whole galaxy inside.

Sawyer had never dealt with such a young child before. For the first time in a long while, he stopped in his tracks.

He answered, his tone oddly serious, "Kid, I'm not your dad."

Citrine stared back at him, her gaze far too wise for her age. "But could you be?" she asked.

Worried he wouldn't believe her, she went on, "My dad says I'm a burden, so he hates me. I want a new dad. Could you be my dad?"

Her childish honesty loosened something in Sawyer's chest, easing the tension that had been wound tight for months.

"Kid, you're really latching onto me, aren't you?" he replied, half amused.

But he didn't give her words much thought.

It wasn't until he was nearly home that he realized Citrine had been following him the whole way.

"You've been tailing me this whole time?" he asked, surprised.

Citrine nodded.

"Don't you know how dangerous that is?" For once, Sawyer found himself scolding someone else.

"Where do you live? I'll take you home."

Sensing he was upset, Citrine mumbled an address.

Her home was in a narrow alley, overflowing with trash and reeking of sewage. She lived in a rundown apartment building at the end.

"This is my home," Citrine said, knocking on the door.