The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 55

After Gerda finished speaking, she bent down and gave Sawyer a respectful bow.

"Thank you, sir, for looking after me all these years," she said, her voice steady but tinged with age. "I'm getting old, and it's time for this old woman to retire and spend her days in peace at home."

Once Gerda had left, Sawyer couldn't get her words out of his mind. The conversation seemed to linger in the room long after she was gone.

Norton and Clifford, usually quick to fill any silence, were uncharacteristically quiet as well. Gerda's words had clearly stirred up childhood memories for them, leaving each lost in thought.

Sawyer didn't question Aline any further. He knew there was little point—he wasn't going to get an answer.

Instead, he gave her one last look. "Let me ask you one final time. In all the years Citrine was abroad, did you ever send her a single cent?"

Aline nodded, the gesture stiff and almost painful.

Even if she hadn't confessed, Sawyer could have found out on his own. Admitting it now was easier.

"Ash," Aline said softly, "I just wanted to think about our own daughter a little more. After all, Citrine is adopted."

"Enough. That's enough," Sawyer said with a deep sigh, cutting her off. He turned away, unwilling to continue the conversation.

Meanwhile, the internet was ablaze with the latest scandal. Sawyer had barely stepped into the office before the head of operations intercepted him.

"Mr. Iverson, how should we respond to this?" the department head asked carefully, holding out a phone.

Sawyer took the phone and his eyes caught on the word "exile." His heart sank.

He'd never once called Citrine in those five years. Sending her overseas and then ignoring her was exile by another name. Citrine was right—he had no defense.

Without another word, Sawyer quickly typed out a reply.

@CICI: You never studied abroad. I'm sorry. It was the Iverson family that failed you.

The official Iverson Group account posted a public admission: the family had wronged Citrine.

The internet exploded.

"Unbelievable. The Iversons have no shame at all."

"Poor Citrine. If this is what they call adoption, she'd have been better off never being taken in at all. Who knows how much better her life could've been."

The dissatisfaction with the Iversons only grew, and the comments turned even nastier.

The post suggesting Citrine should be grateful was bombarded until the account owner deleted it entirely.