The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 78

She never imagined their next meeting would happen like this. With her face buried against her knees, Alicia felt her eyes sting; tears slowly seeped into her black dress, dampening the fabric.

A moment later, she sensed something draped across her shoulders.

Citrine had slipped off her coat and gently placed it over Alicia's back.

"You should head home. Be careful—there are some real creeps out at this hour."

Noticing Alicia had no interest in conversation, Citrine didn't press. She left her with that parting warning and turned to go.

As Citrine's footsteps faded into the distance, a surge of indescribable loneliness washed over Alicia.

She clutched the coat tighter, then suddenly stood and called after her, "Citrine!"

Hearing her name, Citrine turned around, familiar yet changed.

"It's really you?" Alicia met Citrine's gaze, searching her face for traces of the girl she used to know. Citrine looked calm, almost indifferent, though there was a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

"Thank you for helping me," Alicia said, holding Citrine's eyes, her own heart in turmoil.

Citrine's features hadn't changed much—still echoing the girl from their childhood—but now there was a coldness about her, a distance that kept Alicia firmly on the outside.

"Surprised it's me?" Alicia gave a bitter smile.

Once the golden child everyone envied, she had fallen so far, reduced to a plaything for others' amusement. Of all people, it had to be Citrine who saw her at her lowest. She must think Alicia deserved every bit of it.

"Yeah. What rotten luck." Citrine's reply was blunt, with no attempt to soften the blow.

Citrine glanced at her coat, wincing inwardly; it was designer, expensive. But now that it was draped over Alicia's shoulders, she couldn't bring herself to ask for it back.

Alicia froze, feeling as if a piece of her heart had been carved out. She pressed her lips together and forced herself to speak. "Do you regret saving me, now you know it was me?"

"Of course. If I'd known, I wouldn't have bothered." Citrine answered without hesitation.