The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Sebastian stared at Citrine, her words echoing in his mind long after she'd

finished speaking. It felt as though something inside him was about to burst, his heart pounding so fast he could hardly breathe.

He couldn't tear his eyes away from her. "You're right," he finally said, voice low but certain.

He admired her deeply-for her vision, her compassion. He knew, too, that he would never be able to match her, not really.

In that instant, Sebastian understood why so many people were drawn to Citrine, why they fell so easily under her spell. She was worth it, plain and simple.

By the time Citrine and Sebastian reemerged from below deck, each in a dry change of clothes, they found Quentin surfacing near the boat, dragging Hastings with him.

Quentin's face was drawn and serious. He barely spared them a glance before shouting, "Give me a hand! Hurry!"

With his eyes squeezed shut and several fresh cuts on his arms, Quentin looked more battered than either of them had ever seen. Citrine took one look at the situation and was at the railing in an instant, Sebastian right behind her.

"Give me his arm!" she called, reaching out to Quentin.

Sebastian moved into position, bracing himself to help.

Quentin, not wasting a second, hauled Hastings up and passed his limp body to them before clambering onto the boat himself, drenched and out of breath.

"I ran out of air down there," Quentin said quickly, voice tight with worry. "Hastings passed out against the rocks-he was completely unresponsive."

Citrine ignored him, turning her focus fully to Hastings. "Lay him flat," she ordered Sebastian.

Sebastian complied without hesitation.

"Hastings," Citrine called out, her voice sharp, trying to rouse him. When he didn't respond, she immediately started CPR.

Ten seconds passed, then fifteen-until Hastings suddenly choked and coughed up seawater, his eyes flying open.

As soon as he came to, Citrine quietly stepped aside to give him space.

Disoriented, Hastings blinked up at the faces around him. The first person he saw was Citrine, and he immediately assumed she'd saved his life.noveldrama

His gaze locked on her, intense and grateful. He struggled to sit up, still breathing hard. "Citrine, I knew you wouldn't just leave me," he said, voice thick with emotion. "You must care about me at least a little, right?"

"Hastings, do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound right now?" Citrine's voice was icy, her expression stony as she looked down at him. "You're hopeless."

Quentin, who had been watching this exchange with growing exasperation, finally spoke up. "Buddy, I'm the one who dragged you out from the bottom of the

het

ocean," he said flatly. "She just gave you CPR."

The others watched, expecting Hastings to be embarrassed by his mistake. But instead, he just grinned, his eyes shining with something like triumph. “Citrine, I knew you

over

wouldn't give up on me. Thank you for saving my life."

Quentin let out a sound of disbelief. "So I guess all my effort counts for nothing, huh?"

Citrine opened her mouth, but for once, words failed her.

"Seriously, man!" Quentin groaned. "I nearly drowned getting you up here-can't

you at least acknowledge my existence?"

He looked between his two friends, shaking his head. Between Theo and Hastings, it was hard to say which one was more hopelessly smitten. Whatever spell Citrine had cast over them, it was clearly unbreakable.