The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

The car tore down the road, barely slowing even as it careened around sharp

bends.

Citrine's face darkened, a flicker of anger passing through her eyes.

Darius Archer really wasn't leaving them a way out-he'd cornered them completely.

She frowned, but her voice was steady as she said, "Someone tampered with the brakes and the gas pedal."

Sebastian's expression shifted, but only slightly-he kept his composure.

Citrine was too focused on the road ahead to notice the change in his face.

"Sebastian, do you regret it?" She hesitated before finally saying it out loud.

Of course, she figured he must. If he hadn't gotten mixed up in this, he wouldn't have found himself in so much trouble-certainly not running for his life.

Sebastian just stared at her, momentarily thrown. "What?"

He was about to ask what she meant when her cool voice cut through the tense silence.

"They're after me, not you. They won't do anything to you. In a moment, I want you to jump out of the car."

Sebastian stared at her, finally understanding what she was getting at.

Citrine gripped the steering wheel tighter, still calm as she continued, "There's a curve ahead. Once we're around it, jump and hide in the oil field over there."

She looked completely composed, convinced this was the most rational choice. She didn't see how dark Sebastian's expression had grown.

When he didn't answer, Citrine frowned and raised her voice. "Are you even listening?"

"Yeah." His voice was low, as if he was holding something back.

Citrine didn't notice the tension in his tone. She went on, "When I count down, three, two, one-you jump."noveldrama

"I don't regret it." Sebastian cut her off before she could finish.

His eyes were earnest as he repeated, "I've never regretted coming to your side. Not for a single second."

Citrine blinked, only then realizing what he meant. She was caught off guard, and for a moment, something inside her seemed to tremble.

Still, she kept her composure, holding on to her rationality.

"We've gone too far. Even if Vester and the Vanguard send help, it'll take time. If you stay here, you'll die with me. Jumping is the smart thing to do."

She stared straight ahead, her expression grave.

The car was silent-so silent that Citrine almost believed he'd agreed to her plan.

Then, Sebastian's voice cut through the hush, cold and resolute. "Then we'll die together."

Citrine's eyes went wide, her lips parting as if she couldn't believe what she'd just heard.

Sebastian smiled, a hint of wildness flickering in his eyes. "Dying together doesn't sound so bad."

"You... you're insane." It took a while before Citrine managed to speak, her voice trembling.

Sebastian's reply was calm and unwavering. “I'm not going anywhere."

He looked her in the eyes. "You know that I love you."

The confession came out of nowhere, stunning Citrine into silence.

She'd always known he cared for her, but she never expected him to say it now- when they were moments from disaster.

“Sebastian, is this really the time for this?" They were being hunted, for God's sake!

"If I don't say it now, I might never get another chance." He

utterly unfazed by the

want you to hear met

For a moment, Citrine wasn't sure whether to be more worried for their lives or amazed by how calm he was.

Whether she wanted to admit it or not, his words softened her, just a little.

It's in times like this, on the edge of death, that people say what's really in their hearts.

He was confessing his love while their lives were hanging by a thread.

Citrine's eyes shone with something she couldn't quite name.

For a split second, she wanted to tell him that if they survived, maybe they could give it a try.

But she crushed the impulse. If only one of them survived, her promise would be nothing but another wound for him to carry.

When Citrine didn't answer, Sebastian's patience finally snapped. "Don't you have anything to say to me?"

"I'm not a was

and hard. She knew

Sed person." Her voice d to hear, but she cot

he

give him any promises. Couldn't

"You are," Sebastian insisted, almost desperately. "You're the best person I've

ever known."

Most people in this world would hurt

inth

others for their own gain, but she was different. She'd built her own empire, earned every dollar honestly. Her research center had saved lives and pieced families back together. She'd led the Vanguard, and even after she left, she'd always put her team-and her country-first when it mattered.

If someone like her wasn't good, then who was?

Citrine pressed her lips together, a flicker of struggle in her eyes, but in the end,

she said nothing.