The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

The files in the Citrine dossier had all been reviewed-every last page. They contained information on everyone who'd been brought to Mirage Cay over the years.

Each person had been sorted by their value. At the top were the senior researchers and those whose expertise benefited the group the most. The next tier included high-level managers and staff who kept operations running. Then, at the very bottom, were those chillingly labeled as the "donor pool"-their bodies nothing more than inventories for the wealthy to pick apart as needed.

The list detailed exactly how much value each individual had created for Mirage Cay. It didn't stop there; it also included the identities of those buying from the donor pool, along with an abundance of evidence documenting every sordid transaction and crime, all meticulously cataloged.

Citrine immediately dispatched a team to turn over the evidence to the national authorities, who promptly alerted the Foreign Ministry.

But the Archer Group was the largest conglomerate in Magnolia, holding lucrative government contracts and deep-rooted interests. The Foreign Ministry personally sent envoys to Magnolia to negotiate, but after several rounds of talks, progress was minimal.

A few days later, Northriver issued a direct order: the military would intervene to rescue their people.

Once the command came down, Citrine led her team according to the battle plan they'd drawn up, moving swiftly toward Mirage Cay.

Inside the interrogation room on Mirage Cay, Raymond Carmichael sat slumped in a corner, his face half-hidden in shadow.

Days had passed. His wounds had begun to heal, and he was starting to look a little better.

When he'd first arrived, they'd tried to force him to commit crimes. When he refused, they threw him into the interrogation room and subjected him to relentless torture. In just two weeks, he'd lost over thirty pounds.

He was a grown man, but even he could barely endure the agony they inflicted. In less than a month, it felt as if his bones had been broken, his spirit stretched to the brink.

And yet Citrine had survived two years in this place. The suffering she'd endured dwarfed his own.

Whenever the pain became too much, Raymond's mind was tormented by images of his daughter, suffering at the hands of these people. Those visions were so vivid, so brutal, they eclipsed even the nightmares that haunted him.

He realized then that the pain in his heart far outweighed any injury to his body. For a time, he believed he would die here.

Strangely, though, a few days ago, the beatings stopped. No one came to torment him anymore. Instead, someone brought him medicine. He was served three meals a day: hearty food, a bowl of nourishing Soup with every lunch.

Raymond couldn't help but feel uneasy.

That afternoon, Citrine and her team arrived at Mirage Cay.

She knew the landscape by heart-the layout, the security, even the exact number and locations of every sniper.

"You three, take points A, B, C, and D. Eliminate the snipers," Citrine ordered, gesturing crisply to her team.

"Yes, ma'am!" the soldiers replied in unison, their voices steady and resolute.noveldrama

"The rest of you, come with me." Citrine's voice was cool and sharp.

There was an air of lethal determination about her-nothing like the twenty-something girl she

appeared to be. She radiated ene

authority of a seasoned

commander, the kind that made soldiers stand a little straighter just by being in her presence.

Despite the gravity of the mission, Citrine showed no sign of panic. Her orders were calm and methodical, her confidence infectious.

The team followed her through the access tunnel, moving silently, single file.

Once inside, Citrine didn't rush. She waited, motionless, eyes alert.

Before long, the master of Mirage Cay appeared.

Jeff looked genuinely surprised to see Citrine. He'd always known she was resourceful, but never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to return, leading Northriver soldiers right to his doorstep.

Head bowed to conceal his

expression, Jeff addressed her with

forced respect. "Just as you asked I've tried to keep them from killing anyone these past few days. But you know how it is-there are toomany eyes and ears loyal to the main house on this island. I can't control everyone."

Citrine ignored him, signaling to her team with a subtle nod.

The soldiers instantly understood, raising their weapons as they advanced.