Chapter 28
As soon as she stepped out of the police station, Citrine was stopped at the entrance by Amelia.
“I’ll wait for you in the car, Raymond said, casting a glance at Citrine. He headed to the parking lot, leaving the two women alone!!
Now it was just the two of them standing by the entrance.
“It was your choice to get involved. I’m not going to apologize, and I don’t feel guilty about it.”
Citrine was the first to break the uneasy silence. She knew that after today, she was likely to lose this friend.
A restless imitation simmered in her chest, making her words come out sharper than she intended.
After a moment, she added. “I told you I’d have your back. The Chase family won’t ever be a threat to you or your family promise”
That much, I can
Amelia’s heart twisted with guilt. She hurried to reassure her, “Citrine, I never asked you to apologize. And there’s no reason for you guilty.”
you to feel
She had never blamed Citrine for any of it
Citrine had always tried to help her, but her own family never appreciated it. In the end, for the sake of money, they signed the settlement papers. Now it was Amelia who felt she’d let Citrine down.
“From now on, just pretend you don’t know me at school. I can’t promise there won’t be another family like the Chases whoil try to make things hard for you?
Citrine looked at her, her voice distant and flat, as if she were a porcelain doll–beautiful, cold, and on the verge of shattering. Amelia had never seen Citrine so resolute before
She
e was s saying all the night things to push her away, but the look in her eyes was pleading–don’t leave me.
For the first time, Amelia felt she truly understood her. And her heart ached for Citrine.
She smiled at her just like she used to.
“You’re my best friend. Why would I ever pretend I don’t know you? she said, her voice steady and certain.
“Then I see you tomorrow.”
Citrine froze for a beat, the distance in her eyes melting away. Genuine warmth spread across her face in a rare, heartfelt smile. They were still friends.!!
“See you tomorrow.”
The Chase family’s fortunes had been dwindling for years. When the Carmichael family abruptly announced they were cutting ties, rumors spread like wildfire. People speculated that the Chases must have sehously offended the Carmichaels, and one by one, their business partners began to pull out as well.
Even shareholders started demanding their money back. The entire Chase family business was thrown into chaos.
In just one night, Johnnie Chase had begged every contact he could think of, but nothing helped. He looked as if he’d aged ten years overnight.
He thought things couldn’t possibly get any w worse, but the next day, news broke that Chase Group Holdings had stolen research from a string of small companies
Attached was a chart listing every company whose work had been stolen.
The story shot straight to the top of the trending news.
Three days later, another bombshell dropped: Chase Group Holdings had been acquired.
Citrine happened to see the news at the same moment her grandfather called.
“My dear girl, I’ve had the paperwork done–Chase Group Holdings is now under your name, Ogden’s voice boomed with pride over the phone
This was the first time Citrine had ever asked him for a favor, and Ogden was positively delighted.
“Thank you, Grandpa Citrine smiled, calm and composed. Everything was unfolding just as she had planned.
Ever since the day she’d come back, shed set her sights on the Chase family, and what happened with Amelia had simply accelerated her timeline
In the end, the only surprise had been Raymond’s involvement
But even without him, she would have taken over the Chases anyway.
“You’re growing up so fast, sometimes I can hardly keep up with you” Ogden said with a sudden sigh on the other end of the line.
Sometimes, he wished his granddaughter’s life could be simpler–happier.
Citrine paused, then said softly. “No matter how much I grow up, you’ll always be my grandpa. That’ll never change.”
There was a long silence. Finally, Ogden asked, “So you’re the one who leaked the news about the Chases too?” It wasn’t really a question.X
“I did,” Citrine answered honestly.
Ogden Winthrop burst out laughing.
“I know it! You little fox, you’ve had your eye on the Chases for ages, haven’t you?
