The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

From that night on, among all the homes lit up across the city, there was finally a light burning just for her. Citrine was no longer the lonely girl nobody loved.

Now, she had someone she wanted to share her life with. The emptiness inside her heart felt as if it was finally being filled.

She hurried downstairs, unable to contain her excitement. But when she saw Sebastian standing perfectly still in the foyer, her eyes stung suddenly with emotion.

"When did you get here?" she asked.

"Not long ago," Sebastian replied. The moment he saw the woman he'd been longing for day and night, his voice cout rough and raw.

"Not long? How long is 'not long'?" Citrine eyed the red flush on his cheeks and the tips of his ears, both chapped from the cold. Clearly, she didn't buy his answer.

Sebastian looked at her with a gentle gaze, unable to look away. "Three hours." "Three hours?" Citrine was stunned.

"Why didn't you call me?" she demanded. "Standing outside in this freezing weather for three hours-are you made of stone or just plain thick?" Was this man an idiot? That thought barely finished in her mind before Sebastian looked at her, eyes shining. "You were with your family. I didn't want to disturb you." His voice was so soft and warm, and the way he looked at her made her feel like she was the center of his world. Citrine couldn't remember the last tshe'd met someone this foolishly sincere. It reminded her, just for a moment, of her younger self-how she used to give all her affection to Theo, chasing after someone who would never return it. The ache in her chest was sharp, but it faded as quickly as it came. She didn't love Theo anymore, not in this new life.

Standing before her, Sebastian, a grown man, looked for all the world like an obedient schoolboy waiting for approval. Citrine couldn't help but smile at the sight.

She unwound the scarf from her neck and took a few steps closer to him.

"Bend down. You're too tall-I can't reach." Sebastian blinked in confusion, but since it was Citrine asking, he did as told, lowering himself so she could look him in the eye.

Just as he was about to ask what she was up to, Citrine looped her scarf gently, but firmly, around his neck, wrapping it snug and warm. The fabric still carried her warmth, and Sebastian felt cocooned-his whole body went stiff with surprise.

Citrine kept fussing over him, muttering, "Honestly, are you out of your mind? Did you want to freeze to death out there?" Her words were sharp, but Sebastian's heart felt anything but cold.

He smiled at her. "I wouldn't freeze." She shot him a look, half annoyed, half amused. "Still arguing? Good thing I cdown when I did. What if I hadn't seen you tonight-were you planning to stand out there all night long?" He didn't answer, just looked at her.

She could read the answer on his face-he absolutely would have waited all night.

"You're such an idiot." Citrine shook her head, pausing for a beat. How had she never noticed just how hopelessly earnest he was? She didn't expect him to respond, but suddenly Sebastian met her gaze, eyes burning with sincerity, and said, "I just really wanted to see you." As midnight struck, fireworks exploded all across Crestwood. The lights from the city center arced high into the sky, their villa neighborhood offering a perfect view of the shimmering display.

Fireworks blossomed in the night, and the one she loved stood right before her.

At that moment, Citrine's heart burst open like the fireworks above-brilliant, dazzling, impossible to contain.

"Sebastian, what am I supposed to do?" she said, voice soft but clear. "I don't want to admit it, but I think... I might really like you." "What?" Sebastian almost thought he'd imagined it.

He stared at her, eyes shining, desperate for confirmation. But Citrine, ever the tease, feigned innocence.

"Oh, you didn't hear? Never mind then," she said, putting on a show of mock disappointment.

Like a man who'd just won the lottery, Sebastian's face lit up with joy. Afraid she might take it back, he quickly blurted, "No, don't say never mind!" Citrine couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She glanced over at him. "Con, let's go down to the lake and watch the fireworks from there." Without waiting for an answer, she started off toward the door.

Sebastian snapped out of his daze and hurried after her. "Hey, wait for me!" Chasing after her through the sno w, he looked every bit the lovestruck boy. There was one thing he just had to know.

"Citrine, what are we now?" he called, voice uncertain but hopeful.

She walked ahead, lips curled in a playful smile. "What are we...?" she echoed, drawing out the suspense.

The wait was agony for Sebastian-he felt like he was drowning, desperate for a lifeline.

Citrine kept him dangling for a long moment, then finally stopped, tumed e back, and held out her hand to him. "Boyfriend. Are you coming, or what?" For a second, Sebastian almost fainted from sheer delight.

Afraid it was all just a dream, he rushed forward and took her hand.

Her fingers were still warm from being indoors, while his were icy cold.

Citrine frowned at the Chill then tucked his hand into the deep pocket of his coat, grinning at him.

"There-now you'll warm up."

Side by side, they walked out into the snowy night, leaving behind two sets of footprints one large, one small trailing through the fresh snow, their own little path of romance etched into the darkness.