The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Quentin let out a cold snort. "You really are your parents' child-just as low and shameless as they were."

His contempt and disgust were plain as day, sharp and undisguised in every word.

Jeanette's greatest fear was always this-people dragging her parents into things, using their mistakes to attack her. The words hit her like a stone sinking in her chest.

She clutched the blanket to her chest, trying to cover herself, overwhelmed with humiliation. In that instant, regret crashed down on her. What was she thinking, crawling into Quentin's bed? She must have completely lost her mind.

Even Kali-Quentin's old flame, the one everyone said he'd never forgotten-had failed to win him over. How could she possibly have succeeded?

Jeanette's face was ashen, and all she wanted was for the two of them to leave. But Quentin and Theo seemed in no hurry; they just stood there watching her, as if this was some kind of macabre performance.

They didn't budge. The silence stretched on, until finally the commotion drew Kali to the doorway.

Kali took in the scene at a glance: Jeanette, naked, tangled in Quentin's sheets, her silk nightgown abandoned on the floor-no question what had happened here.

A wave of anger twisted Kali's features.

She hadn't managed to win Quentin, and now this wretched girl had beaten her to it. And to think she'd ever called Jeanette a friend. She must have been blind.

Kali's hands were trembling with rage, and she wanted nothing more than to slap Jeanette across the face, to leave her marked and ruined. But she glanced at Quentin standing in the doorway and bit back her fury. Quentin had no patience for hysterics or drama, and she knew it.

Still, Jeanette couldn't be allowed to stay-not after this.

Feigning nonchalance, Kali turned to Theo. "Theo, I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" Theo looked at her, confusion flickering in his eyes.

Kali hesitated, letting the silence draw out before speaking, as if she were struggling with her conscience. "Remember when I told Jeanette about how you were rescued as a child at Havencrest? The very next day, she sought you out. Doesn't that seem... a little too convenient?"noveldrama

Theo wasn't stupid. He heard the implication immediately.

Coincidences like that didn't just happen. His gaze went cold and sharp, fixing on Jeanette with a sudden, frightening intensity. "Jeanette, where did you really get that locket?"

Jeanette stared at Kali, disbelief and betrayal warring in her eyes. She couldn't believe Kali would throw her under the bus-but then, after what she'd done, was it really a surprise Katt hated her now?

She tried to play dumb. "Theo, what are you talking about? I don't understand."

Theo wasn't having it. He strode

over, sitting on the edge of the bed,

looming over her. "Don't think just

because the Glenwoods went bankrupt, I can't deal with you. If you don't tell me the truth, you'll regret

it.

No-she couldn't admit it. If she did, Quentin would throw her out of the Aldridge family for sure.

Jeanette shook her head. "Theo, I really don't know. I've worn that locket since I was a child."

"Still lying to me?" Theo's eyes were wild with age. "Do you really think I won't hurt you?" He reached out, his hand tightening around her throat over the blanket, squeezing harder and harder.

Jeanette gasped for air, struggling desperately, unable to get out a single word.

He's lost it—he's completely insane.

As Theo's grip tightened, genuine terror took hold of Jeanette.

She summoned every ounce of strength she had, mouthing the words, "I'll tell you! I'll tell you!"

Theo saw the words form on her lips and, with deliberate slowness, loosened his grip.

"Talk," he growled, eyes locked on hers.

Jeanette clutched her throat for a long moment, struggling to catch her breath. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse and raw. "It was Citrine. The locket belonged to Citrine."