The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

The surgery with Vester was scheduled for the next day.

Early that morning, Citrine was up before dawn, meticulously preparing everything for the operation.

She hadn't even finished setting up when Vester arrived.noveldrama

He settled into one of the chairs by the window, his face as composed as ever, giving the impression that today was just another ordinary day. Yet, the way he kept drumming his fingers against the armrest betrayed the storm of emotion beneath his calm exterior.

In truth, he could barely contain his excitement.

Last night, when Citrine confirmed the surgery time, Vester had nearly lost control -he'd almost tumbled out of his wheelchair, so overwhelmed he hadn't slept a wink. All night, he kept picturing this day.

Every day spent in that wheelchair felt like an eternity. There were moments he'd been so desperate, he'd almost given up hope entirely.

But now, hope had finally eclipsed all that pain.

Vester's gaze never left Citrine as she moved methodically about the room, gathering instruments and checking charts. His eyes burned with a quiet intensity.

When everything was nearly ready, Citrine looked up and caught Vester's gaze- his eyes were slightly reddened, glistening with a raw anticipation she'd seen countless times before, in patients who'd come to the brink of death only to be offered a sliver of hope.

She offered him the same gentle, reassuring smile she'd given those patients. "Mr. Vester, the worst is behind you. After today, you'll be able to go wherever you want."

Her eyes were so kind, so warm, it was easy to get lost in them.

Vester always thought of himself as tough, unbreakable, but that gentle look softened something inside him. He couldn't help but surrender to it.

He swallowed hard, his voice husky. "Thank you, Dr. Carmichael.”

Citrine smiled again, then glanced at the clock. "Let's get started. Go ahead and change into your gown."

While Vester changed, Citrine and her assistants-colleagues she'd brought over from Magnolia Viridis Medical Institute—also slipped into their scrubs.

Time was tight, and every movement was efficient.

She nodded to Vester. "Lie down here, please."

He did as instructed, and one of the nurses began disinfecting the surgical site.

Citrine noticed his hands trembling.

She leaned down, her voice barely above

to his whisper as she spoke

hurt much."

Vester hadn't expected her to lean in so suddenly. His eyes widened, and with her breath soft against his ear, his heart gave a strange flutter, racing uncontrollably.

Citrine glanced at the monitor and frowned. "Your heart rate's a bit high."

Caught off guard, Vester blushed, feeling awkward and a bit embarrassed.

But Citrine simply assumed he

anxious about the surgery. She

all,

didn't make a big deal of it as wnder the

who wasn't afraid of going knife?

She gave him another reassuring look. "It's going to go smoothly. I promise. Don't

worry."

Something in her steady, compassionate gaze calmed him. His pulse soon returned to normal.

Once the numbers stabilized, Citrine nodded to her team.

The operation lasted four hours. It went flawlessly.

After changing out of her scrubs, Citrine headed back to her room.

Sebastian, who'd been waiting, looked up as soon as he heard her enter. "How did it go?"

"It was a success," she replied.

Sebastian's face broke into a grin. "Good news-I cracked the code."

"That's fantastic." Citrine's eyes lit up, a new spark of hope ignited.

One step closer to their goal.

"You must be exhausted after four hours in surgery. Go get some rest—I'll bring lunch up to you in a bit."

With the surgery a success and the code finally broken, Citrine's spirits soared.

She murmured her thanks and drifted off to sleep almost immediately.