The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 279

“Thank you, Dad.” Jeanette forced a stiff smile, her lips barely curving.

Even though she heard Dick’s comforting words, they did little to ease the knot in her stomach. No matter how she tried, she couldn’t shake the heaviness inside.

Up on stage, Citrine stood out like a glaring spotlight—so dazzling it almost hurt to look at her.

If only she would just disappear.

Jeanette’s gaze darkened as she thought bitterly: If only that fire years ago had finished her off for good.

Meanwhile, Citrine raised her trophy, her lips curled in a polite, confident smile as she graciously accepted the applause and admiration of the crowd.

When her acceptance speech ended, she walked over to the emcee, drawing curious looks from everyone. No one knew what she whispered to him, but a moment later, he stepped aside and handed her the podium.

“Thank you,” Citrine said courteously.

She quickly tapped out a string of code on the computer, and in an instant, the giant screen behind her switched to the auditorium’s security camera feed.

The simple fluidity of her actions stunned the teachers, students, and parents below.

“Oh my god, am I seeing this right? She just hacked into the school’s surveillance in a few keystrokes!”

“She’s still in high school? That’s insane. I’ve been a hacker for ten years and I couldn’t pull that off so easily.”

“I already thought she was a genius for her grades and fluency in so many languages, but I never expected her to break into the school’s system like it was nothing.”

“She’s absolutely incredible. At this rate, when she grows up, the rest of us are going to be left in the dust.”

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Meanwhile, Jeanette was starting to panic as she realized what Citrine was about to do.

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Jeanette heard the harsh whispers, her hands clenched so tightly at her sides that her knuckles turned white.

Swallowing her humiliation, she forced herself to repeat her protest, trying to sound righteous and composed. “Citrine, this is our school’s Christmas Gala. There are students and parents from other schools here. Airing dirty laundry in public—have you thought about what this could do to Primus Academy’s reputation?”

Citrine looked down at her, a sly smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I said I wanted to catch the thief, Jeanette. Why are you so upset? Unless… you’re the one who took my notes?”

As soon as she said it, all eyes turned to Jeanette, some suspicious, some merely curious.

“You… what are you talking about?” Jeanette’s eyes clouded, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Why so nervous, Jeanette? I was only joking.” Citrine hadn’t known who stole her notes, but after Jeanette’s outburst, she was pretty sure she’d found her answer.