The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 369

Sebastian had just finished his shower and hadn’t been out for long.

He lounged lazily on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, exuding an air of effortless detachment. The crisp, tailored white dress shirt hugged his tall frame perfectly, the top buttons undone to reveal a hint of defined chest muscles—undeniably attractive.

He lit a cigarette with practiced ease, took a deep drag, and exhaled a lazy swirl of smoke before finally turning his cool gaze toward the middle-aged man standing before him. Sebastian’s lips parted in a languid drawl. “How did it go?”

The man stood respectfully, watching Sebastian’s expression with anxious caution. “CICI Group refused.”

Sebastian paused mid-flick, ashes dangling from his cigarette. A flicker of amusement lit his eyes. “Interesting.”

He didn’t seem the least bit surprised.

The middle-aged man hesitated, nervously wetting his lips before continuing, “Not only did they refuse, but the woman who met with you today said... that CICI Group only plays to win. If, one day, the entire Shadow Syndicate is willing to answer to them, maybe—just maybe—they’d consider joining us.”

Sebastian had just taken another drag when the words hit him. He choked, coughing hard as the smoke caught in his throat.

It took a moment before he recovered.

A slow, dangerous smile spread across his lips. “She’s got a death wish. Small as she is, her ambition’s something else.” The nerve—to think she could take his place. That kind of audacity almost entertained him.

Thad, the middle-aged man, could never guess what went on in Sebastian’s mind. Around this lunatic, his nerves were always stretched thin.

Swallowing nervously, Thad ventured, “Sir, since CICI Group turned down your offer, should we teach them a lesson?”

Just the memory of that girl’s unflinching resolve made a phantom pain tingle along the spot where Sebastian once felt like he’d been bitten by piranhas. He smirked. “No need.”

Then he looked at Thad, eyebrows raised. “By the way, what’s her name?”

Thad hesitated. “You mean the CICI Group rep? The one who met with you earlier?”

Her original plan had been to use Sebastian as a stepping stone, to get close to the Syndicate and take control from the inside. But now, not only did Sebastian not remember her, he’d become the Syndicate’s new leader—and, more crucially, everyone in Shadow seemed unfailingly loyal to him.

Her chances of taking over Shadow Syndicate were now next to nothing.

But she still had old scores to settle—she couldn’t just walk away. If Shadow Syndicate couldn’t be hers, then she’d just have to build her own version of it from the ground up.

Citrine was so lost in thought that she barely noticed when her phone buzzed.

She reached for it, opening the screen with practiced ease.

The chat thread with Hastings was a long string of unanswered invitations from him. She hadn’t replied to a single one.

Now, she focused on the most recent message.