Citrine''s eyes suddenly turned cold, lips ttening into a hard line.

The air went still in an instant.

No one would have guessed that Citrine and Alicia had once been inseparable as children the kind of best friends who practically shared everything.

When they were little, Citrine was an adorable, cherubic child, the sort everyone wanted to scoop up and hug.

She was just three and a half when she first met four-year-old Alicia at preschool.

Alicia, even then, was obsessed with beauty. The moment she saw Citrine, she was utterly enchanted by her.

She went home in tears, begging her mother, Irma Chase, to bring Citrine home to be her little sister.

Back then, Aline and her son hadn''t yet returned to the Iverson family. Citrine was still a little girl wrapped in warmth and affection.

Faced with the clumsy adoration of a child her own age, Citrine felt awkward and lost.

After all, the other kids at preschool didn''t like her. The reason was almostughable: she always answered every question the teacher asked and earned the most gold stars.

Alicia was the first child who ever said she liked her.

That day became the happiest Citrine had ever had at preschool. When she got home, she carefully chose a gift for her very first friend and brought it to school the next morning to give to her.

From then on, wherever Citrine went, Alicia was sure to follow.

But everything changed when Aline brought Jete back to the Iverson family.

Bit by bit, Citrine lost the love of everyone around her.

No one in the Iverson family wanted to listen to her anymore.

Everyone changed-everyone, that is, except Alicia.

Whenever Citrine was upset, Alicia would always step in front of her, ready to protect.

She''d say, "Citrine, is that brat picking on you again? Just wait—-I''ll show her not to mess with you."

She''d say, "Citrine, don''t be sad. Even if no one else believes you, I always will."

She''d say, "Citrine, I won''t talk to Jete, that annoying pest, ever again. Please don''t be mad at me, okay?"

She''d say, "Citrine, no matter how much you change, you''ll always be my best friend."

She''d say, "Citrine, let''s be best friends forever."

Children make friendships so easily, but sometimes, the smallest storm can tear them apart.

When they were ten, Alicia came over to y. The housekeeper was off that day; only the two of them and Jete were home.

That was the day the fire broke out. Citrine and Alicia didn''t notice anything was wrong until the mes began to spread.

When Citrine realized what was happening, she dashed out of the room and caught sight of Jete, a lighter clutched in her hand.

"What are you doing?" Citrine shouted, furious.

Jete justughed, loud and wild.

"I''m going to burn you alive, Citrine." The fire flickered across her face, making her look monstrous. "Once you''re dead, everything the Iversons own will be mine."

The look on her face was almost deranged.

In that moment, Citrine felt as if she were staring at a demon—not a person.

Jete was a demon.

"You''re insane! You''ll kill all of us!" Citrine stormed over and pped Jete hard across the face.

Jete only keptughing.

"Go ahead and die, both of you. I''ll survive."

As thest exit was nearly swallowed by mes, Jete, with a burst of

desperate strength, shoved Citrine aside and bolted for the door.

Just as she reached it, something heavy crashed down from above. Jete had

no time to dodge; it struck her directly.

The fire raged on.

Then, from behind the door, Sawyer''s voice rang out.

"Alicia! We''re saved!" For a moment, hope lit up Citrine''s eyes. She wrapped the wet nket tighter around Alicia, shielding her from the smoke and heat.

Momentster, Sawyer appeared through the mes.