The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 425

Citrine was the name Hilda had chosen for her daughter long before she was born.

Even before the baby's first heartbeat, Hilda had already decided: her little girl would be called Citrine.

On the day Citrine was born, Hilda crafted a delicate silver locket for her newborn. She engraved the name "Citrine" into the metal herself—a simple, loving promise for her daughter's future.

But when her daughter disappeared, that locket vanished with her.

Now, a surge of emotion washed over Hilda as she looked at Monica, her voice turning grave. "Send me her information," she said.

Monica had been waiting for this moment, her heart leaping with hope. "Aunt Hilda, I already sent you her file ages ago. You just never checked it."

Hilda's expression faltered for a moment, but she quickly masked it and opened their message thread. Sure enough, there it was-Citrine's profile.

She tapped it open, and before she could even scroll down, a photograph caught her breath.

A young woman smiled at the camera, her high ponytail bouncing with youthful energy.

Hilda's gaze lingered on the girl's face.

jaw, the shape of her eyes-she

Hilda with a warmth she'd never known before, a

brimming in her eyes, she asked Monica, "Can I meet her?" Even

trembling with urgency. "I want to see her now." Deep inside, she was convinced

from her seat. "It might not be so easy," she admitted, glancing at

Citrine through Sylvia. Maybe I was a bit too eager last time —she must have realized I wanted to get a DNA sample. After that, I asked Sylvia to arrange another meeting, but Citrine turned down

her regret plain. "If I hadn't pushed so hard, I wouldn't have

struck Monica. Her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, “Wait! Aunt Hilda, Sylvia told me Citrine studies at Crestwood University. We could go to the campus-maybe

continued, "Sylvia said Citrine's really well-known around

her daughter overwhelmed

then, Hilda's assistant appeared, bowing slightly. "President Saunders, our international clients are asking when we'll be ready

way. "We're not starting," she

another time. I have more important matters to deal with. And apologize-tell them'm 1. willing to offer concessions. But if they walk away, I'll

C. Corp with

straight for

was Monday, and most students were in class; the campus lawns

time on their hands, Hilda

nearly every corner.