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.

the shape of her

never known before, a sense of belonging that felt

brimming in her eyes, she asked Monica, "Can I meet her?" Even though she knew disappointment was

pressed on, her voice trembling with urgency. "I want

be so easy," she admitted, glancing at

eager last time —she must have realized I wanted to get a DNA sample. After that, I asked Sylvia to

"If I hadn't pushed so hard,

“Wait! Aunt Hilda, Sylvia told me Citrine studies at Crestwood

"Sylvia said Citrine's really well-known

to see her

Saunders, our international clients are asking when we'll be ready to begin. They're pressing for a

didn't even glance his way. "We're not starting," she replied coolly. "Tell

I have more important matters to deal with. And apologize-tell them'm 1. willing to offer

of C. Corp with Monica

headed straight

class; the campus lawns and walkways were nearly

time on their hands, Hilda

nearly every corner.