The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 427

Citrine blinked in surprise, not expecting that to be Hilda's concern.

She pressed her lips together and said quietly, "Don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. The Glenwood family can't do anything to me."

Hilda gave a cold snort, her eyes flashing dangerously.

The steely side of her-the one she used to take charge at work-slipped out as she growled, "Relax. As long as I'm around, if he ever tries anything, he'll have to answer to me first. I don't care if I have to go down with the Glenwoods."

Aunt, calm down, you're going to scare Citrine.

Monica, fighting back her own fear of her aunt, kept pinching Hilda's thigh under the table to warn her. But Hilda was too worked up to notice; she even pinched Monica's hand, hard, in annoyance.

Monica yanked her hand back, her face twisted in pain, red nail marks blooming across her skin.

Right now, Hilda's entire world was her daughter.

She stared at Citrine, silently cursing the Glenwood family and all their ancestors for eight generations.

If they thought they could bully her precious girl, old Talbot must have lost his mind. She wondered if the Glenwoods had already picked out a coffin for that fossil-if not, she'd be happy to supply one herself.

Citrine, meanwhile, was watching Hilda intently, silent and unmoving.

finally noticed Citrine's gaze, her face going stiff as she self-consciously touched her

it hit

She'd done it

intimidating everyone who crossed her path. That fierce expression

made Hilda's heart sink. Her

I'm not usually like this,

too shocked

anxiously to Citrine, waiting

The tension in the room eased just a little as Monica and Hilda

quietly set down her fork. The

worn was gone, replaced

at Hilda, her voice icy. "I think you're mistaken. I'm not

Hilda and Monica

trembling as she tried to keep her composure. She hadn't wanted to upset her daughter, but

Hilda pleaded, "No, that's not true.

"Look at us. We

of people in the world look alike. I'm not your daughter. You've made a

know my own daughter.

she'd imagined their