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.

touched her own cheek. "Why... why are you

it

She'd

who crossed her path. That fierce expression

frightened mice made Hilda's heart sink. Her daughter was so sweet, so gentle-there was no way she wasn't

blurt out, "Citrine, I'm not usually like this, I swear... Please, don't be

stared, wide-eyed, too shocked

women looked anxiously to Citrine,

nothing. The tension in the room eased just a little as Monica and Hilda

word, Citrine quietly set

was gone, replaced

at Hilda, her voice icy. "I

Hilda and Monica

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

that's not true. Citrine, you

face, desperate. "Look at us. We

cool. "Plenty of people in the world look alike. I'm not your daughter.

to accept it. "No. I know

their reunion.