The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 445

That day marked exactly one month since Young Citrine was born. The Saunders family hosted a modest celebration at a hotel, inviting close friends and relatives. After the party, Hilda was busy seeing guests off, so she handed her baby over to the nanny for a while. But when the last guest had left and Hilda returned, both the nanny and Citrine had vanished without a trace.

Panic seized Hilda instantly. She called the police and, leveraging every connection the Saunders family had, scoured all of Crestwood in desperate search.

A few days later, the authorities found the nanny-but she was dead. The baby was still missing. The police suspected the worst: that the child was gone, too.

But Hilda refused to accept it. She couldn't believe her little girl was lost forever. Year after year, she continued searching for any sign of her daughter.

The memory of that day was etched deeper into Hilda's heart than any other. It was the day she lost her precious child.

"It was all my fault. I never should have left you with the nanny," Hilda whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she looked at her daughter.

If only she hadn't handed Citrine over that afternoon, none of this would have happened.

Just as Hilda was about to spiral deeper into guilt, Citrine spoke softly, "I never blamed you."

"But I'm sorry, I've grown used to living without a mother all these years. I think I've outgrown the need for one. If you want me to embrace this and call you 'Mom' with all my

resentment that kept Citrine distant. She simply didn't know what it meant to have a mother. In her world, the word was little more than a title, no different

the truth

you'll give me a chance—at least

eyes but, after

filled Hilda with cautious

left quietly. She returned to the Saunders estate

herself, were made, not given. If she lived right below her daughter, she

about it, the more excited she

the next day, Hilda had Monica pick up a cat

phone, she reminded her, "Make sure it's a

sigh and oblige, carrying her friend's Maine Coon

baffled her, She remembered how, years ago at Herschel Saunders's birthday party, someone's unruly kid had snuck a cat into Hilda's lap, sending her into a panic. Hilda hadn't hesitated to kick that family out of the house. Monica

terrified of cats.

her aunt now, gently poking at the carrier with a