The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 465

Hilda had sent Vernon to investigate Mirage Cay, but he came back empty- handed.

She didn't dare dwell on how her daughter had managed to survive that island-a place that chewed people up and spat them out.

For days now, Hilda hadn't slept. The moment she closed her eyes, her mind conjured up images of Citrine struggling to survive on Mirage Cay. Sometimes, she even thought she could hear her daughter's desperate, helpless cries for help.

Saunders Manor.

That afternoon, Monica Wade and her brother dropped by the old family home to visit Inez and Herschel. The four of them sat down to dinner together.

Nathalie, knowing the siblings were coming, had gone out of her way to prepare several extra dishes each one a favorite of theirs.

Wade was shoveling food onto his fork, pausing only to exclaim, "Nathalie, this roast chicken is incredible! Honestly, it's like you read my mind and made exactly what I wanted."

Nothing made Nathalie happier than having her cooking praised.

Her grin stretched from ear to ear as she replied, "Young master, your compliments are too sweet."

Inez Saunders spoke up, "Nathalie, I heard you visited Hilda's new place the other

Hilda last came

Is Hilda eating well? Sleeping alright? She's not staying up

their circle for doting on Hilda-no

smiled, trying to reassure them. "Don't worry, she's doing great. She spent the whole day cooking with me, and

disbelief. “Cooking? Hilda? That girl always hated getting anywhere

echoed by Herschel and the Wade siblings. All four paused mid- bite, forks hovering over their

frowned. "Did she

in a kitchen." She tried to

muttered, "Has Aunt Hilda lost her mind?" The thought of her cooking just didn't add

laugh at

she'd been just

completely serious

said, still chuckling.

if a dish wasn't perfect she'd start

I've never seen her so determined-she even

tight with worry. "She