The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 550

Monica froze, and a sudden realization drained the color from her face.

After a brief hesitation, she spoke, voice trembling. "I... I told her that our family, the Saunders, and especially my aunt-we've been searching for her for years.”

Seeing the stern look on Raymond's face, Monica decided to come clean, recounting more or less everything she'd said that day.

She understood now that she'd been wrong.

When she finished, Monica looked at Raymond and apologized without prompting. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things."

Raymond listened, his brow furrowing deeper with every word.

He said nothing for a long moment. Then, suddenly, he spoke. "I don't mind the Saunders wanting to get close to her. But from now on, don't tell her things that'll cause her more pain."

Monica and Wade both nodded quickly. "We won't."

After they spoke, Raymond added, almost as an afterthought, "She's struggling with severe depression. There have been times when she's had suicidal thoughts."

The entire Saunders family stared at him, shock and distress written across every face.

Raymond glanced around the room, then continued, "She hurt herself in high school. It nearly killed her."

a sharp, heavy thud as Hilda collapsed onto the sofa, her

armrest so tightly her knuckles turned white. For a moment,

wore

she can't help herself. She might not just hurt herself—she could hurt

the connection-it's not just because she's guarded or hurting. Part of it is that she's afraid of losing control and hurting you,

then don't bring up anything that might set her

tears from their eyes, looking at Raymond with gratitude. "Thank you for telling us, Mr.

at the older couple, then at

.n

can love her and protect her, just like

her family, too. I

her habits,

he knew about Citrine her likes

woke up, her mood had

simple meal-a few dishes and a warm bowl

would have guessed that Raymond could

to her surprise that it

only grew. In the end, she finished