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."

as Hilda collapsed onto the

this happen?" she whispered, clutching the armrest so tightly her knuckles turned white. For a moment, she looked like she could barely breathe. Oh God,

wore matching

their reactions. He pressed on, "When she loses control, she

keeps her distance from you, tries so hard to break the connection-it's not just because she's guarded or hurting. Part of it is that she's afraid of losing

life, then don't bring up anything that might set her off. Give her time. Let her go at

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

at the older couple, then at

.n

love her and protect her, just

her family, too.

her habits,

knew about Citrine her likes and dislikes. Only when he'd finished did he finally

woke up, her mood had

surprised to see a simple meal-a few dishes

have guessed

bite, and found to her surprise that it tasted pretty

her appetite only grew. In the end, she finished everything