The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 623

A moment ago, the little girl's face was clouded with sorrow, but in the blink of an eye, something shifted-now her eyes glimmered with a trace of resentment.

How could a child so young swing between emotions so quickly, and harbor such complicated thoughts? The more Hilda watched her, the more uneasy she felt.

She kept a close eye on the girl's expressions, searching for some clue, but before she could make sense of the sudden change, the child's innocent, sing- song voice broke the silence.

"Mommy, since you've become a beautiful star, why can't you take me with you?"

"I want to be a star too. Then I wouldn't be cold anymore, or hurt so much."

Her voice was soft and fragile, filled with desperate hope. For all its childishness, the words hit Hilda like a punch to the gut.

Suddenly, a man's rough, drunken yelling shattered the quiet of the living room.

"What's with all the noise? Shut your trap, or I swear I'll toss you in the fryer!" His voice was harsh, thick with anger.

on the balcony flinched instinctively at

hunger. Gritting her teeth, she summoned her courage and called out,

whiskey, grew even more

You're still not dead, you little

the floor, the glass shattering with a violent crash. Citrine recoiled,

eyes slowly lost their light. She knew

that just this once the man might have a change of heart and leave her

as he stomped across the living room. He flung open the balcony door, stormed over, and

food and you're already

the balcony-that's more than you deserve! Try asking for more and I'll beat you to death

merciless force. He didn't stop until Citrine's sobs faded and she lay

the man to be so cruel-even to

left, she glanced at the girl's motionless body, thinking she

eyes fluttered open. She looked toward the living room, waited until she was sure the man was

where the wind and snow couldn't