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

body was already half-numb from the cold, her stomach aching with hunger. Gritting her teeth, she summoned her courage and called out, "Please...

man, half-gone with whiskey, grew even more irritated at Citrine's

You're still not dead, you little

with a violent crash. Citrine recoiled, trembling uncontrollably

light. She knew what

she wished time would slow down, or that just this once the man might have a change of heart and

louder as he stomped across the living room. He flung

days without food and you're already whining?

to sleep, out here on the balcony-that's more than you deserve! Try asking for more

force. He didn't stop until Citrine's sobs faded and she lay limp and silent on the

She hadn't expected the man to be so cruel-even to

he left, she glanced at the girl's motionless body, thinking she probably wouldn't survive

then, slowly, the little one's eyes fluttered open. She looked toward the living room, waited until she was sure the

far corner of the balcony, where the