The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 626

All of this proved beyond a doubt-Citrine really had been given another chance at life.

Which meant everything Raymond said was true.

"It's my fault, all of it. If it weren't for that dream, I might never have realized just how much my daughter suffered." Hilda's voice trembled, her heart torn between guilt and aching sorrow.

Raymond glanced at her, his expression gentle but restrained. In the end, he shared what Citrine had asked him to say: "Hilda, when Citrine was in the ambulance, she called out for you-she called you 'Mom.' She asked me to tell you... she never blamed you. Not once."

Hilda's eyes were already red, but now, at his words, they brimmed over with tears.

Raymond could tell she'd heard him, so he repeated softly, "You heard me right."

"She... she really forgave me?" Hilda turned away, wiping her cheeks with a shaking hand and trying to collect herself.

Raymond paused, then said, "You never really understood Citrine, Hilda. She acted tough, but her heart was softer than anyone's. If someone showed her the slightest kindness, she'd remember it forever-she'd pay it back tenfold if she could."

"Even if she never said it out loud, she forgave you long ago. Or maybe, the moment she realized you never meant to abandon her, she stopped blaming you at all."

Citrine's stubborn, loyal nature better than

afraid she would be too. That's why, in the ambulance, she made me promise to tell you this." His voice caught a little as he spoke, grief tightening his

sobbed openly, the pain from the

each word carefully, her anger steady and cold. "I'll make them pay-every last one

she could go on, Raymond interjected, his brow furrowed. "I'm afraid that's

stared at him in

"I looked into everyone

of them.

moment's hesitation, he shared the suspicion that had been gnawing at

them herself. The couple

hurt her-she made sure they'd never do it

exactly how cruel those

blame Citrine for hating

face twisted in grief and vengeful satisfaction. "She did the right thing. They deserved it. I never wanted her hands stained

bottled up forever; eventually, it had

it would