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."

years, Raymond knew Citrine's stubborn, loyal

was afraid you'd be left with regrets. She was afraid she would be too. That's why, in the ambulance, she made me promise

composure finally broke, and she sobbed openly, the pain

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

go on, Raymond interjected, his brow furrowed. "I'm afraid

stared

face darkened. "I looked into everyone who ever hurt

overseas-everywhere. They're gone. All of them. It's

moment's hesitation, he shared the

of them herself. The couple who trafficked her,

made sure they'd never do it

knew exactly how cruel those people

Citrine for hating them.

I never wanted her hands stained like that, but

couldn't stay bottled up forever; eventually,

would