The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 676

At this point, Hilda let out a long sigh. "I thought, at the very least, I'd find out where you were. I never imagined it was all a setup from the start-designed just to get rid of me."

Hearing this, Citrine felt her heart ache with every word.

She couldn't bear to imagine how crushing it must have been for her mother, to have all her hopes so completely destroyed.

Hilda continued, her voice trembling, "Back then, your Uncle Nigel was worried about me, so he followed after. He even called the police. When those people realized, they flew into a rage. They doused the entire building in gasoline, trapping both me and your Uncle Nigel in the fire."

Her voice grew even softer, heavy with memory. "The Saunders family arrived soon after. The fire was raging, and the fire department hadn't made it yet. Your grandfather was frantic, but there was only time to save one of us. It tore him apart—either way, he'd be losing someone he loved. In the end, he made the only choice he could: he saved me, since I was closest. The moment I was out, your grandfather ran back inside for your Uncle Nigel. But by then, Nigel had already dragged himself out. They searched everywhere, even with the firefighters, but they couldn't find him."

the family completely fell apart. He quit medicine, stopped caring what anyone thought, and threw himself into painting full time. He became more distant with

this all happened

Despite all his bluster about Nigel, he'd always carried a sense of guilt about what happened. He never regretted his choice he knew it was the only rational decision he could make in that moment—but the guilt stayed with him. Citrine pressed her lips together. The story

made the right choice that day, but that didn't change the pain

these years, it meant he'd

Citrine asked, "Grandpa, did Uncle Nigel ever know you went back into

shook his head

me back then," he said, his voice weary. "I tried to explain, more than once, but he never wanted to listen. Eventually, I just let it go. Thought maybe was better if he didn't know. If he found out the truth,

stared off,

come back for her that day, would