The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress

Chapter 801

After searching for a while, Hilda finally found a small box tucked beneath her daughter's desk.

She opened it with trembling hands, carefully peeling back the lid. Sure enough, inside she found a stack of letters.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Hilda sifted through them until she found the envelope with her name on it.

She tore it open, heart pounding.

Mom,

I love you.

When I realized that you loved me just as I'd always hoped, I was so happy. I know you've felt guilty ever since I went missing, but try to see it from my perspective—if I made a terrible mistake and broke your heart, what would you do? I think, knowing you, you'd tell me there isn't a mother on earth who would truly blame her child or stay angry for long. And I want you to know, there isn't a daughter in this world who could ever truly stay angry with her mom, either.

I know you're upset that I insisted on going to Mirage Cay to find Dad. I'm sorry-I didn't mean to hurt you. But this is something I have to do. I spent a lot of time at Mirage Cay and know it better than anyone. And as the head of the Vermillion Vanguard, I've spent years investigating what's been happening there. Now, when it's finally time to act, I have to go.

Mom, I hope you'll understand.

I don't know how long I'll be gone. I thought about what I could leave you, but honestly, you have everything you need.

If I don't make it back, just think of me as a wayward daughter and let me go. Live your life, start over.

The world is a big place. You'll meet people who love you. Maybe you'll even have another sweet daughter one day. You'll be happy, I promise.

"What a silly girl... How could I ever be happy without you? And anyway, you're the only daughter I'll ever need," Hilda muttered through a choked sob, her eyes stinging as tears streamed down her cheeks.

She quickly wiped her face, took a few deep breaths to steady herself, then gathered up the rest of the letters and headed downstairs.

eyes were still red and puffy- something the Saunders family noticed, but no one asked

table and

Saunders family wasted no time finding their

had written a letter to each of them. She'd also left a set of

thoughtful. They remembered mentioning their minor health complaints in passing; no one in the family had paid much attention, but

or two. It meant she'd been thinking about this for

finished reading their letters, quietly dabbing at their

and Wade Saunders had received

always making me laugh and cheering me up these past

racing team together and build something you can be proud

a management plan for

and found a folder. He flipped it open and, after skimming

was.

had-things he'd never even thought to ask. Wade's eyes grew red and

as he could remember, both at home and out in the world, everyone had written him off as a good-for-nothing. Only Citrine had ever believed in him-really believed-and taken

his little sister be

er

much, though she could never match Wade's

Secretly, Monica worried

get a letter

she found one, she was

as she read it, her eyes turned

for a sister more times than I can count. I

would actually

family, you've always looked out for me, made me feel the warmth I'd missed for so long. I love