The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress (Citrine) novel Chapter 461

Hilda’s heart warmed as she watched her daughter anxiously eyeing her injured hand. In that moment, she almost wished the burn were worse—just to win a bit more of her daughter’s sympathy.

The angry red mark on her hand stood out starkly, making Hilda wince. She quickly pulled herself together and turned to her daughter. “Come upstairs with me. Let’s take care of this.”

Right now, all Hilda could think about was her daughter, so she followed without question, standing up and heading upstairs alongside her.

Once there, Citrine rummaged through the hallway cabinet until she found the best burn ointment they had. Sitting across from her mother, she took Hilda’s hand, gently pulling it closer, then began to dab the cooling cream onto the burn, bit by bit.

Noticing Hilda watching her so intently, Citrine assumed she was worried. “Don’t worry,” she said softly. “It won’t leave a scar.”

Scars were the last thing on Hilda’s mind. All she could feel was her daughter’s care—a tenderness hidden beneath that calm, detached exterior. For the first time, Hilda sensed the soft heart beneath Citrine’s cool surface.

Just then, a sudden sound broke the stillness.

Citrine looked up at Hilda, but Hilda flushed with embarrassment and quickly pressed a hand to her stomach, glancing sheepishly at her daughter. After hours in the kitchen, she was absolutely starving.

Citrine chuckled. “What do you want to eat? I’ll make us something.”

Hilda blinked in surprise. “You know how to cook?”

She’d always known Citrine grew up as the Iversons’ adopted daughter before reconnecting with her biological father, Raymond. The Iversons were wealthy—at least before their bankruptcy—and the Carmichael family even more so. Hilda had always assumed her daughter had never needed to lift a finger in the kitchen.

But reality, it seemed, was different.