NovelUSAChapter 445 That day marked exactly one month since Young Citrine was born. The Saunders family hosted a modest celebration at a hotel, inviting close friends and relatives. After the party, Hilda was busy seeing guests off, so she handed her baby over to the nanny for a while. But when the last guest had left and Hilda returned, both the nanny and Citrine had vanished without a trace.
Panic seized Hilda instantly. She called the police and, leveraging every connection the Saunders family had, scoured all of Crestwood in desperate search.
A few days later, the authorities found the nanny-but she was dead. The baby was still missing. The police suspected the worst: that the child was gone, too.
But Hilda refused to accept it. She couldn't believe her little girl was lost forever. Year after year, she continued searching for any sign of her daughter.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtThe memory of that day was etched deeper into Hilda's heart than any other. It was the day she lost her precious child.
"It was all my fault. I never should have left you with the nanny," Hilda whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she looked at her daughter.
If only she hadn't handed Citrine over that afternoon, none of this would have happened.
Just as Hilda was about to spiral deeper into guilt, Citrine spoke softly, "I never blamed you." Hilda froze, startled by the words. Before relief could settle in, Citrine continued, "But I'm sorry, I've grown used to living without a mother all these years. I think I've outgrown the need for one. If you wantto embrace this and call you 'Mom' with all my heart, I'm afraid I can't do that." It wasn't resentment that kept Citrine distant. She simply didn't know what it meant to have a mother. In her world, the word was little more than a title, no different from a stranger.
Hilda's heart clenched at the truth in her daughter's voice.
Carefully, she tried again. "I... I understand. I won't force you to accept me. I only hope you'll givea chance- at least letsee you from tto time. Would that be okay?" Citrine lowered her eyes but, after a moment, nodded. "Alright.” That one word filled Hilda with cautious hope.
After lunch that afternoon, Hilda left quietly. She returned to the Saunders estate and immediately instructed someone to purchase the apartment just downstairs from Citrine's place.
Opportunities, she told herself, were made, not given. If she lived right below her daughter, she could see her as often as she wanted.
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became.
By the next day, Hilda had Monica pick up a cat from the pet shop.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmOn the phone, she reminded her, "Make sure it's a Maine Coon." Monica could only sigh and oblige, carrying her friend's Maine Coon over as requested.
It baffled her, She remembered how, years ago at Herschel Saunders's birthday party, someone's unruly kid had snuck a cat into Hilda's lap, sending her into a panic. Hilda hadn't hesitated to kick that family out of the house. Monica never forgot it; Hilda had always been terrified of cats.
So seeing her aunt now, gently poking at the carrier with a hesitant smile, Monica couldn't help but ask, "Auntie, weren't you always terrified of cats?"
Hilda laughed, her fingers brushing nervously against the cage. "Imm going to see my daughter," she said with a hint of pride. No wonder she's in such a good mood, Monica thought.
Before Monica could say more, Hilda added, "Citrine has a cat just like this." As if that wasn't enough, Hilda went on, "It's adorable. She seems to really love it." "Adorable?" Monica repeated, almost thinking she'd misheard. That word just didn't sound right coming from Hilda.
Hilda nodded. "Very adorable. And most importantly, my daughter likes it So I'm going to get over my fear of cats."
With that, Hilda opened the carrier herself and let the cat out. She reached out, hand trembling just ve stightly, but determined to overcher fear for her daughter's sake, and gently stroked the Maine Coon's soft fur. sŵ
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