NovelUSAChapter 460 "Con in." The moment Citrine stepped inside Hilda's house, she froze for a second. The decor felt so familiar, almost like she'd just walked through the front door of her own childhood home.
She had no idea Hilda had deliberately hired someone to recreate the look, thinking Citrine must prefer this style.
Citrine gave Hilda a grateful nod and walked in.
"Sit here." Hilda pulled out a chair for her, eager and attentive.
Citrine didn't stand on ceremony-she sat down right away.
When she looked at the spread on the dining table, she hesitated. "All these dishes..." "Are they not to your taste?" Hilda suddenly sounded nervous, her hands clenched tightly beneath the table.
Citrine smiled, reassuring her. "No, they're perfect." If she remembered right, these were the sdishes she'd ordered the last tthey'd eaten together. She was surprised Hilda had remembered.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtCitrine could see the relief wash over Hilda's face as soon as she spoke.
"Try some," Hilda urged, her eyes shining with anticipation.
Everything looked delicious and inviting.
Without thinking, Citrine reached for the sautéed greens closest to her, scooping up a forkful and popping it into her mouth. Her expression shifted almost immediately.
How much salt did she put in this? Hilda hadn't touched her own plate yet. She just watched Citrine expectantly. "How is it?" Citrine's lips twitched. She forced a laugh and lied, "It's really good." Hilda beamed, her entire demeanor softening. Hearing her daughter's praise filled her with a pride that outshone any business deal she'd ever closed.
Citrine glanced over the table, picked another vegetable dish, and took a cautious bite.
This one wasn't salty, but it was scorching hot-her mouth went numb from the spice.
Thankfully, she'd learned her lesson. Instead of shoveling it in, she tasted it slowly, so it wasn't too unbearable. She realized this must be Hilda's first attempt at cooking.
Suddenly, she remembered what people in Crestwood used to say about Hilda.
Hilda Saunders, matriarch of the Saunders family, was Crestwood's real society queen. Born with a silver spoon, doted on by her parents and two older brothers, she'd been the center of their world since day one.
With all that pampering, she'd never had to cook a meal for herself. So, it made sense-today was her first tin the kitchen, all for Citrine.
Thinking about it, Citrine felt unexpectedly moved.
Just then, Hilda reached for a dish herself.
Citrine's face changed. She quickly tried to stop her. "Wait, don't-!" But it was too late.
Before Citrine could finish, Hilda had already put a forkful in her mouth.
Within seconds, Hilda's face twisted in agony.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Too much chili," she gasped, spitting the food out. For a moment, she looked like a little kid caught red-handed.
Realizing her daughter had just eaten several bites of her culinary m "disaster" Hilda waom overcwith guilt. "I'm sorry, Citrine. I'm not much of a cook." At that moment, Citrine noticed a burn on Hilda's hand.
The red mark stood stark against her pale skin.
"You're hurt," Citrine said, frowning.
Before Hilda could protest, Citrine gently took her hand.
"It's nothing," Hilda murmured, gazing at her daughter. Citrine's hands were soft, yet surprisingly strong.
Before Citrine was even born, Hilda had pictured every day dressing her up in matching outfits, walking han in-hand down the street, the perfect mother and daughter.
Now Citrine was grown, and those dreams seemed out of reach But in this moment, their hands clasped together, Hilda felt a quiet, deep contentment all the same.
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