HappyNovelChapter 663 Seeing that Hilda didn't scold her as Leda had hoped, the icy look in Citrine's eyes softened a little.
Her voice was calm. "She took my cake, so I slapped her." Leda, eyes red and brimming with tears, dabbed at her cheeks and looked pitifully at Hilda. "Aunt Hilda, I didn't. I just knocked over the cake by accident." "I didn't think my sister's temper would be so bad. I can't believe she hitjust for that." As she spoke, she shot a frightened look at Citrine, as if she'd been bullied into silence.
Hilda's expression darkened, her face clouded and unreadable. She said nothing —an ominous calm before the storm.
Leda's heart leapt with hope.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtShe suddenly remembered something from a few years back. Her mother had taken her to a party, but since the Swift family wasn't well-regarded in Crestwood, the other privileged kids had ganged up on her. They'd yanked her hair, shoved her, and kicked her while she was down.
That was when Hilda had appeared.
She'd stepped between Leda and her tormentors, sending the lot of them fleeing with a single glare.
Hilda had told them, "Leda is under my protection. If anyone dares lay a finger on her again, the Saunders family won't let it slide." Leda still remembered the look in Hilda's eyes that day. It was the sas now- her face tight with anger. Clearly, Ms. Saunders was furious.
This time, that wretched Citrine was in real trouble.
Leda could barely contain her excitement; her eyes even sparkled as she looked at Hilda, anticipating that, like before, Hilda would rush to her defense.
But this time, the silence stretched on. Hilda didn't say a word.
Leda, sensing her moment slipping away, opened her mouth to play the victim again, hoping to win ssympathy.
Suddenly, a sharp slap landed across her cheek.
The crack echoed through the room.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLeda staggered, clutching her face, stunned. "Ms. Saunders, you-you hit me?" Everyone knew Hilda and her mother had always been close. Over the years, Hilda had watched over her, even agreeing when her mother suggested making Leda her goddaughter.
She'd always thought of Hilda as a second mother. Hilda had been so good to her -how could she turn on her now, just for Citrine? Leda couldn't understand it.
Citrine might be Hilda's real daughter, but she'd been missing for years. How close could they possibly be, after eighteen years apart? Besides, Citrine didn't seem to care about Ms. Saunders at all not like Leda, who always knew how to cheer her up.
It was obvious Ms. Saunders enjoyed her company more than Citrine's icy distance.
Bitterness welted up inside Leda. She pleaded, voice trembling, "Ms. Saunders, have you forgotten? All those times you stood up for me, all the times you told everyone I was yours to protect. You spoileddoesn't that mean anything now?" She looked at Hilda, hope flickering desperately in her eyes.
Hilda gazed back, her voice cold and measured. "Yes, I protected you. I looked out for you. But don't think it you & was because loved you. It was only because you were the sage as my daughter. Every tI saw you, I thought of her."
Leda shook her head, refusing to accept it. "I don't believe you. You say I reminded you of your daughter, but e there are plenty of girls her age. Why was it only me? Why did you care for me, help me, treatlike I was special?"
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