The Second Life of a Discarded Heiress novel Chapter 496

Jeanette just cried, refusing to say a word.

Aline finally looked up and noticed Citrine standing off to the side, feigning indifference.

Pointing at Citrine, Aline snapped, “It was you, wasn’t it? Why did you bully Jeanette?”

Citrine smirked, about to reply, but Hilda stepped forward before she could get a word in.

With a sly, mocking smile, Hilda sauntered over to Aline. “Bully? Do you even know what that means?”

She scoffed. “Besides, the one who bullied Jeanette was me.”

Without another word, Hilda drove the sharp heel of her stiletto straight down on Aline’s foot, grinding it mercilessly.

Aline screamed, the pain piercing through her. She tried to shove Hilda away, but Hilda didn’t budge—instead, she pressed her heel down even harder.

Jeanette watched in horror, wringing her hands in helpless panic. The stinging pain on her own face reminded her just how terrifying Hilda was; she didn’t dare say a word, let alone step forward.

Hilda never even blinked. Watching Aline writhe in pain filled her with twisted satisfaction.

How dare they bully her daughter? She’d make sure they paid for it.

She smiled coldly. “I’m not just going to bully your daughter—I’m going to bully you, too.”

Aline and Jeanette—this troublesome mother and daughter—she’d been looking for an excuse to deal with them, and now they’d delivered themselves right to her doorstep.

It looked like attending the Glenwoods’ gathering tonight was the right choice after all.

Aline’s anguished screams echoed through the grand foyer, making everyone present shudder.

In Crestwood, everyone knew Hilda Saunders, matriarch of the Saunders family, was infamous as the “Iron Lady”—ruthless, vindictive, and never one to let a slight go unpunished. But tonight was the first time many had witnessed her ferocity firsthand.

Quiet relief swept through the crowd—thank God none of them had ever crossed this woman, or it could just as easily have been them on the receiving end.

Her lips curled into a half-smile. “Need I remind you ladies that I’m now the chairwoman of CICI Group? Next time you open your mouths, I suggest you use your brains first.”

Aline and Jeanette froze, their eyes flickering with a mix of shock and unease.

Of course—they’d both forgotten. Citrine was no longer that powerless orphan. Now, she was the head of a major corporation.

Thinking back to what they’d just said, both mother and daughter felt a chill run down their spines as they looked at Citrine.

Citrine noticed every flicker of emotion on their faces. Her smile deepened, suddenly bright and mocking. “Pathetic. That’s all it takes to scare you?”

Jeanette bristled, unwilling to back down. She shouted, “So what if you’re CICI Group’s president? My mother and I have the Glenwood family behind us!”

“The Glenwoods?” Citrine arched an eyebrow. “Then tell me—when you were getting slapped around just now, where was your great uncle, the Glenwood patriarch? Why didn’t he step in to help you?”

Jeanette’s naïve words almost made Citrine laugh outright.