The Jilted Heiress' Return To The High Life

Chapter 492:

A wave of unease crashed over her, chilling her to the core. Her stomach knotted, an inexplicable sense of foreboding settling deep in her bones.

“Miss Burgess?” Chelsea’s sharp tone cut through the fog in Leah’s mind.

“If you are feeling tired, you can rest in the lounge.”

Leah jolted back to the present, her breath catching in her throat. Quickly, she forced a pleasant smile.

“No. I am fine.” Taking a steadying breath, she hurried to catch up.

Ahead, Meg held Corrine’s hand, their easy closeness reminiscent of a mother and daughter.

Leah trailed behind, her gaze darkening with a mix of envy and frustration.

“I heard there is an orchard on the hillside. Would you like to check it out?” Meg asked, her voice warm.

Corrine and Chelsea agreed without hesitation, their enthusiasm clear. Leah, unwilling to be left behind, quickly chimed in, masking her reluctance with a bright nod.

But the moment they started the ascent, she regretted it. Her towering heels turned every step into a battle.noveldrama

The hillside was an unforgiving terrain of uneven ground and scattered rocks, and with each stride, her heels sank into the soft earth, throwing her off balance.

She gritted her teeth, struggling to maintain her composure. Then, inevitability struck. Her ankle wobbled. Gravity took over. With a graceless lurch, Leah toppled forward, hitting the ground with an unceremonious thud.

Meg turned, her gaze flicking over Leah sprawled in the dirt. A faint furrow appeared between her brows, barely perceptible.

gⲁ𝗅𝗇0ν𝖊𝗅𝘀.𝗰𝒐𝗺. 𝓤𝓹𝗱𝓪𝓽𝗲𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝗿𝓼 𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓬𝓴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓽

“Since you are struggling to move, why don’t you wait for us at the foot of the hill?”

Leah’s eyes darted to Corrine, who stood beside Meg. Biting the inside of her cheek, she forced a tight smile.

“Alright, I will wait there.”

Meg gave a brief nod, then turned away without another word. Half an hour later, the group returned, their arms laden with freshly picked fruits and vegetables.

Laughter trailed in their wake, lighthearted and content. But as they neared the entrance, a shrill voice shattered the moment.

“You little brat, stealing and not admitting it! No wonder your parents abandoned you. Serves you right!”

The cruel words sliced through the air, sharp and merciless.

Meg’s steps halted abruptly. Beside her, the director’s expression darkened.

Corrine and Chelsea exchanged a glance, silent amusement flickering in their eyes. How utterly foolish.

Meg had not merely funded this orphanage out of charitable kindness — she had once been a child within these very walls. When she had gotten lost and been separated from her own family, the director had taken her in, giving her a place to belong.

This orphanage was not just another project for Meg. It was a piece of her past, a part of her soul.

And now, hearing Leah’s venomous words, a frigid fury laced her voice as she spoke.

“Miss Burgess, do you not think your words are a little too harsh?”

Leah stiffened, her spine straightening as she slowly turned.

.

.

.