She Quit Her Family and Found Herself novel Chapter 232

Prompted by Desmond and Zane's comments, Hulda took a closer look and realized they were right—Kit's eyes really did mirror her own.

They both shared the same deep-set, beautifully layered eyelids, and the overall shape was uncannily similar.

"You're right," Hulda murmured.

No wonder she felt such a strange sense of familiarity when looking into the child's eyes, a subconscious urge to draw her close.

"You still haven't told us, whose kid is this?" Desmond pressed.

Hulda blinked. "Do you really not recognize her? It's Kit."

"Kit?" Desmond's eyes widened in sheer shock.

Zane pointed a trembling finger at the quiet child nestled in Hulda's arms. "Wait, the feral little cub?"

He circled them, staring in awe. "I never would've guessed she'd look this pretty once she was actually clean."

Hearing the commotion, the local villagers who were temporarily sheltered nearby gathered around. Seeing a pristine, completely non-threatening Kit, their eyes lit up with surprise.

"Oh my word, if it isn't Kit! Look at her, she's actually a beautiful little thing!"

"You know, if she stayed this clean, I wouldn't mind letting my kids play with her."

"Right? It's normal for kids to get a little dirty, but she was always covered in grime and smelled worse than my teenage boy after a game. Now she's all washed up and smells like soap. She's actually quite darling."

"You gotta stay this clean from now on, Kit! I'll tell my older girl to come play with you."

It was likely the very first time in her life that Kit had experienced such genuine warmth and kindness from the people around her. Overwhelmed and unsure of how to react, her little cheeks flushed a deep pink, making her look even more endearing.

*She was right...* Kit thought. *If I'm clean, they won't say mean things about me anymore...*

Just then, a harsh, gravelly voice shattered the moment. "Kit!"

Hearing that voice, the little girl in Hulda's arms perked up. She immediately scanned the crowd and, upon spotting her grandmother, her eyes lit up. She squirmed, trying to get down.

"Grandma! Grandma!"

Hearing the growing desperation in Kit's voice, Hulda hurriedly set her down on her feet.

Kit threw one final glance over her shoulder at Hulda, her young eyes swirling with complex emotions, but she obediently followed her grandmother without a fight.

Hulda stood frozen in place, the sheer malice radiating from the old woman still lingering in the air.

Desmond coughed awkwardly, stepping up to comfort her. "Don't take it to heart, Ms. Atherton. Mrs. Gable is just like that."

Zane nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she treats everyone like an enemy. The only people she's even slightly civil to are the town officials."

"I understand you were just trying to help," Desmond said with a heavy sigh. "You see, Mrs. Gable took a nasty fall yesterday and had been complaining about leg pain. We had someone take her to the doctor this morning. She just got back and was already in a foul mood because she couldn't find Kit."

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have taken the child without asking her guardian first. I just saw her sitting there all alone, covered in dirt, and my heart broke for her. I just wanted to get her cleaned up," Hulda explained.

But now, things were starting to make sense.

Someone as dedicated and community-focused as Desmond wouldn't normally turn a blind eye to a child in Kit's condition.

The only reason he hadn't intervened was because he couldn't—or because every attempt to help had been violently rejected.

"I just don't understand," Hulda murmured. "She's such a sweet little girl. Why in the world do they call her a wild 'Kit'?"