She Quit Her Family and Found Herself novel Chapter 239

The harsh pull made Kit stumble, nearly falling to the ground. Instead of slowing down, Mrs. Gable yanked her harder, picking up the pace.

"How many times do I have to tell you?!" she scolded loudly as they walked. "Don't talk to outsiders! They're wicked! They'll snatch you away!"

Despite being dragged away, Kit kept her head turned, her eyes locked on Hulda.

Standing still, Hulda raised a hand and gave a gentle wave, silently mouthing the word, "Goodbye."

Kit pressed her lips together and didn't react, but Hulda saw it clearly—the little girl's eyes had turned red with unshed tears.

Her heart clenched painfully in her chest.

"Director, that old woman is completely ungrateful. You're obviously trying to help Kit, and she calls you a wicked person," Abby muttered, furious on Hulda's behalf.

It wasn't until Mrs. Gable and Kit had vanished from sight that Hulda finally let out a heavy breath and turned toward the schoolhouse exit.

"She's an old woman raising a young child alone. She used to have debt collectors constantly harassing them. It's understandable that she's paranoid and guarded," Hulda replied. She genuinely understood the root of the grandmother's hostility. But understanding it didn't lessen the deep, aching pity she felt for little Kit.

Abby noticed it too. "Director, you seem incredibly invested in that little girl."

Hulda didn't deny it. She nodded, and even as they walked out the gates, she found herself looking back over her shoulder one last time.

"Yeah, my heart breaks for her. Every time I look at her, I feel this terrible ache," she said with a self-deprecating smile. "Maybe it's because I'm a mother myself."

"What?! Director, you're a mom?" Abby knew Hulda had been married and was now divorced, but she had assumed that was the extent of it.

"Yes." Hulda looked at her in surprise. "I have a six-year-old son. Did I never mention that to you?"

Abby shook her head, still trying to process the information. After all, she and Hulda were around the same age. "Wait, Director... if your son is six, that means you had him when you were really young!"

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