The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

“I never filed a false report! The tip I gave them was genuine,” Nina insisted urgently, her voice trembling with frustration.

Alex shot back sharply, “Still denying it, huh? The police just called our team—someone named Nina claimed to have seen Felix near her place.”

“Good thing they rang me first,” Alex added, barely restraining his irritation. “Otherwise, you’d have the entire squad running around, wasting time because of your stunt.”

Nina’s heart clenched painfully. “I’ve barely been sleeping, thinking about Felix’s murder case. You pulled this just to scare us and force us to take you back, didn’t you?” he accused.

Nina’s resolve hardened. “Alex, I swear I didn’t do that. How could I joke about something so serious?”

“Don’t call me Alex,” he snapped, his anger flaring. “You’re nothing but a fraud living someone else’s life. Do you even understand what Claire went through all these years?”

He paused, voice dropping to a bitter tone. “Your real brother is some nobody stuck at a remote police post, barely scraping by. What kind of help could he possibly offer Claire?”

For a moment, his voice softened. “Claire had to juggle part-time jobs just to survive through college, while you were living the high life, soaking up everything the Summer family handed you.”

Nina forced a bitter smile, though it barely masked the ache inside. At least Claire was healthy. The relentless pressure and endless cram sessions imposed by the Summer family had taken a serious toll on Nina’s body. She was sick more often than not.

*Honestly, I’d trade all this for just a normal, healthy life,* Nina thought, pain cutting deep through her chest. *Instead, I’m constantly burning up with fever, coughing, and fainting. Now I can’t even afford decent medical care or proper food.*

“If you make up fake clues again, don’t blame me if I call the cops. False reports could land you in jail,” Alex warned coldly before ending the call.

Nina rubbed her temples, hot tears spilling down her cheeks in a mix of frustration and helpless anger. *Who does Alex think he is? Acting like he owns the right to call the police? What a jerk,* she fumed silently. *If something really happens, I’m completely doomed…*

Just then, a soft, fluffy tail brushed gently against her cheek. It was Coco, her little companion, tenderly wiping away her tears with his bushy tail. “Nina, I just washed my tail today. Super clean. Hope you don’t mind,” Coco said in a playful tone, trying to lift her spirits.

Her tears only fell harder. *It hurts more than I can say. Those I’ve cared about for over twenty years mean less to me now than a squirrel I’ve only known for less than twenty days,* she thought, feeling a deep ache settle in her chest.

*What am I supposed to do now?* Panic flared inside her. *That idiot Alex is ruining everything for me.*

Suddenly, a spark of hope flickered. *Wait a minute. There’s still someone else I can ask for help.*

Nina’s real brother, Simon Reed, was a small-town cop about twenty miles away. They hadn’t actually met in person yet; their reconnection was still fresh and fragile. For now, all she had was his contact information.

When Simon found out that Nina had been kicked out by the Summer family, he had quietly arranged for someone to help her find a place to stay. *Maybe he’s not so bad after all,* Nina thought, a glimmer of hope stirring inside her.

Nervously, Nina dialed Simon’s number. The call connected immediately. “Hey, Simon?” she said, her voice shaky and uncertain.

“Nina? What’s going on?” Simon replied, his voice calm but tinged with surprise.

Before she could say anything else, Simon cut in, “You sound exhausted and hoarse. Are you sick or something?”

After that, all Nina heard was the sound of wind rushing through the phone. Strangely, it calmed her nerves and made her feel safer.

Half-dreaming, half-awake, she thought groggily, *If Simon really is that badass, maybe we actually have a chance at catching this fugitive tonight. And if we pull it off, there’s a $200,000 bounty waiting!*

Too exhausted and hungry to do anything else, Nina curled up and drifted off, her mind slipping into restless dreams.

She wasn’t sure how long she’d been asleep when Chubby’s urgent voice jolted her awake. “Nina, someone’s coming!”

Nina shot upright, a cold shiver running down her spine.

Outside, darkness swallowed everything. Living in an old, rundown part of town meant the streetlights were weak, and night swallowed the world beyond her window. The thin apartment walls carried every sound, and footsteps echoed ominously down the hallway, filling the room with tense anticipation.

Her heart pounded wildly—until she heard Simon’s voice, both over the phone and right outside her door. “Nina, I’m here. Open up.”

She exhaled the breath she’d been holding and hurried to unlock the door. The moment it swung open, she froze.

Standing there was a tall man—ridiculously handsome, with sun-kissed skin and sharp, commanding features. His eyes held a serious, authoritative gaze, like someone who’d stepped straight out of a poster for a national hero—the kind of man who could break hearts with a single look.

*No way… is this really my brother Simon?* Nina thought, utterly stunned and overwhelmed.