The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 48

**Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 48**

The comments section erupted with a frenzy of wild speculation regarding Evan’s sudden disappearance.

One user exclaimed, “Do we even need to guess? I’m convinced he’s out there, living it up with some wealthy older woman. With a face and body like his, he’s the ultimate trophy boyfriend—what a shame if he doesn’t take advantage of it!”

Another chimed in, “Missing? Please. It’s clear that the rich lady’s husband has caught wind of him and is probably gearing up to unleash chaos. No wonder he’s gone underground!”

A third voice added, “Seriously, where’s his sense of responsibility? The nation poured so much into his training, and he just vanishes right before a crucial competition!”

Yet another commenter wrote, “Why hasn’t the team stepped up to clarify things? Their silence only makes it look more suspicious. I’m waiting for the truth to come out.”

Nina couldn’t help but scowl at the rampant rumors swirling online.

Evan was not just a pretty face; he was a dedicated, kind-hearted athlete who had sacrificed everything for his country. Yet to these people, he was merely a gold digger, a shallow boy chasing after money without a shred of dignity.

Turning to Tony, she asked, “Mr. Warren, can you explain why Evan was seen at that high-end sports club? Was it for some sort of business deal or collaboration?”

Tony nodded solemnly. “Evan was invited to record some charity swimming lessons there. But honestly, I’m baffled as to why he seemed so anxious and slipped out through the back.”

Nina’s instincts told her that Evan’s disappearance was somehow linked to the photo circulating online.

Tony’s eyes were red-rimmed, filled with concern. “Evan’s biggest dream is to win a world-class gold medal. He wants to use the prize money to pay for his father’s treatment for that lung disease.”

His words hung heavily in the air, and the tension among Evan’s teammates was palpable.

One of them erupted, “Evan has been training tirelessly—his fingers are practically raw! There’s no way he would just bail on the competition like this.”

Another teammate added, “Those rumors online are a disgrace to athletes everywhere.”

Nina clenched her fists, her heart ablaze with determination. She vowed silently, *I will find Evan, uncover the truth, and restore his name.*

When the swim team learned that Nina was a detective sent by the police, they surrounded her, their desperation evident.

A tall swimmer pleaded, “Ms. Summer, please—you have to find Evan. He’s not just our best chance at the butterfly gold; he’s the backbone of our relay team’s hopes for a medal.”

Another teammate interjected, “Evan would never just vanish without a reason. He must be in serious trouble.”

The youngest swimmer stepped forward, eyes wide with sincerity. “If you can bring Evan back safe, I’ll give you all my prize money and bonuses from Worlds. I promise.”

A chorus of agreement followed, each teammate echoing the sentiment.

Nina was taken aback by their fervor. “Guys, you really don’t have to do this—I’ll get a bonus from the police regardless.”

Suddenly, Tony slapped his forehead, realization dawning. “I almost forgot—if you manage to track down Evan before it’s too late, our team will offer a $60,000 reward for you. Plus, we’ll throw in premium tickets to all the biggest sporting events.”

A star swimmer piped up, “Ms. Summer, we heard you have a zoo. If you need, we’d be more than willing to help spread the word or give it a shout-out.”

Nina’s eyes sparkled with excitement at the thought. Claire had leveraged her influence to promote Cuddle Critters; now, Nina needed all the exposure she could get to draw attention to Forest Isle Zoo.

Just then, Chubby came bounding back, urgency radiating from him. “Nina, I found a witness! His name is Smokey. He’s a bit shy, but we’re totally best buds now.”

Nina smiled, “That’s impressive, Chubby. You’re quite the social butterfly, aren’t you?”

Chubby puffed up with pride. “Of course! I have loads of friends—networking is my specialty. Smokey’s hiding out in the bushes—come on, I’ll show you the way.”

“Let’s go!” Nina replied eagerly.

Tony’s eyes widened as the realization hit him. He quickly pulled out his phone and made a call. After hanging up, he said, “Evan always makes time to visit an eight-year-old fan who is paralyzed and confined to bed.

“But I just got off the phone—the kid’s alive and well, no health emergency or anything.”

Once again, the situation came to a standstill.

Nina said, “No worries. Let’s go check out that blind spot by the cameras where Evan disappeared and see what else we can uncover.” She called the Squirrel Bros and Smokey over, then hurried toward the east, the others following closely behind.

The alley where Evan had vanished was bustling with life, a complete maze filled with side streets and corners.

Market stalls and locals crowded the area, but it was a nightmare for surveillance—blind spots everywhere and countless hiding places. This chaotic environment also made it a paradise for rats.

Smokey offered, “Nina, let me take the lead—I’ll rally my entire crew.”

Fueled by the promise of treats, Smokey darted through the alleyways, visiting his rat relatives across town to gather clues.

Most of the houses lining the alley had yards adorned with towering old trees—the kind squirrels loved to inhabit. The Squirrel Bros dashed off to chat with their fellow squirrels, hoping someone had spotted something unusual.

Nina scanned the alley, her ears catching the sound of a cat meowing when she first arrived. *With all these trash cans around, there’s bound to be plenty of food for the strays. That means there’s probably a whole crew of feral cats lurking here.*

*Wait a minute—Smokey is so chubby. What if he gets caught by a stray cat while he’s out visiting his cousins? I hope he makes it back in one piece.*

And as fate would have it, that was precisely what happened.

Fifteen minutes later, Coco scurried down from a tree, looking frantic. “Nina, something terrible just happened! I saw a massive, ferocious tabby cat snatch up two rats in one go.

“One of them was Smokey. The other one was a rat following him—probably about to give us some vital information.”