The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 52

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**Chapter 52**

Evan reclined in the sterile confines of his hospital bed, the faint scent of antiseptic lingering in the air, as he engaged in a conversation about his impending discharge with Tony. After his refreshing shower, he appeared revitalized, the color returning to his cheeks. “Mr. Warren,” he asserted with a newfound vigor, “I’m truly fine. I just missed a couple of meals and was tied up for far too long.”

He shifted slightly, the sheets rustling under him, and added, “I need to get back to training. I can only imagine how much my absence has thrown off the relay team’s practice schedule.”

Just then, a gentle knock interrupted their discussion. The door creaked open, revealing Simon and Nina. Tony, noticing their arrival, hurried over to greet them, his face lighting up with relief. “Ms. Summer, Mr. Reed—thank you both immensely. The doctor has cleared Evan to compete as usual.”

He chuckled lightly, “Lucky for us, Evan is as tough as nails. He ate like a horse and never uttered a complaint during his time here. That’s why he’s as strong as an ox.”

A wave of relief washed over Nina, her heart lightening at the news.

Evan, overwhelmed with gratitude, grasped their sleeves, emotion flooding his voice. “So you two are the ones who found me and got the police to pull me out? Ms. Summer, Mr. Reed—thank God you arrived just in time.”

His expression darkened as he recalled the harrowing events. “Last night, the kidnappers issued me an ultimatum: I had eighteen hours to comply with their demands, or they would throw me into a tank of sulfuric acid—alive—by four o’clock this afternoon.”

A shiver ran down Nina’s spine at his words. She had worked with various chemicals in her research and was all too familiar with the horrors that awaited someone submerged in sulfuric acid.

She envisioned the concentrated acid gnawing through flesh, as if a thousand searing knives were slicing through living skin simultaneously. Beneath the victim’s agonized screams, muscle would melt away like wax from a candle, sliding off bones in grisly ribbons of grayish-pink. Even the sturdiest bones would soon hiss and dissolve, turning into a foul, bubbling sludge of crimson and char. In less than ten minutes, a human being could be erased from existence, leaving no trace behind.

Simon’s fingers tightened into fists as he spoke, urgency lacing his voice. “Evan, you’re safe now. Can you tell us—why did they kidnap you? And what exactly is your connection to Diana? Don’t worry; the police aren’t buying every wild rumor circulating online.”

“Diana?” Evan repeated, a look of confusion crossing his face.

Simon clarified, “She’s the woman who appeared at the chemical plant last night. She runs a significant pharmaceutical company.”

Understanding dawned on Evan, his eyes widening. “Now it makes sense. I accidentally overheard something monumental. She wants to silence me for good.”

Nina and Simon exchanged worried glances, the gravity of the situation sinking in.

Taking a deep breath, Evan recounted, “Two days ago, while filming a swimming tutorial at the club, I got lost and ended up in the back garden, where I overheard Diana on a phone call. She admitted that the company’s new drug had lethal side effects, yet she was still adamant about moving forward for financial gain. Instead of halting production, she ordered it to be ramped up.”

He continued, “She dismissed any potential deaths as mere inconveniences, believing they could be resolved with a compensation payment of just a few hundred thousand dollars, while the profits would far exceed that. Moreover, she and her associates had no intention of ever consuming the drug themselves.”

A chill crept down Nina’s spine. She thought, ‘Diana is utterly ruthless.’

Evan pressed on, “I accidentally stepped on a dry branch, and the crack echoed loudly. I bolted without looking back.”

His voice trembled as he added, “That afternoon, back at the intensive camp, I couldn’t shake the scene from my mind. I had no recording, no proof, and no idea who would even believe me.”