The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 55

**Chapter 55**

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As Nina’s serious demeanor settled in the air like a thick fog, Stella felt her breath hitch in her throat. Time seemed to freeze around her, and she stood there, paralyzed by a wave of anxiety. Her gaze darted to Nina, who was visibly tense, and Stella’s mind raced, tangled in a web of confusion and fear.

Nina’s heart raced as she wrestled with the urgency of the situation. She couldn’t voice the danger lurking in the shadows, not wanting to alert whatever—or whoever—was concealed in the closet. In a flash of inspiration, she quickly typed a message to Stella.

Nina: [Run. Someone’s hiding in your closet. Stay quiet and act as if nothing’s happening.]

Stella’s hands trembled as she read the chilling text. The gravity of the situation gripped her, and she instinctively took a step back, cradling her beloved Snowball in her arms, her heart pounding in her chest. She moved cautiously towards the door, every creak of the floorboards beneath her feet sending adrenaline coursing through her veins.

Nina, desperate to provide a distraction, called out, “Ms. Guzman, hold Snowball up and part her fur so I can check his belly.” Her voice rose above the tension, attempting to mask the sound of Stella’s careful movements and the ominous creak of the door.

With painstaking slowness, Stella reached for the doorknob, her fingers trembling as they wrapped around the cold metal. She could feel her pulse quickening, her knuckles paling as she pressed down gently. But to her dismay, the knob wouldn’t turn.

In the oppressive silence, even the faintest sounds felt amplified. Stella yanked the handle with all her might, trying again and again, but the door remained stubbornly shut. Panic began to rise within her, and a bead of sweat trickled down her forehead. Clutching Snowball tightly, she sank down to the floor, her back pressed against the door as if it could shield her from the danger lurking behind it.

Trembling, Stella’s fingers flew across her phone’s screen. [Help me. The door won’t open.]

Nina’s heart raced at the message—someone had tampered with the lock. She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to remain composed as she continued to text Stella.

Nina: [Stay calm. Send me your address.]

Moments later, Stella sent her address and room number, revealing her upscale apartment, a corporate rental in the heart of the city.

Nina wasted no time, quickly relaying the information to Simon. [Hurry and get her. There’s no time.]

Simon’s reply was swift, a beacon of hope in the chaos. [We’re sending the closest cops. Stay on the phone with her.]

A wave of relief washed over Nina as she read Simon’s message. She quickly turned her attention back to Stella, her voice steadying as she typed. [Don’t be afraid. I’ve already called the police.]

Through the screen, Nina could see Stella in the living room, clutching Snowball as if he were her lifeline. “The police are on their way,” Nina instructed, her voice calm yet urgent. “Look around and find something to use as a weapon.”

Stella’s expression shifted to one of despair as she hugged Snowball closer, her eyes scanning the room.

Stella: [There’s nothing here. I usually use the living room as a dance space, so it’s bare.]

Nina’s heart sank as she observed the pristine living room on her screen. The polished wooden floors gleamed beneath the light streaming in from the large windows, resembling a celebrity dance studio. Two hefty black speakers loomed in the corner, but Stella was far too small to move them in a moment of crisis.

Nina’s mind raced. The man hiding in the closet was likely listening intently to every sound, every whisper, every heartbeat.

In situations like this, emergency calls typically routed to the nearest police station, but even then, the officers would take at least fifteen minutes to arrive. Fifteen minutes felt like a lifetime when Stella was in danger.

Panic surged within Nina. She wished desperately that she could teleport to Stella’s side, bringing one of her tigers from the zoo to intimidate the intruder. But she had to think clearly. What else could she do?

Nina quickly muted her mic and leaned closer to the bats, her voice a hushed whisper. “Someone broke into the house of the girl you saw in the video. She needs help.”

The lead bat, Phantom, swooped down gracefully, landing in front of her with a soft rustle of wings. “Ms. Summer, what’s the plan?”

“There are bats hovering near her home,” Nina explained as she connected the live-stream speaker to her phone. “I need you to use ultrasonic calls to summon all the bats nearby.”

She clenched her fists, determination coursing through her. “I need them to hold him off when the intruder appears. The police are already on their way.”

The five bats flapped their wings in unison, their resolve evident. “No problem.”

Chunky, puffing his chest out proudly, declared, “I’m the tenor of the bat world. I’ll make sure every bat near her home hears me.”

“Excellent. Let’s see what you can do.” Nina signaled Stella with an OK gesture, then activated the microphone. Stella, understanding the cue, connected via Bluetooth.

The robotic voice announcing “Bluetooth connected” echoed loudly in the tense silence, causing both girls to jump slightly.

In an instant, the bats erupted into high-pitched chirps, their calls resonating through the living room speakers.

Stella had already opened the window, and the bats’ calls filled the air, creating a cacophony that echoed through the apartment. She held Snowball close, her heart racing, eyes fixed on the dark hallway where the closet loomed ominously.

As Stella stepped into her home, Snowball had tugged at her clothes, distracting her from checking the closet. Now, the living room was the only source of light, while the hallway remained shrouded in darkness, leaving her uncertain of what—or who—might be hiding within.