The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 57

**TITLE: Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 57**

In the realm of celebrity life, homes are typically fortified with state-of-the-art security systems and stringent privacy protocols. Yet, Nina found herself genuinely perplexed by how Brian had managed to infiltrate Stella’s sanctuary. The thought nagged at her, igniting her curiosity.

Stella, ever the diligent photographer, aimed her camera at Snowball, capturing the moment.

Nina’s voice softened, a gentle caress of concern. “Snowball, are you feeling alright?”

“Yeah. Thank you. I’m fine now,” Snowball replied, his voice a sweet melody, reminiscent of a cartoon bunny, innocent and charming.

Lowering her voice to a near whisper, Nina inquired, “Can you tell me how you figured out someone was hiding in the closet?”

Snowball hesitated, a shy expression crossing his fluffy face. “When Stella is not home, I like to run around the house.” He paused, his eyes darting away as if embarrassed. “I like to poop in her closet.”

With a sense of righteous indignation, he added, “Someone cleans it regularly anyway.”

Nina rubbed her forehead, amusement and exasperation mingling in her thoughts. ‘Just when I was about to commend you for being a good boy…’

Rabbits, in their usual behavior, tended to relieve themselves in designated areas, yet there were always a few mischievous ones who left little surprises to mark their territory. Snowball was certainly one of those cheeky bunnies.

With a twitch of his ears, Snowball continued, “So, the night before last, I went into Stella’s closet like I always do, sniffing around for the coziest corner to do my business.”

Nina couldn’t help but stifle a laugh at the serious expression on Snowball’s face, his little brow furrowed in concentration.

Snowball’s ears perked up as he recounted his tale. “That was when I caught a whiff of something strange. I followed the scent and saw a man sniffing Stella’s clothes in her closet.”

A shiver ran through him as he relived the encounter. “He saw me, stared, and smiled, even touched my fur. I was terrified and bolted out of the closet, never looking back.”

Nina felt a chill creep up her spine at the thought of such an intruder. “He was hiding in the house the night before last, right? He spent the entire night here.”

Snowball nodded, his ears twitching nervously as he recalled the fear. “At first, I thought Stella had sent someone because she was mad I pooped around, but the guy didn’t care about me at all. He treated Stella’s bathroom like it was his own.”

“The scariest part is,” he continued, his voice trembling, “he stayed hidden in the closet all day, and I saw him wiping his knife. He even tampered with the door lock.”

An officer, experienced in the intricacies of locks, examined the mechanism and commented, “He tampered with the lock from the inside. That’s why the victim could open it once, but once it closed again, the latch jammed, trapping it.”

Snowball shivered again, his tiny body trembling with fear. “That’s so scary.”

Nina gently reassured him, “You’re safe now. The police have taken him away.” She relayed Snowball’s account to Stella and the officers, her heart heavy with concern.

**Chapter 57**

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Officer Travis Ortiz, tasked with documenting the unfolding events, found himself staring incredulously at Nina. She was translating the bunny’s words in real time, and the sight of the serious Angora bunny chattering away was both absurd and oddly captivating.

“I can’t believe I’m taking a statement from a bunny,” he muttered under his breath, rubbing his forehead in disbelief. “No one in the office will ever believe this.”

Travis’s instincts kicked in, sensing something was amiss. “Please show us that crate.”

Stella led the way, and the three officers followed her into the expansive walk-in closet.

Nina felt her breath catch as she beheld Stella’s closet on her phone. She had envisioned a slightly larger dressing room, but this space was several times grander than she had anticipated.

An entire wall was lined with pristine white closet doors, each one perfectly aligned, resembling a meticulously arranged row of dominoes. Behind each door hung the latest seasonal fashions, a veritable treasure trove of style.

The sheer size of the room was enough that even an adult man could easily conceal himself within one of the cabinets.

Nina remarked, “No wonder Snowball loves coming in here. This place is like a playground for him.”

Travis’s keen eyes spotted the crate Snowball had mentioned and he rushed over. “It’s empty. There are none of the clothes racks you bought inside.”

Stella hurried to his side, her heart racing.

The crate was crammed with instant food wrappers and empty water bottles, a stark contrast to what it should have contained. Scattered among the debris were hammers, wires, and various tools—clearly intended for tampering with the door lock.

It became painfully clear that Brian had hidden inside the crate, equipped with food, water, and tools, and the workers had unwittingly facilitated his entry. This explained how he had bypassed all security measures and surveillance.

“No way,” Stella gasped, her face draining of color, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Nina’s expression hardened. “Someone swapped your crate.” She raised her head, determination shining in her eyes. “The two workers may have been bribed by Brian.”