The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 58

**TITLE: Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 58**

“That’s absolutely impossible,” Stella declared, shaking her head vehemently. “All the workers here are full-time employees, and they have to sign in every time they enter the building. They wouldn’t dare engage in anything illegal.” Her conviction was palpable, but doubt lingered in the air.

Nina furrowed her brow, her mind racing as she turned her attention to Snowball, the little creature perched nearby. “Snowball, when Nancy and those two workers brought the crate into the closet that day, did you notice anything unusual? Can you recount everything that happened from the moment they walked in until the crate was safely tucked away?”

Snowball nodded slowly, his ears twitching with the weight of the memory. “That evening, Nancy came in with the workers, dragging the crate along. I was curious about what was inside, so I decided to follow them closely.”

He continued, “One of the workers pulled out a hammer, claiming he could open the crate to assist with the installation, but Nancy quickly shot him down. She insisted that some parts were missing. Then, without further ado, she ushered them back out.”

Nina’s instincts prickled with unease. “But she didn’t even open the crate! How could she possibly know that parts were missing? Did the seller inform her?”

Stella’s face turned uncertain as she contemplated the implications. “Let me call the store and find out for sure.”

After hanging up, she trembled slightly, her voice barely a whisper. “No way. Why would Nancy lie to me?”

Travis, sensing the tension, interjected quickly, “What did the seller say?”

Stella’s expression turned grave as she replied, “He said the clothes rack hasn’t even been shipped yet.”

Nina’s voice took on a firm tone, cutting through the confusion. “Nancy is a prime suspect here. Haven’t you noticed? Brian seemed to know exactly when you would be home. Without someone on the inside helping him, he wouldn’t have been able to sneak in so smoothly.”

A realization struck Nina like a bolt of lightning. She remembered how Nancy often spent time alone with Snowball whenever Stella was away. “Snowball,” she asked, her voice steady, “does Nancy visit often when Stella is not home? How does she treat you?”

Snowball shook his ears, lowering his voice as if sharing a dark secret. “She’s a bad woman. Every time she comes, she pinches my rear and threatens me. She says if I tell Stella, she’ll turn me into food.”

His voice trembled, “She’s a thief. I saw her slip Stella’s necklace into her bag.”

Stella, who kept a treasure trove of jewelry in the closet, knew that no one would notice if a few pieces went missing.

Snowball pressed on, “She also wears Stella’s dresses, twirling in front of the mirror and boasting on the phone that they’re hers. Just yesterday, she spat into Stella’s face cream. That’s disgusting!”

Nina listened intently, relaying every detail to Stella with a calm demeanor, though her heart raced with concern.

Stella’s complexion drained of color as she silently tossed the cosmetics aside, the weight of the revelation settling in.

Nina frowned, her brow furrowing with worry. “Why don’t you have surveillance at home? It would give you a sense of security.”

Stella offered a wry smile, shaking her head. “All the cameras these days connect to the internet. They’re easy prey for hackers. I don’t want to wake up one day to find my dressing room streaming live for the world to see.”

Nina recalled some unsettling news she had come across online and shook her head, her thoughts racing.

Having identified the accomplice, Travis wasted no time and called his boss to arrange for Nancy’s arrest. With Brian now subdued, he planned to interrogate him thoroughly for more information.

After taking Stella’s statement, the police gently advised her to rest, sensing her distress.

The following morning, at seven-thirty, Nina began her usual workday routine. Ever since taking the reins of the wildlife park, she had dedicated every spare moment to caring for the animals.

The bonus from her previous case had dwindled rapidly, but thankfully, the generous one million dollars donated by Amber’s parents provided a lifeline for her in this challenging time.

After a quick breakfast, she changed into her work uniform, ready to tackle the day ahead. Her first stop was the reptiles at Forest Isle Wetlands, an artificial wetland designed to mimic their natural habitat.

Forest Isle Wetlands was separated from visitors by glass walls, allowing for an unobstructed view of the creatures within. Nina walked along the staff corridor, which connected directly to the animals’ habitats.

“Good morning, Ms. Summer,” Ethan, the elderly keeper at Forest Isle Wetlands, greeted her nervously, rubbing his hands together and forcing a smile.

He felt a wave of embarrassment wash over him as he recalled how everyone had walked away during the tiger enclosure incident.

He hadn’t anticipated that in just three days, Liam would reach out, asking them back to train the new staff members and even raise their wages.

Having devoted so many years to this struggling zoo, he felt a deep connection to the animals, and he regretted the harsh words he had hurled at Nina before.

“Morning,” Nina replied brightly, her energy infectious, as if the past was merely a distant memory.

Wearing rubber shoes, she carefully navigated over rocks and wet soil. Crocodiles lounged lazily on stacked rocks, water snakes slithered among floating logs, and lizards darted swiftly through patches of moss.

The humid air was thick with a faint briny scent, occasionally punctuated by the splash of an animal tumbling into a pond.

Nina had just finished examining the teeth of a crocodile named Big Chomp when Ethan came rushing over, flustered and breathless. “Ms. Summer, a snake has escaped!”