Unmasking the Heiress (Evangeline and Walte) novel Chapter 552

Celina, still reeling from the crash, could barely muster the strength to stand. She managed only a few steps before her legs gave out, and she crumpled to the curb, drained and weak.

Then she thought of David.

His face flashed through her mind, a beacon of hope in her darkest moment. Summoning every ounce of energy she had left, Celina dug out a tiny phone from her hidden waist pocket and dialed David's number.

The phone rang and rang, each tone a fading echo of hope.

With each unanswered call, the warmth in Celina's heart dimmed. By the third attempt, despair engulfed her completely. Her mother had been right all along—men were the most unreliable beings…

However, what did that make her to David? He had shown interest, and she had, perhaps unwittingly, started to care more than she should have…

The chill of death crept up her limbs, her body growing colder as her blood stilled in her veins. Without realizing it, Celina's eyes fluttered shut, surrendering to the numbness.

"Why is there someone here?!"

A woman's startled cry and the instinctive yearning for life jolted Celina's eyes open.

A pregnant woman, cradling her belly, swam into her blurry view. The stranger squatted, her eyes lighting up with recognition upon seeing Celina's face.

"Ms. Morris? What are you doing here?"

Did that woman know her?

With the last shred of strength, Celina forced her eyes wide, desperate to bring the woman's face into focus.