THE SECRET HEIRESS

x's hand. I stood frozen in the living room, surrounded by the people

of a piece of furniture. Pain exploded instantly as a gash opened, warm blood streaming down from it. I winced, my breath catchin

er, I said, my voice trembling, "I know you don't like me, but why stoop so low as to accuse me

across my face. Cold and stinging, it left me reeling. What just happened? I

hock, my voice barely audi

much venom. "The audacity to stand there and

believe this? How could he think I wou

ed to choke out. "I swear

like a wall I couldn't break through. His once warm brown eyes were cold, unforgiving, as if the man I

word as Delore

n nothing but a leech since the day you trapped Max into marrying you. Always taking, alw

I refused to let them fall. N

voice trembling. "You know

He had never spoken to me like this. Ever. He used to hold me when I cried, kiss away

ecognize h

ach the part of him that still loved me, if it even existed anymore. "I didn't

n't change. If any

oking down at me with disgust. "I

hold onto what little dignity I had left. I had no idea why Max and his fami

self for it. "How can you believe this?

e, you've been manipulating us, taking advantage of Max's kindness and our family's generosity. And now, stealing jewelry? How disgusting. Do you

cried out. "I would never do

ward again, her fac

hot on my skin. "You don't deserve

yes, silently begging him to stop this. To come to my defense. But he stood there, still, un

ling the

spun around me. The words hit me

oking at him in disbeli

d coldly, reaching for his phone. "

tears streaming down my face

ling calmness that made my stomach turn. The room f

were handcuffing me and leading me out the door. I glanced back one last time, hoping, praying, that Max would

was col

t in reality, it had only been a day. A day since the man I loved, the man I would

I saw his face, heard his voice telling me I was pathet

ell opened, and a

ve a vi

t moment, I knew it was Max, and I let myself hope a

had realized it was all a mistake. He would apologiz

t me with warmth or regret. He looked at me with cold

rembled. "You cam

ope onto the table between us. It lande

this?"

flat, emotionless. Like I didn

t wasn't real. It was a nightmare. Any second now, I would wake up,

l. And so was the pain

crossing his arms. "An

rring with fresh tears.

"You should've thought about tha

ng. Max, you know me.

e cut me off in a har

e was a painful ache in my chest, making it hard for me to breathe. I thought I had mor

d, my voice breaking. "P

be real-if you were me, would you even want to stay married to someone like you? A spineless thief with nothing to offer? You're worthless. And ha

rried, and realized that the person I thought

pen, my hands shaking. I didn't want to sign. I

otted line. My heart broke w

cruel smile. And when

id mockingly before turning and wa

me sitting there alone. My tears

here was no one