THE SECRET HEIRESS

I didn't know how long I'd been there. Days, maybe? I couldn't tell an

ife turned o

ome a stranger to me? The man who had promised to protect me,

the shouting, and then the police. I heard footsteps, and I snapped out of my

a visitor,

being brought here. Could it be Max? Had he finally come back for me? Pathetic as it might sound, a small part

tting across the table was a man I had never seen before. He was wearing a suit, but there was someth

asked, feeling ti

, his eyes studying me like I wa

," he said. "I've been look

. Who the hell was he? Why

r me? I don

"No, I don't suppose you do. But I know you. Or

talking abou

ot after everything that had happened, and I didn't hav

closely, leaning forward.

the question. "What

his eyes. "T

t does that have t

d into a strange smile, like

his head slowly. "You don't

feeling frustrated. "What

and plucked a strand of hair from my head. I yelped, j

fully placing the strand of

ething," he said d

going?" I demanded,

e turning and leaving the room, leavin

that man? What did he want? And what the

peculiar man again, but my mind remained filled with confusion

nvestigations now? The thought see

iserable routine, slowly acclimating to the mon

ve a vi

ality quickly tempered my hopes. Who could

m immediately. Everyone in the country knew who they were. Daniela and Kenneth Johnson. The wealthiest couple in the city, mayb

et, something strange happened. They both froze, staring at me like they'd seen a

hispered, her v

nfusion swirl

, shaking my head.

ushed forward, throwing her arms around me in a t

the woman sobbed against my shoulder

wly. His eyes were filled with

thought we lost you in that accident al

the woman, Daniel

I said, my voice shaky. "I'm not yo

eely. "No, no... you're our daughter. Tammie Joh

repeated, co

dent. We thought you had died. The body they found in the wreck was burned beyond recog

mind around their words. "This ca

. "husband? Yo

said. "Ma

ance, and I could see the

, we need you to understand that we're your real family. We did

om spun. That's why the detec

ou talking about?" It was hard to absorb everything they were saying. I fel

f my mind. It was all too much to proces

s didn't come. My vision blurred, and before