All Chapters of THE HIDDEN HEIRESS: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air as Lana pushed open the glass door of the veterinary clinic where Tricia worked. The soft jingle of the entrance bell barely cut through the barking and meowing from the back rooms. Tricia looked up from the reception desk, her face breaking into a wide smile. “Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite troublemaker,” she teased, pulling off her gloves. “What brings you to my little kingdom of fur and chaos?” Lana smirked, stepping closer. “Just wanted to check in on you. And also…” Her voice lowered, her expression turning serious. “We need to talk.” Tricia’s smile faded as she scanned Lana’s face. She nodded toward the back. “Come on, let’s step into the break room.” As they walked through the hallway, past cages and examination rooms, Lana couldn’t help but feel a sense of normalcy in the midst of her chaotic life. The clinic smelled like fresh hay and disinfectant, a sharp contrast to the high-rise world of deception she was currently tang

The silence stretched. The city blurred past the window, tall buildings fading into something quieter, more open. It took her a moment to realize that she didn’t recognize the road they were on. Her fingers tightened in her lap. “Why did you stop coming to work?” Damon’s voice was calm, but it carried that low, edged weight that always made her feel like she was on the defensive. Lana blinked, staring ahead. She had expected him to say something eventually, but not that. “I don’t know,” she said. His knuckles flexed against the wheel. “Are you avoiding me?” “No.” A short exhale, almost like a laugh. “Really?” She didn’t answer. “Do you still want to work with me?” Another pause. This time, she wasn’t sure what to say. Because the truth was—she didn’t know. Not after what happened in Los Angeles. His fingers tapped once against the wheel. “Okay.” That was it? Lana glanced at him, expecting—what, exactly? A fight? A demand? Something cutting? But his face w

The vibration of Damian’s phone cut through the thick tension in the air. The sound was sharp, insistent, like an unwanted chaperone barging into a moment that was dangerously close to unraveling into something reckless.Lana’s breath was still uneven, her body betraying the control she tried so hard to maintain. His palm, warm and firm, still rested on her thigh, his fingers barely grazing the hem of her shorts. He didn’t move to answer the call immediately. Instead, his gaze held hers—heavy, smoldering, unreadable.“Aren’t you going to answer that?” Her voice was quiet but steady, though inside, she was anything but.Damian exhaled sharply, clearly irritated at the interruption. He pulled his phone from his pocket, glanced at the screen, and then, with visible reluctance, answered.“What?” His tone was clipped, his fingers tapping absently against her skin as if he’d forgotten they were still there.Lana sat frozen, trying to push past the lingering heat between them, but she couldn

The sunlight crept into Lana’s room, stretching its golden fingers across the sheets, warming her skin before she even opened her eyes. She inhaled deeply, feeling the slight stiffness in her limbs as she stretched, arching her back like a lazy cat before rolling onto her side. The world outside was already awake—cars honking, people shouting, the distant hum of life moving on. She lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, then shifted her gaze to the window. The glass was slightly fogged, the early morning air still cool from the night. She could see the city outside—buildings stretching high, endless roads weaving through them like veins. With a sigh, she threw the covers off and sat up, pressing her feet against the cold floor. The morning routine began. She dragged herself to the bathroom, flicking on the light as she examined herself in the mirror. Messy hair, sleep-heavy eyes, lips slightly parted from the remnants of dreams. She ran a hand over her face, then reached

“Please… let me go.” Adrian’s voice was hoarse, raw from months of pleading. His throat burned, his lips cracked and dry. The damp air of the room clung to his skin, thick with the stench of urine, blood, and something rotting. A shadow moved before him. He couldn’t see it—his eyes were covered—but he felt its presence, looming, suffocating. A sharp click. The unmistakable sound of a camera shutter. “No, no, no—what are you doing?” Adrian thrashed against the restraints, the metal biting deeper into his skin. His wrists were torn, his ankles swollen. He tried to jerk away, but the rough sack over his head scratched against his bruised face, suffocating him further. A deep, amused chuckle filled the room. “I’m not the one you should beg,” the man said. Adrian’s chest tightened. The voice was cold, detached, yet oddly entertained. “Is it Lilith?” His voice cracked. “You people have taken everything from me.” “Not everything.” The words sent a chill through him. He cle