The Secret Heiress.

RA'S

hi

it harder t

l just happened. My mind was still catching up. Was this real life? Or did I somehow get dropped into an overly dramatic te

ainfully real. And unfortunately for me

's mom, aka the queen of dramatic entrances and soul-crushing insults, stood with her arms crossed like she wa

ealing? I did

r than I liked. "I didn't steal anything! Why would I? I have

rave, right? Exce

ther slap cracked across my other che

s fro

a

ner. The man I stupidly thou

throat as I stared at

ppening. This coul

ng it past my lips. My chest was tight, li

he married. Not the woman who stood by him when

all innocent. After everything I gave you. And now you s

breathe. My ear

my voice cracking. "It's a damn bracelet

tinging, but I refused to cry again.

ially when the whole world's turning against you? But

old, jaw locked tight like he couldn't stand the sight of me. His brown eyes used

t the man

what's a family disaster without the mother-in-

you really think we don't see through this little act? You have been sucking the life out of this fami

he inside of my cheek to s

. "I have never stolen anything in my life, but it doesn't matter, do

ng back. Her expression twisted into something wors

dn't car

te everything, a piece of me w

pping toward him. "You kn

up, Ta

ally stopped

getaway with the in-laws. I didn't even want to come. Delor

ld bracelet worth a small fortune went missing

onven

rap I didn't know I was in u

erate to reach the part of him that still loved me, if it even existed anymore. "I d

n't change. If any

from what you are now. I know you did it," he muttered, looking

fucking shreds! I have tried so hard, to make sure his fam

happene

back it

self for it. "How can you believe this?

lating us, taking advantage of Max's kindness and our family's generosity. And now, stealing jewelry? And not just any jewelry, the very expensive family heirloom. Ho

I was too frustrated. "I don't even know how it got in my thin

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

id 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 apologi

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