Unmasking the Heiress

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.

The girl facing her had striking features and a stunningly beautiful face, her eyebrows arching with unmistakable confidence and pride.

"You are... Ms. Evangeline."

She barely managed to get the words out before her eyes shut, and she slipped into unconsciousness.

"Quick, she's hurt! We need to get her to the hospital, now!" Evangeline's voice rang out, her gorgeous face etched with concern.

She had come to the mall with

Walter to shop for baby stuff.

However, since Walter had

somehow managed to clear out the usually packed place, she was able to snap up everything the baby needed in no time.

The once noisy and crowded commercial hub was eerily quiet, and Evangeline felt an urge to explore, However, as she and Walter meandered without aim, they stumbled upon a woman, bloodied and crumpled on the ground.

She did not recognize the wounded woman at first, but on closer look, she realized it was Celina.

The ambulance from Avalon City General Hospital arrived in a flash, sirens wailing. Evangeline watched as Celina was whisked away, and only then could she breathe a sigh of relief.

Turning to Walter, a thought struck her. "Walter, where's David? He's always with you, but I haven't seen him today."

She could not pinpoint when it started, but she always associated seeing Celina with David being nearby.

With Celina hurt and David nowhere to be found, something seemed off.

"He's got other stuff to deal with."

Walter's response was offhand, but his brows were knitted in a frown.

He understood all too well David's feelings for Celina. However, with David off on some top-secret mission that would keep him away for who knew how long, the question hung in the air: should he tell about Celina's injury? Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!