33

Nina's POV

The phone call ended, and I sat in silence, the words *"I won’t be coming home tonigh, suit yourself. Buy anything for yourself. Just surprise yourself!"* replaying in my mind. My heart clenched, and tears blurred my vision, but I willed myself to stay calm. Today was supposed to be special—our second anniversary. I’d spent the morning filling the house with fresh flowers, sprinkling rose petals on our bed, and lighting candles that filled the room with a soft, sweet fragrance. I’d saved for weeks to make this day memorable for us.

My name is Nina. I’m just a cleaner at a small restaurant in New York City. And yes, I’m married to Jordan, CEO of Elite Groups. He was once the only light in my life, the one person who made me feel complete. I’d fled a past filled with cruelty from my stepmother and stepsister, who blamed me for my mother’s death and never let me forget it. Jordan saved me from that nightmare, and for two years, I clung to the belief that he’d always love me.

But now…he was slipping away.

I wasn’t ready to give up on this anniversary, not yet. So after my shift, I made my way to the nearest flower shop. "How much for a bouquet, please?" I asked the vendor, my voice barely a whisper.

She looked up with a soft smile. "One hundred dollars."

My heart sank. I only had fifty left in my pocket—money I’d been saving for days. I bit my lip, then pleaded, "Ma’am, please. Can I give you fifty for it now? I promise to pay the rest later. It’s our anniversary today…"

The vendor’s face softened, and she handed me a single, beautiful rose, nodding in understanding. I thanked her, clutching it tightly as I made my way to Jordan’s office. *Maybe he’s just too busy,* I told myself. *Maybe he forgot what today meant.*

I stepped out of the shop and nearly stumbled when a sleek black car pulled up beside me. A man in his fifties stepped out, and before I could react, he called, “Madam Nina!”

Surprised, I blinked at him. “Do I…know you?”

The man introduced himself as Mr. Donald, the manager of Liberty Enterprises. “I’m here to take you home, ma’am,” he said earnestly.

I felt a laugh rise in my throat. *Home?* Did he think I was some heiress who could just leave everything behind? “I think you have the wrong person, Mr. Donald. I’m not anyone you’re looking for.”

But he shook his head, looking at me with unwavering certainty. “Your father’s been searching for you for years. You’re the heiress to Liberty Enterprises.”

My jaw dropped. It felt surreal, like he was speaking a foreign language. “My father? I… I’m a cleaner, sir. And married. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Nina, your father has been searching for you for years,” he began, his voice calm but earnest. “I know your stepmother never told you, but... she’s not actually your stepmother.” He paused, letting his words sink in, as confusion and disbelief swirled within me.

“What?” I whispered, barely able to process his words. “I don’t understand. She raised me—she’s always been my stepmother.”

He nodded solemnly. “I know this is hard to believe, but your biological mother was actually close friends with your stepmother. When you were born, there were... complications between your mother and father. They couldn’t be together, so your mother made the painful decision to entrust you to her friend—your stepmother—to raise you as her own.”

A lump formed in my throat as Mr. Donald continued, his expression growing even more serious. “Your father never knew where you were. He searched for you for years, desperate to find his only child, but your stepmother kept you hidden. Recently, with the help of the internet, he managed to track you down. He confirmed your identity through a DNA test. You, Nina, are his only daughter... and the rightful heiress to Liberty Enterprises.”

My breath caught in my throat, my mind reeling. “This can’t be true,” I stammered, shaking my head as if denying it could make it less real. I’d spent my whole life believing I was just a simple girl, alone and overlooked. And now, in the span of a few minutes, I was supposed to believe that I was the daughter of a powerful man—and heir to an empire?

He smiled and replied, “Your father has already accepted your husband as family. He’s prepared a six-billion-dollar contract with Mark’s Group for him, if you agree to come with me.”

*Six billion dollars?* The reality was beginning to sink in. My husband was about to get the biggest deal of his life, just because I existed. “Fine,” I said softly, “but…buy him the best penthouse in the city. Make sure he knows it’s for him, from me.”

With newfound hope, I continued toward Jordan’s office, feeling like maybe—just maybe—things would work out. My heart raced as I entered his building. I took the elevator to his floor, nerves tingling through me. I adjusted my hair and took a deep breath before stepping inside, ready to surprise him with the rose in my hand.

But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.

The door creaked open, and there, on his desk, was Jordan—my Jordan—with *her.* My stepsister, Alexa, draped over him, her body pressed against his as they shared an intimate, unmistakable moment. My heart dropped, the rose slipping from my fingers and landing on the floor.

I froze, watching them in disbelief, and felt my chest tighten, my world shatter in an instant. I was invisible to them, a ghost standing there as they laughed softly, oblivious to my heartbreak. The flowers fell from my hand.

“Jordan?” My voice was barely a whisper, strangled by pain.