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17 Fault Lines
publish date:
2026-03-28 01:16:03
Latest chapter
The Replacement Heiress 17 Fault Lines
“Yes,” Nina said, her voice quieter than she intended. The weight of it settled over her like a lead blanket. But this wasn’t even her fault. Axel hadn’t learned about Adelaide’s illness from her. And yet, she was the one sitting here, about to deliver the kind of news that could crack the very foundation of the Whitlock family. She glanced around, her pulse kicking up a notch. The dining room was eerily quiet, save for the occasional clink of silverware against china. No housemaids in sight—but that didn’t mean they weren’t nearby. In this house, secrets were currency, and she wasn’t sure if she could afford to speak freely in an open space like this. Mrs. Whitlock must have sensed her hesitation because she followed Nina’s gaze, scanning the room with sharp, calculating eyes. Then, as if reading her mind, she met Nina’s stare and said, “You can talk freely. No one is here to eavesdrop.” Nina swallowed. Alright then. No more stalling. “Axel knows.” The reaction was instant.
The Replacement Heiress 17 Borrowed Illness
The moment Nina stepped back into her room and shut the door behind her, she let out a slow breath. Her hands were slightly clammy, her mind racing with everything Axel had said. If his expression had been anything to go by, Adelaide’s condition had been far worse than she had originally thought. And she had just declared herself cured. She needed answers—fast. Moving toward the mirror, she steadied herself before calling, “Adele?” At the sound of her name, the smart AI embedded within the mirror blinked to life, its soft blue glow illuminating the dim room. After a brief booting sequence, her voice chimed through the speakers. “Adele at your service. How may I be of help?” Nina swallowed hard before speaking. “Tell me everything I need to know about Adelaide’s illness. And… if there’s a cure for it.” Adele’s digital eyes flickered as if deep in thought. “Working on it…” Nina gripped the edge of the dresser, her heart pounding as she waited. A few moments later, Adele’s
The Replacement Heiress 16. Almost Convincing
Axel and Nina stepped out into the crisp air, the garden sprawling before them with its vibrant flowers and winding paths. The cool breeze teased at her hair as they walked side by side, silence lingering like an uninvited guest. "Janet mentioned you’re still recovering and will be staying home for the next two months,” Axel said, his voice cutting through the quiet. By Janet, he meant Mrs. Whitlock. “That’s right,” Nina replied, keeping her tone neutral and offering no further elaboration. His jaw tightened, and she could sense he wasn’t just making small talk. They found a shaded area under a shrub, and he gestured for her to sit. The tension in the air felt heavier than the stillness around them. After a moment of strained silence, Axel’s voice dropped, carrying a mix of hurt and frustration. “Why did you make that announcement last night?” His eyes locked onto hers, piercing in their intensity. She flinched under his gaze, the weight of it too much. Her heart thudded
The Replacement Heiress 15. Wrong Girl , Right Words
As the car pulled away, Nina sank back into the seat, her mind racing. Sean’s words replayed in her head over and over, but no matter how she turned them around, she couldn’t make sense of them. His words occupied her mind throughout the drive home, so much so that she didn’t even realize they had arrived until Martin opened the door for her. Once inside her room, she had barely settled into bed when a knock broke the silence. At first, she considered ignoring it, sinking deeper into the mattress as her thoughts spiraled around the incident with Sean at the mall. His bitter words still lingered, gnawing at her mind. What did he mean? Why that level of resentment? But then the knock came again, this time accompanied by a voice—a low, deep voice that made her breath catch. Axel. As much as she wanted to deny it, she recognized him immediately. He hadn’t left? Panic gripped her, sharp and insistent. She bolted upright, glancing around the room as if she might find an escape
The Replacement Heiress 14. Cousins and Confrontations
What was Sean doing at the mall? And where on earth was he heading? Since he was a wolf—like Nina had been told—maybe if she could dig up some dirt on him, she’d win more points with Mr. and Mrs. Whitlock. God knew they wouldn’t mind having more ammunition against him. Sean turned a corner, his stride purposeful, and she followed just as swiftly. The farther he went, the quieter the mall became. It was as if they had left the hustle and bustle of the main area behind and stepped into a completely different world. She was surprised when the spaces he led her to seemed like they didn’t belong to the mall at all. The sleek, polished ambiance of luxury boutiques gave way to an eerily empty corridor. The air felt heavy, and the silence was so profound it made her steps sound deafening. The only people here were Sean, a few paces ahead, and herself. She trailed him carefully, barely daring to breathe. The last thing she needed was to give herself away before she figured out what he w
The Replacement Heiress 13. A Mirrors Made of Glass
The ride to the mall was quiet, filled only with the steady hum of the engine and the rhythmic clicking of the turn signals. Outside, the city rolled by in a blur, but Nina’s mind refused to settle. Instead, it replayed her encounter with Axel like a broken record. His voice, his eyes, the way he had said “D” with that raw vulnerability—she dissected it all. What had been his plan if she’d said yes? Would he have explained himself? Apologized? Or would it have been just some carefully worded excuse wrapped in charm? She shook her head and muttered under her breath, “He’s not your problem.” Saying it aloud felt like an attempt to anchor herself, to remind herself that her priorities lay elsewhere. Nathan. Adelaide had loved him—or at least, that was what she had to project. If she wanted to pull this off, her focus had to stay on Nathan, not Axel and his maddening allure. Soon, the mall came into view, an architectural marvel gleaming under the afternoon sun. Its modern façade
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