Semua Bab The Billionaire's Stolen Heiress : Bab 41 - Bab 50

My fingers trembled and I felt my chest tighten. I was filled with contrasting emotions. Relief and happiness that I had found her, and sadness and bitterness that she wanted to be someone else's. “Julian,” Carlos called out. “Is everything alright?”I reread the document again. It was true. If Bethany was mine, then Catrina was indeed Maria.He tapped my shoulder. “I'm talking to you, Julian."I turned around. “She's the one, Carlos.”He frowned. “What are you talking about?”I showed him the document. “I conducted a paternity test between Bethany and I,” I said as he looked at the result. “That's the result."“When was this?” He asked.“I got it just now.”He looked confused. “You don't believe it?”“No..no” he stammered. “Of course, I do.” He smiled. “I'm just shocked by the reality of it, Julian. Our Maria is back.”I nodded sadly. She was back but was she mine? He pressed the phone against my chest. “This is great news, St Clair.” He walked towards the room.“Wait,” I called out.

We were driving back home since Bethany had been discharged for home care until the following week.“You've not said anything about it,” I said, forcing my eyes to remain fixed on the road.He moved a little. “I'm still taking it in, Catrina. It's a lot to take in.”I nodded. He didn't need to say it, I could see the news had swept the floor of his feet. The way his eyes had turned cold, his body had stiffened. And now, silence stretched between us.I concentrated on the road thinking of this plan I had agreed to. To pretend to be Maria de la Fonte for three months was all Vincenzo was asking of to buy my freedom. This woman whom Julian had loved dearly, who suddenly disappeared six years ago. Vincenzo wanted me to spy on Carlos for three months. I didn't want to know why, but there was something about Carlos that was unsettling. The way he looked at me, and avoided my eyes when we spoke. It felt like he was hiding something. Perhaps he knew I wasn't really Maria. Perhaps he was the

Stefan was lying beside me, the only piece of garment on him barely covering him. The night had been long as expected but a bit underwhelming. Our bed was still intact.I rolled away and sat at the edge of the bed. The smell of early morning coffee and the lingering odour of cheap beer mixed in the air. I groaned and massaged my head in circles. My clothes were arranged in a pile on an old chair. I rose up and the bed groaned.I hissed and reached for my clothes. The sun was already rising and I needed to be out before the guest house residents woke up.“Stefan,” I whispered.He stirred in his sleep. I buckled my bra and pulled up my pants.“Hey!”He rolled on his side this time and blinked his eyes open.“Is it morning already? Why are you dressing up?”I eased my top over my head and down my body. “You know how this works, Stefan."Ladies of my standing could not be found in places like this. It would ruin my image for good.He grunted. “Don't forget,” I said, watching him. “Catrina

I was watching her all evening in that perfect red dress. I sipped champagne, watching her behind my mask. And I gulped it down when I saw Julian St Clair hold her possessively.The perfect time presented itself not long after. I followed her as she walked into the bathroom. I pushed the door open and she looked back. I knew she recognised me even before I removed my mask.I locked the door.“Vincenzo?” she asked.I pulled off my mask.She turned around, leaving the faucet running. "What are you doing here?”I stepped forward, taking her all in. She was breathtakingly sexy. “Venice carnivals aren't exclusive, are they?”“It's Carlos’ wedding anniversary actually,” she said, leaning against the sink.The sound of running water hitting ceramic stretched between our silence. We were both thinking about the same thing because when I covered the remaining distance between us and pulled her lips into mine, they parted immediately and a soft moan escaped from them.“How dare you dress up thi

I watched her. She was lying and anyone who was paying attention could also see she was lying. “Will you do the dare?” I asked again.She sighed. “Ricardo was an ex.”But she had made the mistake already. Lying meant there was something she was hiding and I was going to use that when I spoke to Julian later.It was Julian's turn next and she was supposed to pick a name. She faced him.“Veronica.”I felt jellies in my belly. If she was doing that to get back at me, she was mistaken.“Ex gifriend,” Julian said.She raised her brow. “What?”“You knew. You must have forgotten,” he said.Eleanor laughed. “How could she forget if you told her, Julian?”“She has some type of memory loss,” he replied. “She didn't get back some of her memories after the crash.”Eleanor gasped. “I had no idea. But she remembers us, right?”Catrina shook her head and laughed. “Not really.”I scoffed. What a pretender.Next was Eleanor and Julian was to call out a name. He bobbed his head side to side for a few