All Chapters of THE HEIRESS’ STOLEN IDENTITY : Chapter 21 - Chapter 27

Gracelyn didn’t stop walking until she was completely out of Rex’s line of sight.The moment she turned the corner, shielding herself behind a parked SUV, she dropped, right there, crouching in front of the little boy, who was still in his disguise.Her hands trembled as she held his shoulders.“Nathan..?” she called softly, as if trying to be sure that it was really him.The boy looked at her.And then, he smiled.The way his lips curled slowly, spreading across his face as if he was being mischievous that she usually called “Nathan’s charm”.Still… she needed to be sure.Her voice dropped to a whisper, looking at him again.“Lemon.”The boy didn’t hesitate.He leaned closer, his eyes lighting up with familiarity, and whispered back, “Sweet.”Then he lifted his thumb, just like they always did, and tapped it lightly against hers.Gracelyn froze.For a second, the world around her faded…the noise, the movement, everything.It was just the two of them.“Sweet lemon,” he added quietly,

Gracelyn didn’t realize how fast she was walking until the huge doors of the office building closed up behind her and the cool air hit her face.Only then did she slow down.Her heels clicked against the floor as she made her way toward her office.The moment she shut the door behind her, the silence wrapped around her like a second skin.Her hand rose instinctively.Her fingers brushed her cheek.It felt warm. Still burning.From embarrassment, maybe.Her jaw tightened.She could still feel it; the weight of his gaze, the way his voice had wrapped around her name like it belonged to him. The way he held her firmly like he was afraid to lose her.Rex.A sharp breath escaped her like a gasp.“No,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as if she could physically rid herself of the memory.Not anymore.She forced her hand down, gripping the edge of her desk.You will be out of here soon.The thought grounded her. She straightened slowly, exhaling.The Rebirth Collection.Just a

The office had been peaceful.Suspiciously so.For weeks now, everything had flowed with an almost unnatural smoothness. No tension in meetings, no unnecessary confrontations.Just work.And at the center of that carefully maintained balance was distance.Gracelyn had made sure of it.She kept her head down, her tone neutral, and her presence controlled.She spoke when necessary, disappeared like she never existed, and avoided every situation that could create complications.Especially where Rex was concerned.She had to. If she needed to fulfill her promise, she needed to be cautious.It wasn’t difficult.Or at least, she told herself it wasn’t.But the truth was far less convincing.Because avoiding someone didn’t erase awareness.And no matter how much she tried, she was always aware of him.When he walked into his office.When his voice sounded faintly through the glass walls of his office.When their paths almost crossed, and she had to change direction at the last second.It was

For a split second after the door burst open, everything froze.Ellen stood there, her hand raised mid-air, her chest heaving from anger and shock.Rex stood at the doorway, his presence filling the room like a storm about to break.And Nathan shifted in an instant.His shoulders dropped, his expression softened, and his eyes widened just enough to make it look real.Fear, helplessness, a perfect imitation of how Nicole would have reacted.He looked from Rex to Ellen, his lips trembling faintly as if he didn’t understand what was happening, but was scared anyway.It was so convincing it was almost freaking Ellen out.How did he go from talking back at her to looking like all hope was lost?Rex’s gaze snapped fully onto Ellen.His eyes blazed with anger.He could overlook whatever she did, but raising a hand on his son? No!“Ellen…” he said again, his voice lower now, sending chills down her spine. “What exactly is going on here?”Ellen froze for a second.Then instinct kicked in, and