The Hidden Heir's Revenge

CHAPTER ONE: THE ACCIDENT

The phone call came while Alex Munroe was washing dishes.

His hands were covered in soap suds when he felt the vibration in his pocket. He wiped them quickly on his jeans and answered without checking the caller ID.

"Mr. Munroe? This is Sunshine General Hospital. Your wife has been in an accident."

The dish he was holding slipped from his fingers and shattered in the sink. "What? Is she okay?"

"She's stable. Room 304. But you should come quickly."

Alex didn't remember grabbing his jacket or running out the door. He didn't remember the taxi ride or thrusting money at the driver with shaking hands. All he remembered was the fear, cold and sharp.

When he burst through the door of room 304, Nora was sitting on the examination bed. A white bandage wrapped around her forehead, stark against her dark hair. Her face was pale, and her eyes distant.

"Nora!" Alex rushed to her side, reaching for her hand.

She pulled away before he could touch her. "I'm fine."

"What happened? Are you hurt anywhere else?" His eyes scanned her frantically, looking for injuries.

"I said I'm fine, Alex." Her voice was sharp. Then her gaze dropped to his chest and her expression changed to something worse than anger. Embarrassment. "Take that off."

Alex looked down. The apron. He was still wearing the faded blue apron from the kitchen, the one with a coffee stain that wouldn't wash out.

He squeezed his face as he untied it with fumbling fingers. "I'm sorry. When they called, I just ran. I was worried about you."

"You're always worried about the wrong things," Nora said quietly, turning to stare out the window.

Before Alex could respond, the door slammed open with enough force to rattle the frame.

"Alex Munroe!"

Catherine Davis stood in the doorway like an avenging angel in designer clothes. Her face was twisted with rage, her expensive handbag clutched like a weapon.

She crossed the room in three sharp strides and slapped him across the face.

The sound echoed off the walls. Alex's cheek exploded with pain, but he didn't move, he didn't raise his hand to defend himself. He had learned that fighting back only made things worse.

"This is your fault!" Catherine's voice shook. "Everything that happened to my daughter is because of you!"

"Catherine, please." Richard Davis appeared behind his wife, his voice calm but his eyes cold. "This isn't helping."

"Not helping? Our daughter was attacked and this useless man can't do anything!" Catherine's finger jabbed at Alex's chest. "Three years. Three years of him dragging Nora down, and for what?"

Alex kept his voice steady. "What happened? Nobody has told me anything."

"What happened?" Catherine's laugh was bitter. "Nora was doing your job. She was working, trying to save our family's contract with Hartwell Industries while you were at home playing housewife."

Her words were so humiliating. Alex clenched his jaw, but he forced himself to stay calm. "Is Nora hurt? That's all I care about right now."

"That's all you care about?" Catherine stepped closer, her voice dropping to a vicious whisper. "You don't care that she was humiliated? That a man twice her age tried to force himself on her in a restaurant? That she had to fight him off alone because her husband was too busy washing dishes?"

The world tilted around Alex. He grabbed the back of a chair to steady himself. "Someone tried to…who?"

"David Parker from Hartwell Industries," Richard said quietly. "Nora met him to discuss the contract renewal. He made inappropriate advances. When she refused, he became aggressive. She defended herself with a bottle and that's how she got the head injury."

David Parker. He knew that name. A middle-aged executive with a reputation for harassing women, protected by family money and corporate lawyers.

"Where is he?" Alex's voice came out low and dangerous.

"You'll do nothing," Catherine snapped. "You'll stay away from this situation like you stay away from everything else that requires actual courage."

"Catherine, that's enough." Richard put a hand on his wife's shoulder. "Alex, I think it's best if you wait outside. Nora needs rest."

Alex looked at Nora, hoping she would tell him to stay. But she wouldn't meet his eyes.

"Fine." He headed for the door, then paused. "I'll take care of the hospital bills. Don't worry about that."

The moment he was in the hallway, he heard Catherine's voice through the thin door.

"Take care of the bills? With what money? That man is completely useless!"

Alex pressed his back against the wall and closed his eyes. Three years of this. Three years of insults and contempt, of being treated like something stuck to the bottom of their expensive shoes.

After ten minutes, Richard emerged from the room.

"Alex, I need you to go settle the hospital bill. Room 304, under Nora Davis."

It was phrased politely, but they both knew it wasn't a request. Alex nodded and headed for the billing office.

The administrative area was crowded. Alex waited in line, very aware of his cheap jacket and scuffed shoes. When he finally reached the window, he handed over his debit card.

The nurse, a middle-aged woman with glasses and a permanent frown, swiped it without looking at him. A moment later, she glanced up with barely concealed contempt.

"Declined. Insufficient funds."

Alex's stomach dropped. "That's not possible. Can you try again?"

She sighed dramatically but ran it through once more. Same result. "Sir, there's no money in this account."

Several people in line behind him looked at him uncomfortably. "Just give me a moment. Please."

He stepped aside and pulled out his phone. His best friend Marcus was the only person who might help. He dialed, and because the lobby was noisy, he turned on the speaker.

"Hey Alex, what's going on?" Marcus answered on the second ring.

"Marcus, listen. Nora's in the hospital. I need to cover her bill but my card isn't working. Could you lend me some money?"

"Of course, man. No problem."

Relief flooded through Alex. "Thank you. I'll pay you back—"

A sharp female voice cut through the phone, loud enough that everyone nearby could hear.

"Marcus! If you give that loser one more cent, I swear to God we're done!"

Alex froze. That was Diane, Marcus's wife.

"He's been mooching off his wife for three years!" Diane's voice got louder. "He's a parasite!"

The lobby had gone quiet. Alex could feel eyes on him.

"Diane, come on—" Marcus tried.

"No! I'm serious, Marcus. Him or me. Choose."

There was a pause. Then Marcus's voice, quieter now. "I'm sorry, Alex. I can't help you."

The line went dead.

"Sir?" The nurse's voice was sharp. "I need you to either pay or move aside."

Before Alex could respond, a familiar voice interrupted.

"Having trouble, brother-in-law?"

Derek Davis stood behind him, wearing a suit that probably cost more than Alex's entire wardrobe.

"I can handle this myself, Derek."

"Clearly you can't." Derek pulled out a platinum credit card. "Put it on this."

The nurse's entire demeanor transformed as she processed the payment.

"There," Derek said. "Crisis averted. You're welcome."