The Heiress He Abandoned
Chapter 3
The sky was just beginning to turn pale when I walked out of the Miller mansion.
For a moment, I stopped at the top of the wide stair case. My fingers tightened around the handle of my small suitcase as I looked back at the place I had called home for three years.
The house looked exactly the same as it always had—grand, quiet, untouchable.
But it no longer felt like home.
Maybe it never really was.
I slowly walked down the steps. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if my feet were trying to hold me back.
Three years.
Three years of trying to be the perfect wife.
Three years of loving a man who had never loved me back.
When I reached the gate, the security guard looked at me in surprise.
“Mrs. Miller?” he said carefully. “You’re leaving so early?”
The title made my chest tighten.
I forced a small smile.
“Just Leah now.”
Before he could ask anything else, I walked past him and stepped onto the quiet street.
A taxi was passing by, and I quickly raised my hand.
The car stopped beside me.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Downtown. Maple Street.”
As the taxi pulled away from the mansion, I leaned my head against the window.
The city of New York was filled with tall beautiful buildings and it was already very bright.
My hand slowly moved to my stomach.
Lucas didn’t believe me.
The thought hurt more than I expected.
But maybe it was better this way.
If he didn’t believe me, then he wouldn’t try to take my child away from me.
I closed my eyes briefly.
“It's just you and me now,” I whispered softly.
My phone suddenly vibrated in my bag.
I frowned slightly and pulled it out.
An unknown number.
For a moment I almost ignored it, but something made me answer.
“Hello?”
“Miss Leah McGraw?”
The man’s voice was calm and professional.
“Yes… speaking.”
“This is Attorney Daniel Carter from Hayes Conglomerate.”
I was surprised.
Hayes Conglomerate?
“I think you have the wrong number,” I said slowly. “I don’t have any connection to Hayes Conglomerate.”
The man chuckled lightly.
“Oh, Miss McGraw. You have a very big connection.”
My heart began beating faster.
“I’m calling regarding the late Mr. Andrew Hayes.”
The name sounded unfamiliar.
“I don’t know anyone by that name,” I replied.
There was a brief pause on the other end.
“Mr. Andrew Hayes was the founder of Hayes Conglomerate.”
My eyes widened slightly.
Everyone in New York knew that name.
Andrew Hayes had built one of the most powerful corporate empires in the country.
But what did that have to do with me?
“I’m sorry,” I said carefully. “But I think there has been some mistake.”
“There is no mistake,” the lawyer replied calmly.
“Mr. Hayes listed you as one of the legal heirs in his will.”
My breath caught.
“…What?”
“Yes. According to his will, you own twenty percent of Hayes Conglomerate.”
The world seemed to stop.
Twenty percent?
“That’s impossible,” I said immediately.
“I’ve never even met him.”
“Actually,” the lawyer said slowly, “you have.”
My heart skipped.
“What do you mean?”
“You were just too young to remember.”
My grip on the phone tightened.
“Miss McGraw, there are documents explaining everything. Your birth certificate… medical records… and letters Mr. Hayes left behind.”
My mind spun.
“I… don’t understand.”
“You will,” he said gently. “But there is another reason I’m calling.”
Something about his tone made my stomach twist.
“What reason?”
There was a short pause.
Then he said quietly,
“You’re currently in danger.”
The words made my heart slam against my ribs.
“…Excuse me?”
“Your inheritance was kept secret for years,” he explained. “But now that Mr. Hayes has passed away, certain people are trying to take control of the company.”
Cold fear crept into my chest.
“And what does that have to do with me?”
“Everything,” he replied.
“Because if you claim your shares, their control becomes impossible.”
The taxi suddenly slowed down at a traffic light.
I looked out the window absentmindedly.
Then my breath caught.
A black car had stopped behind us.
Its windows were dark.
And it had been following us for the last three blocks.
My heart started racing.
“Attorney Carter,” I whispered, “I think someone is following me.”
His voice immediately turned serious.
“Listen carefully. Do not go to your original destination.”
My fingers trembled.
“What?”
“There should be a black car waiting two streets ahead. Our driver will take you to Hayes headquarters safely.”
I turned to look through the rear window again.
The black car was still there.
Still watching.
Fear crawled up my spine.
“Miss McGraw,” the lawyer said firmly, “you need to understand something.”
“What?”
“You are not just inheriting money.”
His voice dropped lower.
“You are inheriting power.”
The traffic light turned green.
The taxi started moving again.
Behind us, the black car followed.
My heart pounded loudly as I realized something terrifying.
My life hadn’t just changed.
It had just become very dangerous.
And somewhere in New York City…
Someone had already started moving their pieces against me.
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