Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 1072 Chapter 1073: Cade was sharp, cautious, and unerringly observant. Since the last incident, this man had also grown obedient, almost pliant in his hands. A man like that was a weapon-reliable, precise, capable of striking directly where it hurt most. Hurst felt a surge of pride at his ability to spot such talent and bend it to his will. Yet his thoughts didn't linger on Cade for long. What truly preoccupied him was how this new information could be used to close the distance between himself and Maia.

Though public opinion had flared against her recently, he had not yet offered her any real assistance. This was an opening, and he meant to take it. Before he could dwell further, the phone buzzed again. This time, it was Maia. Hurst sat upright at once, unlocking the screen with anticipation. Her message was short. "Thank you, Mr. Cooper. Everything's settled. I'll see you at the charity gala." He began to type a reply. A line appeared, then vanished under his fingertip. Another followed, only to be erased again. After several false starts, he finally sent the plainest of responses.

"Okay." But the moment the word left, he felt it was lacking. Dissatisfied, his eyes drifted back to Cade's earlier. Message, and a thought sparked. Quickly, he typed again. "Ms. Watson, if it's convenient, could we meet? I've come across some information about your parents." With a decisive tap, the message was sent. The moment the message left his phone, Hurst felt the familiar grip of suspense tighten in his chest. He lifted his glass and swallowed hard, but the wine slid over his tongue without taste. "She won't turn me down...

will she?" he muttered, eyes fixed on the glowing screen as the minutes stretched unbearably long. Elsewhere, Maia had already shed her professional outfit. A mask concealed her features, and a long coat cloaked her figure as she slipped quietly out of the MCN building. Rather than draw attention with her silver Maserati, she flagged down a taxi and gave the driver a single destination: Wront Central Hospital. As the car door shut behind her, her phone buzzed in her hand. Chris had sent a message.

"Honey, what do you want for dinner tonight?" Find inspiring stories on gⱯlnσνs․оm She stared at the words for several seconds, her mind elsewhere, before typing back, "The company's dealing with something complicated. I'll stay out tonight." To soften the blow, she added a second text almost immediately: "I'll stay at Pattie's." Only then did she notice an unopened message from Hurst waiting above the chat. She read the preview, but after a moment's thought, left it unanswered. Whatever information he dangled about her parents could wait. Tonight, her focus belonged elsewhere.

When the taxi pulled up to Wront Central, Maia headed straight to the fourth floor, toward the operating theater. Lenny was already waiting and hurried forward the moment he saw her. "Finally, you're here," he said, relief in his voice as he pressed a sterilized gown into her hands. "Go change quickly, the surgery's about to begin. Watch closely, do you understand?" "I do. Thank you, Professor Bryant, for giving me this chance," Maia answered with sincerity before rushing into the changing room.

She slipped into the sterile blue scrubs, pulled her cap snugly into place, and secured her long hair beneath it. . . .