Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 1075 Chapter 1076: Out in the corridor, he leaned against a marble column, his eyes shifting restlessly as if searching for clarity. From his jacket pocket, he drew a cigarette, lit the tip, and inhaled deeply before releasing a slow trail of smoke. Although Rosanna's sultry expression lingered in Austen's thoughts, the weight on his face betrayed fatigue rather than desire. He gave a slight shake of his head and muttered under his breath, "I'd better keep myself in check." At that moment, the butler burst into view, pale and trembling as he said, "Mr.

Nelson, a grave incident has occurred..." Austen's brow knitted in irritation, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. "Why are you running around like you've lost your head?" Watching his usually composed butler fall apart was unusual, but he kept his cool and pressed on. "Just tell me what happened." The butler struggled to catch his breath, his voice trembling with fear. "Out front... at the main gate... there's a body. You need to come, Mr. Nelson. Right now." Hearing those words, Austen's face paled instantly. Without a second thought, he hurried toward the entrance.

He barely crossed the threshold of the front yard before the sight hit him-a body sprawled on its back, illuminated by the dim streetlight. The twisted features were all too familiar. It was Tyrant. Shock rippled through Austen, forcing him to take a few steps backward. He turned to the butler and gave quick orders. "Don't just stand there. Call the police. And make sure everyone knows I'm not in Wront right now." The butler, stunned by Austen's reaction, didn't hesitate a moment longer. This was the first time he'd seen Austen look so shaken.

It was clear that this mess was more complicated than anything they'd faced before. Inside, Austen felt his composure slip, the weight of the situation making his hands go cold. It wasn't fear gripping him, though. What chilled him to the bone was the realization that someone had uncovered his secret. They knew he ran the underground boxing ring, that he was its real boss. Whoever did this wasn't just capable of taking out Tyrant-they had the nerve to leave the body on his doorstep as a message. Find the latest releases gⱯlnσvs․com Austen's mind raced.

"Who could it be?" He drew in a shaky breath, his calm shattered for the first time in years. He had worked hard to keep his identity buried. Even Tyrant, his loyal subordinate, had never seen his true face. The only exception was Raegan... but he trusted her completely. She would never betray him. That meant someone else had figured things out. A memory came back to him. Raegan once warned that Maia was far more complex than she let on. Maia probably had powerful backing. Her organization might even rival The Mask, if not surpass it.

Frustrated, Austen ground out his cigarette, cursing under his breath. A knot of anxiety twisted inside him. He saw the dead body for what it was-not a threat, but a direct challenge. Maybe he should never have crossed paths with Maia. Still, if given another chance, he knew he would make the same choice, especially for Raegan's sake. In the end, Austen could only fault himself for mishandling everything. . . .