Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 1082 Chapter 1083: Chris said nothing. How could Maia possibly be here? Only minutes ago, she had been on the phone with him, claiming that she was at Pattie's residence. Yet during the call, he had caught the sharp crackle of fireworks in the background. The sound had made his gut twist. When Maxwell reached for a door handle, Chris placed a firm hand on his shoulder. His voice dropped low. "You must have imagined it. Let us go." Suspicion flickered in Maxwell's eyes. "Are you sure?

We could pretend that we opened the wrong room-just a quick look." "I don't think it's necessary." Chris shook his head. "I trust my wife. Even if she were lying to me, she would have her reasons." Without waiting for an answer, he turned and strode away, not once glancing back. Maxwell turned Chris's words over in his mind. To him, Chris was blinded by love. But Maxwell wasn't ready to let it go. If the woman truly was Maia, then it spelled trouble. Besides, Chris's expression earlier hadn't matched his confident words-he hadn't looked pleased at all.

Rather than stew in uncertainty all night, Maxwell would rather face the truth head-on. With sudden resolve, he yanked open the nearest door. The sharp sound halted Chris mid-step. He turned, watching as Maxwell scratched his head and mumbled an awkward apology to the startled diners. "Sorry to disturb you," Maxwell added before slipping out and heading toward the next room. Chris hesitated, torn between stopping him and allowing the search to continue, but in the end, he kept silent. One by one, Maxwell checked the private rooms. When he returned, his expression carried reluctant defeat.

"I was wrong. She is not here." Chris kept his face carefully neutral, though inside, relief loosened the knot in his chest. It was a false alarm indeed. Maia wasn't lying. "Let us go," he said simply. Maxwell exhaled and followed him toward the exit. Just as they stepped out into the night, headlights cut across their path. A sleek car rolled past, the glow from the streetlamps illuminating the passengers inside. Behind the wheel sat a middle-aged man. Beside him, leaning slightly toward him in conversation, was a woman Chris knew too well. It was Maia.

"Who was that guy?" Maxwell exclaimed, his jaw dropping in disbelief. gⱯlnσνℓs․cøm, your destination for tales The surrounding noise faded, leaving an uneasy silence. He glanced at Chris, who stood motionless, then whispered, "Mr. Cooper..." The sudden roar of a car's engine shattered the quiet, its taillights vanishing into the night. Chris remained still, his expression calm despite the evening breeze ruffling his hair. "Don't overthink it. That wasn't Maia," Maxwell said, trying to ease Chris's tension, fearing he might pursue the car and confront the driver.

"I know," Chris replied, his voice steady, betraying no emotion. He turned slowly toward their parked car and began walking. Though fireworks lit the night sky, Chris's path felt shrouded in darkness. Doubt grew within him as he grappled with why Maia had lied and was in another man's car. . . .