Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 123: "She's fresh out of prison, and honestly, she's been avoiding the Morgan family out of stubborn pride. She's broke now, barely scraping by among the poor. I only invited her because she used to be a part of our circle. I thought if she saw some familiar faces, maybe it would remind her of what she's lost - and maybe you could help me convince her to stop dragging herself down."

Every word from Rosanna sounded dripping with kindness, but it was enough to stir the room into a storm.

"Wait, are you saying she's hanging around with those kinds of people? From the slums?"

"How tragic. I hear the stench from those areas sticks to your clothes. I hope she doesn't stink up the whole room!" "Seriously, Rosanna, you're too kind. Someone like her doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as us."

"Quick, call her and tell her to stay away. We don't need her dragging bad luck into our night!"

Rosanna faltered, her voice soft with hesitation. "I already sent her the invitation… Wouldn't it seem rude if we-"

The words barely left her mouth when the door swung open with a soft creak.

Every head turned sharply toward the entrance.

Standing in the doorway, Maia wore a simple white V-neck blouse tucked into a high-waisted denim skirt that framed her slim waist. Brown high-heeled boots rose halfway up her legs, and a small crossbody bag hung loosely from her shoulder, adding to her casual confidence.

Compared to the heavy makeup and flashy dresses of the women inside, Maia's effortless style struck like a bolt of lightning. Light makeup highlighted her clean, natural beauty, putting their painted faces to shame.

Eyes locked on Maia for a few seconds, and the room fell into stunned silence, a flicker of astonishment slipping through. In no time, though, that astonishment gave way to jealousy.

Lᴀtｅst chᴀptєrs in g????lnovels.????ο????

It was as if they were only now realizing how truly breathtaking she was.

Four years in prison had changed her in ways they hadn't expected.

The so-called elite women shifted uncomfortably in their seats, biting down jealous thoughts that bubbled too close to the surface.

So what if she was pretty? No matter how she looked, she was still just an ex-convict.

Worse yet, she was scraping by in the slums, probably wearing an outfit that cost less than their shoes. Pathetic. That was what she was.

Rosanna vividly remembered the first time she met Maia four years ago. Back then, even though Maia was the daughter of the Morgan family, she had only worn a loose T-shirt and had no makeup on.

Yet even then, something about her simple look had stirred up Rosanna's deep, bitter unease. And now, Maia - with nothing but a plain outfit and a trace of makeup - had completely shattered the fragile confidence Rosanna clung to.

Years ago, Maia had cared about appearances. She had chosen plain clothes and a bare face only after Vince had casually mentioned that he liked girls who looked natural and untouched. Eager to please, she had molded herself to fit that innocent image.

Looking back now, she wished she could reach into the past and smack some sense into her naive younger self.

"Sorry I'm late," Maia said as she walked over and took a seat beside Rosanna, her face adorned with a faint smile.

With a forced smile, Rosanna said, "Maia, let me introduce you. These are my friends. I thought you might want to get acquainted with people from the upper circles. It'll be good for you."

.

.

.