Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 153: Technically, they shared a house - but not a bed.

"Something like that?" Elvira repeated with a dramatic huff, crossing her arms. "That doesn't sound very wifely. And you still haven't spilled who this mystery man is. Don't tell me you married some shady character?"

Maia laughed under her breath. "Can you dial it down a little? My love life isn't public property."

"I'm just being a good friend," Elvira replied, jutting out her bottom lip. "If you married a jerk, it's my duty to rough him up for you." "Don't worry, I'm not that reckless," Maia said, picking up a pale blue hairband and tossing it onto the counter without a second thought.

By the time they stepped out of the boutique, the streetlamps had flickered to life, and night had fully settled over the city.

Elvira shot her a sideways grin. "It's getting late. Want me to drive you home?" Maia glanced at her watch, then gave a small nod.

Soon, a sleek red Porsche Macan rolled to a stop in front of Elysium Apartments.

Elvira peered up at the glittering building and flashed a mischievous grin at Maia. "We're already here. Shouldn't you invite me up for a cup of tea or something?"

"NO," Maia said without hesitation.

Elvira let out an exaggerated sigh. "You treat me like I'm about to rob the place," she grumbled, though she made no move to push further.

Undoing her seatbelt, Maia stepped out into the night air, tossing a casual wave over her shoulder. "Get home safe. I'll treat you to dinner some other day."

"It better be home-cooked!" Elvira called after her, still smiling as Maia disappeared.

Into the lobby, once she was out of sight, Elvira's smile faded. She quickly sent a message, then called a private investigator.

Ł@ŧëşŧ ÇĦ@þŦèŕş íń ????????????????????????????????????.????????????

"Hello? I just sent you the address and some photos. Keep an eye on her. If you see her with a man, snap pictures immediately. I want every detail you can dig up."

Elvira's lips curled into a sly, knowing smile. "Let's see what kind of man dares to step into my brother's territory. I'll uncover everything."

Upstairs, Maia entered her apartment and slipped off her shoes. Her phone buzzed just as she settled in. A Twitter notification blinked across the screen with a sensational headline: "Maia Exposed: Caught Secretly Meeting an Older Man!"

A frown pulled at Maia's lips as she unlocked her phone and opened Twitter. Right at the top of the trending list, the hashtag #MaiaBeingKept blazed in bold letters.

She tapped into the topic, and the first image that popped up made her narrow her eyes. It was a blurry photo, taken when she and Vincenzo were dining at a restaurant. The shot was taken from such a tricky angle that it made them look as if they were sitting extremely close, whispering intimately to each other.

Scrolling down, she noticed Vincenzo's personal details had been dug up and splashed all over the thread - his age, his business, even the fact that he had a family.

A cold, humorless laugh escaped Maia as she scrolled through the rising tide of comments. As expected, Rosanna's fans were in full attack mode, stirring the pot with fresh energy.

Insults filled the screen like wildfire.

"Vincenzo, a jewelry store owner, over fifty, married with kids! Some people never change. Once a thief, always a homewrecker!"

"Every time you turn around, this woman's wrapped up in some scandal. First stealing things, now stealing husbands! What a joke!"

"Look at this picture. Tsk, tsk. Sitting that close at dinner? No shame at all!"

.

.

.