Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 162: Frozen, Maia barely dared to move. She could smell the faint, clean scent of cedarwood clinging to Chris, crisp like fresh mountain air, but carrying a quiet intensity that made her heart hammer wildly.

"Mr. Cooper, you…" she stuttered, instinctively pressing her palms against his chest in an attempt to create distance.

Beneath the thin layer of fabric, she felt everything - the solid strength of his chest, the heat of his skin, the steady, unshakable beat of his heart.

When Chris finally spoke, his voice was low, rich, and dangerously close. Every word dripped slow and deliberate from his lips. "Maia, do you really see me as your husband?" A quick flutter jolted Maia's chest, her heartbeat stumbling before racing ahead. She gave a small nod and answered softly, "We're married now… so of course I do."

Across from her, Chris lowered his gaze, studying the nervous twitch of her fingers and the faint flush coloring her cheeks. A ghost of a smile curved his mouth. "Oh really?"

A slight movement in his throat drew her eyes to the way he swallowed, and when his gaze met hers again, it was deep enough to drown in. His voice came low and steady, wrapping around her like silk. "If that's true, then why are you still putting walls between us?"

That simple question rattled something inside Maia.

Normal marriages didn't draw such rigid lines. Ordinary couples blurred them without even trying. But what they had - it had never been ordinary.

To prevent any unnecessary misunderstandings, she figured it was best to clear the air. She said bluntly, "Mr. Cooper, our marriage was arranged. There was no foundation to begin with. I know you didn't marry me out of genuine affection."

She understood this clearly, which was why she had always made sure to keep her distance from Chris.

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Chris must have understood that too - or so she thought.

Without warning, Chris released her hand. Taking a slow step back, he watched her with an unreadable expression, the corner of his mouth lifting into something half-smirk, half-challenge. His voice dropped into a teasing drawl. "Who says I didn't?"

Shock froze Maia where she stood. Was he serious? Was he actually suggesting that there had been real intent behind their marriage?

The thought alone seemed impossible. Chris - the man who lived like a free spirit, untouched by anyone's expectations - surely wouldn't choose to chain himself down.

He must be playing with her, throwing out careless words just to rattle her. But Maia wasn't the same girl she used to be. Life had taught her not to fall for charming smiles or pretty lies.

Lifting her head, Maia met Chris' gaze with a calm, unshaken smile. "And how exactly am I supposed to tell if you're being sincere? Mr. Cooper, we're both adults here. If this is your idea of a joke, then honestly… it's not a very good one."

Chris' eyes narrowed slightly, a dangerous glint sparking in their depths. "You think I'm just messing with you?"

"Isn't that what you're doing?" Maia replied lightly, her lips curving into a cool, almost mocking smile. "You expect me to believe a stranger can catch real feelings after a few brief meetings? That you're the type to fall in love at first sight?"

Keeping her composure, she softened her voice, almost as if she were explaining something obvious to a child. "Mr. Cooper, no one knows you better than you do. Certainly not me."

The reminder wasn't just for him - it was for herself too. Whatever tenderness he pretended to show, she couldn't afford to fall for it.

Without waiting for a response, Maia turned on her heel and walked away, disappearing into her room without a second glance.

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