Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 175: Could it be… she was wrong?

Just as Elvira's doubt began to creep in, a figure appeared in the distance.

Chris was striding toward them, a bouquet of red roses in hand, his expression unreadable.

He was more focused on what he'd say to Maia. As he looked up, Chris spotted Maia standing downstairs, talking to another woman.

Surprised to see her home so early, Chris quickened his pace, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Out of the corner of her eye, Maia noticed a man holding a bouquet of roses. She turned to look, her eyes widening in shock. It was Chris! When her gaze locked onto the enormous bouquet in his hands, her mind went numb, a sudden jolt of panic surging through her.

What in the world was Chris playing at?

He stopped in front of her, roses ready to be handed over, but Maia stepped forward quickly, raising her hand to stop him. She glanced at him briefly, her lips pressed into a tight line, and shook her head just slightly.

Chris raised an eyebrow, then, as if reading her thoughts, moved the bouquet behind his back.

Elvira's eyes flicked between the two of them, suspicion clouding her gaze.

Really? Was Maia still going to deny it? The guy was standing here with a mountain of roses, and Maia was still pretending there was nothing between them?

Chris turned to Elvira with a smile, then asked Maia, "And this is?"

"Let me introduce. This is my friend, Elvira Cullen," Maia said quickly, then turned to Elvira with a forced smile. "Elvira, this is Chris Cooper, my… neighbor."

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Her neighbor, really?

Chris raised an eyebrow and fixed Maia with a probing stare. She appeared completely composed, as though every word she spoke carried the weight of undeniable truth.

Chris was puzzled by Maia's insistence on concealing their marital status, but chose to go along with it for the time being. Perhaps she had her reasons.

Elvira, only partially convinced and retaining her doubts, slid the photograph back into her purse, still not fully accepting the "merely neighbors" explanation.

Her gut feeling screamed that there was more to their relationship than met the eye.

"He once assisted me with changing a light bulb, and since then, we occasionally chat when we bump into each other," Maia explained smoothly, offering a casual backstory for their familiarity, evident in the photograph.

Before Elvira could probe further, Maia turned to Chris, feigning surprise. "Mr. Cooper, what lovely flowers! Are they for your girlfriend?"

Chris's expression darkened, his gaze sharpening. His deep-set eyes met Maia's.

"Indeed, they are. Sadly, she can't receive them today."

Maia shifted her gaze away, her lips pressed tightly in apparent discomfort.

Seizing the moment, Elvira asked, "Mr. Cooper, does your girlfriend also reside here?"

Chris answered casually, "Yes, we live together. However, she just informed me that she's been called away on a sudden business trip, so she won't be home tonight."

He let out a sigh, acting as though he were disappointed. "I had made reservations for dinner. It's a shame; the deposit is non-refundable."

Then, struck by an idea, he brightened and suggested to the two women, "Have you had dinner yet? Would you care to join me instead?"

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