Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 20: The crowd blinked, stunned for a moment. But then the realization hit them all at once.

The way they looked at Maia shifted completely.

If the manager of Huntington Mall himself had stepped in, this young woman had to be someone important.

Her simple clothes didn't matter anymore. In fact, it only made her stand out more. People with real status didn't need to flaunt it. Not like those two loudmouths who couldn't afford the Blue Sea dress and slandered others instead. How vile. Whispers and judgmental stares started to swirl around Stacy and Rosanna. Rosanna clenched her jaw, shaking with anger.

Stacy, furious and exasperated, yelled, "Have you lost your mind? Do you even know who I am? You think you can throw me out just like that?!"

The mall manager let out a scoff, standing his ground. "You can walk out now, or we'll help you out the hard way."

One look at the tall guards behind him was enough to shut Stacy up. Picking a fight now wasn't worth it.

"You're gonna regret this!" She shot Maia a glare and tugged Rosanna along as she stomped toward the exit.

They barely made it to the exit before Maia stepped in, blocking their way.

"What now?" Stacy snapped irritably.

With a calm and knowing smile, Maia leaned slightly closer. Her gaze locked onto Stacy's reddening cheeks. "Weren't you the one who said you'd kneel and apologize if you lost?"

"You!" Stacy's face turned beet red.

"Come on. Everyone here heard you. Are you really going to walk away without keeping your word?" Though Maia's smile stayed friendly, there was a weight in her voice that couldn't be ignored.

Let your mind wander with gⱯlnσν????????s﹒????????????

Rage simmered behind Stacy's eyes. Her fists clenched. "Don't test me, Maia."

A quiet laugh escaped Maia. "Test you? Please. You're the one who made a scene, dragged people into a bet, and now you're backing out like none of it happened."

As if on cue, murmurs rippled through the crowd. All eyes now turned to Stacy, full of judgment.

"The bet was her idea. She's the one who said the loser had to apologize in public. And now, just because she lost, she decided to go back on her word and play the victim?"

"Seriously. A deal's a deal. Take the loss with some dignity."

"I've never seen someone this cheeky. It's actually painful to watch."

Humiliated and boiling with frustration, Stacy tried to bolt, dragging Rosanna along. But Maia caught her arm and yanked her right back inside.

The sudden force knocked Stacy off balance. Her heel slipped, and she nearly hit the floor.

With her hands tucked into her jeans pockets, Maia walked over at a steady pace. There was a sharp, commanding presence about her that made Stacy instinctively step back.

Stopping close, Maia tilted her head and whispered into her ear with a smile that didn't match her eyes. "You don't want to cross someone who's been through prison. Here's the deal - I can ease the requirements. You don't need to kneel, but you must apologize sincerely." She didn't raise her voice. She didn't need to.

A chill passed through Stacy like a sudden gust of cold air.

As she stared at Maia, a flicker of fear crossed her eyes. Was this really the same woman she once thought was weak? The one she used to ridicule without a second thought?

Whispers began to stir through the crowd once someone pointed out who Rosanna was. The moment people realized she was that countryside girl trying to blend in with the elite, their judgment came swift and sharp.

.

.

.