Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 208: Still, his reply was calm and cool. "Earlier than you figured it out."

Vincenzo stood frozen in front of his TV, having shot up from his chair the moment the news broke.

Fragments clicked together in his mind - how the lawyers from Zenith Legal had treated Maia with such unshakable respect.

He had thought that she must have had powerful connections. It finally made sense. Maia was not someone who needed backing - she was the power herself. Inside a quiet hospital room, energy buzzed through Ethan as he struggled to stay still. His sister - his very own sister - was K.

"Kathie, you have to see this!" Ethan shouted, dashing over and flipping his phone sideways so she could get a clear look.

Kathie leaned in, blinking at the screen. "Isn't that your sister? Why is she on TV?"

"She's a guest judge!" Ethan practically bounced with excitement. "Kathie, Maia isn't some pathetic woman living off other people - she's making her own way."

"Shining all on her own! She's so talented, and she's never once bragged about it. I want to be just like her - strong, independent, unstoppable!"

Kathie's hands trembled as she pushed herself upright, tears blurring her vision. "That's wonderful news," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Maia's had such a hard life. The Watson family finally has someone they can hold their heads high for. If your parents could see her now, they'd be so proud."

She patted Ethan's hand gently. "You must follow her example, Ethan. Study hard. Make her proud. Make yourself proud."

Ethan nodded fiercely, determination burning in his eyes.

Meanwhile, in the shadowy corners of an abandoned factory, a rough group of men exchanged nervous glances.

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"Are you telling me we actually kidnapped K?! Of all people, we snatched our idol? If we'd known, we would've lined up for an autograph instead!"

"No wonder K went silent. Damn it, Jarrod played us! He set us up and threw us into this mess. He won't get away with it. We'll make sure he pays."

"Yeah, we have to get back at him," one man muttered, then paused.

"But… did he really trick us? We did agree to the job, didn't we?"

Meanwhile, at the competition venue, Maia stood poised on stage, delivering critiques so thoughtful and precise that many contestants left in tears - of gratitude.

The second they stepped off stage, Facebook lit up with their excitement.

"Dream come true! I actually got personal feedback from my idol. I'm over the moon!"

"Mom! You'll never believe it-I met your favorite singer today! She's not just a songwriting genius; her vocal skills are unreal. Such a professional!"

"K is everything. I'm literally crying. Her voice could heal the world!"

"She's like a rare diamond. A true idol shining on a global stage."

"Even though she pointed out my flaws, I couldn't be happier. She spent more time with me than anyone else - totally worth it!"

Behind the scenes, the organizers practically buzzed with excitement. Ratings for this season had already smashed through the records of the previous year.

Pattie stood off to the side, arms crossed, a smug smile tugging at her lips.

This was the victory they had worked for.

Partnerships, sponsorships - everything was about to pour in. Projected revenue? Over one billion for MCN and still climbing.

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