Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 268: Her voice came across as honest, leaving Chris momentarily speechless. He wasn't sure how to react.

His eyes darted, and then he reached out to playfully tousle her hair, as if comforting a child. "Chill out. Nothing irreversible happened. Make sure to get some sleep early." Chris offered a slight smile, his face hard to read, before he turned and walked back to his room. His tall, sturdy frame vanished down the hallway, leaving Maia frozen in disbelief.

Nothing irreversible had happened?

That meant… they had crossed every line except that one? Maia's fingers instinctively brushed her lips, which still felt warm from his presence.

Was the kiss she had thought was just a figment of her imagination actually real?

In his room, Chris stood by the window, reflecting on Maia's response. A small, involuntary smile crept onto his face.

However, the smile disappeared just as quickly.

If he hadn't shown up when he did the night before, things could have spiraled out of control.

A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes as he grabbed his phone and dialed a secure line.

A man picked up on the other end. "Boss, how can I help you?" he asked, his tone respectful.

"Begin with the Ward Group's funding. Sever their ties with partners in Sundara. Simultaneously, leak this information to ensure banks tighten their lending." He urged speed and caution. "You know, my patience is limited." Chris spoke in a steady tone, as if chatting about the weather.

The man on the other end hesitated briefly - his boss hadn't taken such direct action against anyone in a long time. What had the Ward family done to deserve this? They were digging their own grave.

New content available now at gⱯlnσν????ℓs․cøm

"Understood, sir. It will be completed in three days."

Chris hung up the phone and leaned against the window, staring into the darkness outside. A small frown creased his forehead, revealing a subtle mix of weariness and cold determination in his expression.

Maxwell's message sat unanswered. This time, Chris wasn't looking for his assistance.

Meanwhile, Maxwell, having heard nothing from Chris, had no plans to remain idle. How could Vince dare to make a move against Chris' wife? He must have been as reckless as a daredevil!

He picked up his phone and instructed his team, "When you get a moment, go and deflate Vince's tires."

At the Ward Group headquarters, the lights in the CEO's office still shone bright. Vince sat at his desk, his fingers drumming a steady beat, a dark look on his face.

His secretary stood in front of him, sweat trickling down her forehead as she nervously reported, "Mr. Ward, those investors from Sundara just let us know they are backing out. They'll send the official letter tomorrow. This will create serious problems with the funding for several of our projects."

Vince understood the gravity of the situation, but he still hadn't figured out who was behind it.

"Have you discovered who is responsible?"

The secretary shook her head. "I'm afraid not, sir. We haven't tracked it down. Everyone on their end insists it's due to financial problems."

.

.

.