Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 320: The video revealed Hurst sprawled lazily across a sleek leather couch. In the background, a parade of well-dressed guests moved about under the moody lights of a lavish banquet hall. Before Maia could even get a word out, Hurst pressed on, "I'm at an underground wine auction overseas right now. They have some rare bottles up for bidding, but honestly, it's nearly impossible to tell the genuine ones from the fakes.

If you hadn't saved me back at the black market, I would have lost a fortune." He swiveled the camera around, giving her a clear view of a table packed with high-end wine bottles. "That's exactly why I called," he said. "I need your eye to help me pick the right ones. Don't worry, I'll pay you for your time!" The urgency in Hurst's voice made it clear he was worried she might turn him down. What puzzled him more, though, was the memory that surfaced. He had handed Maia his business card back at the black market, yet she had never reached out, not even once. That was something new for him.

In the past, plenty of people would have jumped at the chance to cozy up to anyone from the Cooper family. One look at his business card and a few clicks online were usually enough to get the full picture of who he was. But not Maia-she had kept her distance. Tonight, however, luck had steered him back to her-and now he was the one asking for help. Maia saw no reason to dwell on it. Sometimes, paths crossed simply because they were meant to. Besides, her cab had not arrived yet, and lending a hand wouldn't cost her much.

Her attention snapped to the bottles displayed on the screen, her gaze sharpening with keen precision. ⳑν[ꞏ] "Bring the camera closer," she said calmly. Right then, a taxi rolled to a stop beside her. Sliding into the back seat, Maia gave the driver her address and leaned back, keeping her eyes fixed on her phone. Meanwhile, Hurst, always quick to pick up on details, quietly noted the address she had spoken. At her guidance, he carefully moved the camera across the lineup of bottles, giving her a clear view of each one.

As the lens hovered over a particular bottle filled with a rich, dark crimson liquid that gleamed faintly under the lights, Maia's eyes lit up with interest. "That's the one," she said. "You mean this one?" Hurst hesitated, unsure if the phone's camera quality might affect her judgment. A small, knowing smile tugged at Maia's lips. "Yes, that one. Go ahead and buy it." The bottle carried a surprisingly modest price tag, and no one else in the room seemed to pay it any attention. Though he wavered for a brief second, Hurst ultimately gave the signal to make the purchase.

Low murmurs stirred across the hall. A few voices in the crowd broke out in laughter, mocking Hurst for eyeing a bottle that seemed so questionable. "Mr. Cooper, are you serious about this one? Everyone knows the real version of that wine hasn't been produced in years. Most folks stay away from it because they're scared of buying a fake." "Way too risky. You'd be smarter to pick one of those two over there. At least with those, you know you're getting the real deal." "Exactly. Even though the price isn't cheap, Mr.

Cooper, with your status, you can't have a bottle of wine with questionable authenticity in your private collection." . . .