Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 355: "Who on earth could have that kind of pull?" Mariana wondered aloud. "Mariana," Melanie said between sniffles. "Did anyone tell you that Ethan was from the slums?" Mariana replied right away, "Yes, it was Rosanna. She told me straight to my face. She swore up and down that Ethan lived in some rundown part of the Old District." When Melanie heard that, she clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. It was exactly what she had suspected all along. Just thinking about how two-faced Rosanna had been lately made Melanie's blood boil. Her voice cracked as she spoke.

"Rosanna totally set me up! Ethan's sister is someone even my father bows to! There's no way Ethan's some nobody from the slums! I don't know why she lied, but she must have some hidden agenda. Besides, Rosanna's already got a rotten reputation all over the internet! Mariana, I think she's sticking close to you for a reason. You've got to watch your back. Don't let her fool you!" Mariana sank into deep thought after hearing Melanie's words. It was true that Rosanna had been acting way too friendly with her lately.

And everyone knew that when someone was too nice without any proper reason, there was usually a catch. Fixing her eyes on the setting sun outside the window, Mariana said in a cool voice, "Got it. Don't worry. I'll find out the truth." Once she hung up the call, Mariana absentmindedly stirred her coffee and took a slow, thoughtful sip. Her eyes grew cold and impossible to read. Meanwhile, Maia had just had dinner with Ethan and Kathie and was making her way back to Elysium Apartments. She chuckled to herself, remembering how Ethan had practically bounced off the walls during the meal.

He had gone on and on, bragging about how she had stuck up for him at school. He had been so thrilled that he polished off three big plates of pasta without missing a beat. After kicking off her heels and sliding into a pair of slippers, Maia strolled into the living room and immediately caught sight of Chris in the kitchen. He had an apron tied around his waist and was busy cooking. She had already told him she was eating out tonight. Just as Maia opened her mouth to say something, Chris turned around with a steaming dish in his hands.

His eyes lit up and crinkled with a warm smile when he saw her. : ⱥν﹒ⅽ "You're back! Just in time to be my taste tester!" Chris said brightly. He set the plate down with pride on the dining table just outside the kitchen. Maia gave the dish a quick glance, then looked up at Chris, the corners of her mouth twitching. "Are you... sure this is safe to eat?" she asked. The plate was a wild mess of black, green, and red, looking like it had stumbled straight out of a horror movie. Chris flashed her a grin and said, "It's not much to look at, but it might blow your mind!

Come on, Chef Watson, give it a try and tell me what you think," he said, grinning. With clear reluctance, Maia walked over, grabbed a fork, and jabbed at a chunk of the strange-looking food. She popped it into her mouth with great caution. "Weird... but not half bad. Better than it looks, at least," she commented in her mind. Feeling curious, Maia leaned closer and said, "What did you even put in this?" Chris beamed like he'd just won a trophy. "Blackberries, peas, and sausage slices," he announced. Maia could hardly believe her ears. Those things could even cook together?

Her eyebrows shot up in disbelief. But then... Maia scratched her chin and stared at the dish, deep in thought. Maybe this strange mix was a sign of something new and exciting. "So, how's it taste?" Chris asked, buzzing with excitement, bending over the table like a big goofy golden retriever. . . .