Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 457: Could this still be a dream? The man, adorned in an apron, was carrying two plates towards the dining table, where he gently set down the steaming dishes. Chris turned, his eyes sparkling with warmth as he smiled. "You're up? I've made breakfast. Come and join me." Momentarily dazed, Maia rubbed her eyes sleepily before taking another look. Once she was sure it really was Chris, she walked over slowly. Chris chuckled, playfully waving his hand in front of Maia's eyes. "What's with that look? Were you sleepwalking?" His ability to joke with such ease was unchanged.

Mixed emotions surged through Maia - surprise and annoyance intertwined. She was relieved to see Chris actually back and not a figment of her dreams. Yet, her frustration was palpable over his long absence without any communication, not even a message to signal his return! With a touch of irritation, Maia questioned, "When did you get back last night?" Chris propped his chin on his hand, his expression pensive. "I think it was around three in the morning. I didn't want to wake you since I figured you'd be asleep." Around three in the morning?

Reflecting on it, Maia realized that she had been deeply asleep at that time, completely unaware of Chris' arrival. She began to sit down, but Chris leaned closer, placing his hand beside her on the table. He bent closer, his breath brushing her ear as he whispered, "Did you miss me?" Maia's ears burned with sudden heat, her heart unexpectedly skipping a beat. No calls, no messages, and yet he dared to ask her that? With a dry throat, she managed to reply, "No!" ． Chris merely smiled, his voice gentle as a breeze.

"But I've missed you." Maia's heart gave an uncertain flutter as she stared up at him, bewildered. If he truly missed her, why had he gone silent for days? There wasn't even one call to let her know that he was alive. It was like he had disappeared completely. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word, Chris cupped the back of her head and pressed his lips to hers. For a few stunned seconds, Maia stood frozen. When she finally regained her senses, she shoved Chris' shoulder with all her strength, pushing him away.

It was bad enough that he disappeared without a word, but kissing her the moment he showed up - what did he think she was? A low grunt escaped Chris. He clutched his shoulder where Maia had shoved him, his brows drawing tight, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Maia's surprise deepened. This time, he wasn't pretending. She opened her mouth to question him but froze when she spotted the blood seeping through his white shirt, spreading wider by the second. Maia leapt to her feet like a spring uncoiled, rushing to steady Chris as concern poured from her voice. "Are you hurt? What happened?

How did this happen to you?" Chris offered a faint, almost offhand smile, as if brushing dust off his coat. "We were on a work trip. Got caught in a trap. Took a bullet meant for my boss. I didn't want to give you cause to worry, so I thought I'd wait until I was mostly patched up before showing my face. But I missed you too much. I couldn't keep away." "Took a bullet?" Maia echoed, the word sticking in her throat like a thorn. Her heart skipped a beat, as though startled by its own rhythm. Just what had Chris entangled himself in during those silent days apart?

So, he hadn't vanished by choice. He had been nursing wounds all this time. And even with pain shadowing his every move, he had continued life as if nothing had changed. He'd even made her breakfast - to shield her from the storm raging beneath the surface. . . .