Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 460: "You made this?" he asked, his voice low and rough. Maia folded her arms. "Who else could have? It's not perfect, not like your mom's... but I think it turned out alright." Chris didn't answer right away. Instead, he stared at the cake, his thoughts spiraling into the past. He could almost see himself again - just a boy at the kitchen door, clumsy fingers clutching a fork, waiting impatiently as the smell of strawberry cake drifted through the house. His mother had always seemed to glow - eyes kind, voice soft, movements graceful.

But no matter how hard he tried, he could not picture her face. It was as if someone had scrubbed the details from his mind - erased her expression, wiped the image clean. His fingers tightened around the spoon. And then the pain struck - sharp, sudden, like a hot blade slicing through his skull. He jerked, one hand flying up to clutch the side of his head. Maia's voice snapped through the haze. "Chris? What's wrong? Is it your head again?" Her voice was panicked now, cutting through the fog. He blinked, forcing himself to breathe.

He had been trying to recall his mother's face but found himself trapped in a maze of memories, almost unable to escape. Breathing heavily, Chris shook his head. "It's nothing, just remembering some past things." He looked at Maia, pale but steady. A tired smile tugged at his lips. "This cake... it's better than the ones they serve at the Cooper Group's banquets. Just like hers. You only had it once, and somehow recreated it. How did I end up marrying someone this amazing?" Maia rolled her eyes, but a smile slipped onto her face anyway. LΑτєѕτ chαρτєrs ιn glovєl.

Chris reached for her hand again, pulling her toward him. "Come on. Tell me how you made it. Will you teach me?" Maia met his gaze - intense, burning, full of questions he had not spoken aloud. Her heart skipped a beat. "We'll see if I'm in the mood." Before she could pull away, his arms looped around her waist and drew her down onto his lap, firmly but gently. She gasped, squirming instinctively, but his grip held - gentle yet unrelenting. Worried about causing further injury to him, Maia dared not move. "Maia..." Chris's gaze was tender and unwavering, filled with deep emotion.

He said, "I've really missed you these days." The sincerity in his voice sank deep, brushing against something tender inside her. His eyes dropped to her lips - pink, full, slightly parted. When he looked up again, his eyes glowed with silent longing. His voice was barely above a breath. "Can I kiss you?" If the earlier kiss had burst forth from the raw heat of reunion, wild and unchecked, this time, Chris craved one earned through Maia's consent. His restraint was unraveling by the second.

Maia, caught in the intensity of his gaze, gave a faint nod - not out of clear resolve, but as if something invisible pulled her toward him. A shadow flickered in Chris's eyes before he leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. The force of his kiss made Maia instinctively tilt backward, her balance slipping. Chris slid a steady hand to the small of her back, anchoring her as he drew her closer. Maia's arm circled his waist with hesitation, while her other hand hovered uncertainly, afraid of brushing the spot where he'd been injured.

Chris found her hand and slowly threaded his fingers between hers, their hands locking tight. . . . Message from Noah: Hope you have a great day dear readers. God loves you and Noah whishes you all the best. ◟(＾∇＾)◞ .