Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 490: The crowd from Class Three was quick to jump in, their voices rising like a pack sensing blood. "Melanie, daughter of Hurst Cooper, leader of Class One - what's the matter? Got stage fright?" "Knew she wouldn't go through with it. Typical Class One cowardice!" "Guess breaking promises is just what they do!" Laughter and jeers crashed down around her like waves. One after another - relentless, ruthless. The girls from Class One, who had walked up so confidently with her, now stood awkwardly to the side, their faces flushed.

They opened their mouths to speak but the words just wouldn't come. Melanie did not move. She stood like a statue carved from shame and fury. Her nails bit into her skin, shoulders locked in place, as though even the smallest movement would shatter her. Inside, she was spiraling. Then, slowly, Melanie lifted her head. Her eyes were rimmed with red, her shoulders trembling as though the weight of the moment had finally become too much to bear. She clenched her jaw, forced her gaze to meet Maia's, and barely managed to part her lips. "...I am sorry." The words barely left her mouth.

They scraped out like broken glass. Maia, Chris, and Maxwell were caught off guard by Melanie's action. Did someone as arrogant as Melanie actually offer an apology in public? Meanwhile, Marisa's grin widened like a knife slash. But she was not finished. "Not so fast," she said sweetly. "There's still one more." She turned, grabbed Ethan - who had been zoning out near the edge of the stage - and shoved him forward. . Every eye snapped to them again. Melanie's face drained of all color. Her body tensed like a spring wound too tight. And still, somehow, she spoke. "I am sorry, Ethan...

I shouldn't have treated you so badly..." Ethan scratched the back of his neck, clearly not sure how to react. He opened his mouth, blinked, then looked toward Marisa for help. Marisa nudged him with her elbow and snorted. "She's saying sorry to you, Ethan. Say something!" Ethan snapped out of his daze and blurted, "Oh - well, it's okay. Action speaks louder than words. I can accept your apology as long as you never look down on others and bully them. But I highly doubt you'll correct yourself." Humiliated, Melanie turned, face contorted, and bolted.

She shoved through the students crowding the stage, one arm shielding her face. The crowd parted, and she vanished. Marisa burst into laughter, doubling over with delight. Maia, still a few steps behind, turned to her with a frown. "Why did Miss Cooper suddenly apologize to us? And why did she look so reluctant?" Marisa shrugged, flashing a smirk. "Who knows? Maybe she realized her mistakes and wanted to offer her apology sincerely. The reluctance?

Maybe it was just that she was too shy to do something in front of so many people." Before Maia could ask more, a sudden sound cut through the air - footsteps. Crisp and in sync. Everyone turned. From the back of the auditorium, a line of people in dark suits marched forward, moving as one. Leading the group was a man in his early thirties, standing with the kind of posture that only came from years of discipline - tall, squared shoulders, his movements crisp with military precision. He stepped forward and bowed politely to Ethan. "Mr. Watson. Good afternoon." . . .