Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 5: That thought brought a quiet ache Maia didn't show.

Still, she shook it off and gave Chris a calm smile. "There's something I need to handle, Mr. Cooper. I'll be fine on my own."

"No problem. Just call if you need anything."

He handed her his number, then stayed behind as she walked off. When her silhouette finally disappeared around the corner, he glanced down at the marriage certificate still in his hand. A knowing smile curved his lips.

Divorce? Not happening.

Nobody could guess how long he'd been waiting for this moment.

Maia stood outside Vista Villas, her finger pressing the doorbell of the Morgan estate. She had picked this time carefully - she remembered how afternoons were usually quiet, with each family member off chasing their own distractions.

When the door creaked open, it was Tricia Scott, the longtime housekeeper. Her eyes flew wide at the sight. "Is that really you, Miss Morgan? I… I can't believe you're here!"

The moment the words spilled out, Tricia covered her mouth with her hand, instantly regretting them.

The title belonged to Rosanna now. As far as the Morgans were concerned, Maia didn't exist anymore. And if Rosanna happened to hear how Tricia had spoken to Maia, the fallout would be brutal.

With a quiet, measured tone, Maia said, "I'm just here to pick up a few of my things." Then she walked in as if she'd never been gone.

Just as she'd expected, the place felt empty - eerily so. No voices, no footsteps.

As she made her way toward the stairs, Tricia rushed after her in a fluster. "Miss… uh, Maia, what exactly are you looking for? I can help you search."

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"It's alright, Tricia. Everything I need should still be in my room. I'll just be a moment."

But before she could take another step, Tricia blocked her path. Her gaze darted everywhere but Maia's face. "Well, um… about that…"

A crease formed on Maia's forehead. Something didn't sit right.

Her voice lost its calm edge. "Tricia, what happened?"

With her shoulders sinking, Tricia finally gave in. A weary sigh escaped her. "Miss Morgan cleared everything out after you were imprisoned. And your old room - it's not yours anymore. It's just a storage room now."

Maia froze. Her eyes grew wide, disbelief settling in. "Everything?" Was the bracelet that Vicki had given her thrown away too?

A slow, regretful nod from Tricia confirmed what Maia had feared.

The truth hit Maia hard, sudden and brutal, like a lightning strike.

Someone like Rosanna wouldn't have had the guts to toss out her things unless Richard and Sandra were in on it too.

Trembling from head to toe, Maia clenched her fists tight.

That bracelet had been Vicki's last gift to her - a symbol of love in a house that had offered her none.

Anger swelled inside her, fierce and uncontrollable.

She had tried to walk away from the Morgan family, to leave the past buried. But now, all that anger came roaring back.

From behind, a voice she hadn't missed in the slightest cut through the room. "I knew you'd show your face again, Maia!"

Maia turned to look.

Jarrod was there, standing a short distance away, that same smug grin plastered across his face.

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