Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 554: Axell Nelson nearly trembled with anticipation. His eyes lit up as he tried to shoulder past her into the room. "Miss Morgan, you never disappoint!" But Rosanna stood firm, one arm braced against the doorframe, a single brow arching in mock warning. "So... what about your promise, Mr. Nelson? The Morgan family investment?" After finalizing the plan with Mariana, Rosanna had been hunting for the right accomplice - someone desperate, willing, and easy to manipulate. Axell had practically volunteered himself.

He had a mouth that ran wild with praise every time Maia's name came up - always obsessed with her delicate figure and porcelain skin. If in the past, such comments would have disgusted Rosanna, this time, he was the perfect pawn for her and Mariana's scheme. Hence, they immediately made a deal. "No need to worry, Miss Morgan," he said, his breath already shallow. "My assistant's handling the transfer as we speak. But I..." He wiped the sweat trickling down his temple, his face flushed crimson. "I took something to, ah... get me ready, and I can't hold out much longer.

Please - let me in." Rosanna's smirk deepened. The desperation in his eyes only made the moment sweeter. "You really know how to spoil yourself, Mr. Nelson," she said, stepping aside with a flourish. This would be a night to remember. Inside the room, Axell's gaze landed instantly on Maia. His breath caught. Her slender collarbones peeked beneath the satin neckline of her dress, like the promise of a secret. He stared, throat tightening, as a pulse of desire slammed through him. The heat rushed up his spine, and he tore off his jacket, flinging it aside as if it burned him.

His shoes scuffed against the floor as he surged forward, his eyes ravenous. "My lovely prize, I have waited so long for this." gⱯν.n - Rosanna twisted her lips into a sly grin and was about to walk away when Maia suddenly sat upright. She clapped both hands over her mouth, looking like she might throw up. Axell got so spooked that he jumped up and took a few steps back, clearly scared of getting caught in Maia's mess. "Damn it! What a total mood crusher! Why are you just standing there? Get her to the bathroom, now!" Rosanna hadn't seen Maia getting sick coming either.

She'd made sure that Maia drank quite a bit to get her way tonight. Worried, Rosanna spun back, hurried over, and helped Maia to her feet, steadying her as she guided her toward the bathroom. "Ugh." Just as they reached the door, Maia couldn't hold it any longer. She turned her head and clung to Rosanna, as if she were about to puke all over her. Shocked, Rosanna quickly pulled away and pushed Maia into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. In the next instant, Maia locked the door from the inside. The drunken state she'd shown just moments before disappeared in a flash.

Her keen eyes sparkled with fierce resolve. If it hadn't been for her stint behind bars - where Zoey had slipped laxatives into her drinks from time to time to tease her - Maia might not have caught the oddity in tonight's drinks. The trickster had copied Zoey's dirty tactic, putting the drug on the rim of the glass instead of mixing it inside. Still, the schemer had made a tiny slip-up. Their fingers had dipped into the drink while coating the rim, slightly lowering the champagne level. Maia quietly tipped her wrist, spilling more of the tainted champagne out.

Because of that, she managed to make Rosanna choose the drugged one without a hitch. In the bathroom, Maia slowly stood up. When she faced the mirror, her lips curled into a slow, sly grin. She eyed her reflection, her face glowing with crafty satisfaction. "Rosanna, I knew you were scheming. But I never thought you'd stoop this low. Let's see how you handle reaping what you've sown," she muttered silently. Rosanna waited outside the bathroom for what felt like forever but didn't hear a thing. Growing uneasy, she pressed against the door, but it refused to move.

A dizzy spell hit her hard, and she felt her strength slipping away fast. . . .