Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 565: He hugged her a little tighter and nodded, then took his seat at the table again, his thoughts drifting to the past. "Mom and Dad were the kindest people you could ever meet. Whenever anyone in the neighborhood was struggling, they'd come to our house, and our parents always did what they could to help. Dad used to have this sharp suit that made him look so distinguished, and Mom had a lovely dress, the same as the one in the sculpture. But things changed after that." As Ethan continued, Maia slowly pieced together what life had been like.

Her father knew so much and could repair nearly anything that broke at home. He spent evenings telling Ethan stories before bed and made sure to teach him good manners. Her mother was not only graceful and lovely, but also had a real gift for sewing. She often came home with bunches of fresh flowers that brightened every corner of the house. "Even when times were tough, there was laughter and warmth in our home. Mom and Dad always managed to look after me and... Rosanna." When Rosanna's name came up, his eyes grew distant, and he looked away. Kathie broke in, her voice sharp with resentment.

"Rosanna is a whole story on her own! Maia, you wouldn't believe how much your parents did for her. Ethan prefers not to bring it up, but I don't see any reason to stay quiet about it. Rosanna never had to face any real difficulties at home. Her outfits were always spotless and vibrant, her hair neatly styled every day, and she wore elegant hairpins that caught everyone's eye. People in the neighborhood used to look at her with envy." "When Ethan was born, it didn't change how much they cared for Rosanna.

She wanted to learn the piano, so your parents worked extra jobs and borrowed money left and right to buy her a piano. They even hired a piano teacher from the city," Kathie said, finally setting her fork down with a heavy sigh. "During that period, they ate little more than pickled vegetables and plain bread. In just a few months, they became almost unrecognizable from all the sacrifices they made. It broke my heart to see them struggle like that, and I felt truly sorry for your parents. I asked them if it was really worth it.

After all, learning the piano wasn't something children from the slums ever did - it was a privilege for rich families." Her voice softened as she continued after a brief pause, "But your parents always said, no matter what we go through, the kids shouldn't have to suffer. In the end, Rosanna never once valued their efforts. She hasn't come home since returning to the Morgan family, not even to pay her respects at their graves." Kathie's anger flared, her chest rising and falling as she spoke.

gⲁν.0 - Next part This was always a sore subject for Kathie, and the frustration never seemed to fade. Maia knit her brows, confusion darkening her expression. That wasn't at all what she had imagined. Listening to Ethan and Kathie, Maia realized that her parents had poured so much into their children's education. The bedtime stories, the practical skills, their way of seeing the world - none of it lined up with the idea that her family had been nothing but poor. Were things really as bleak as she'd always thought?

When Maia stepped out of Marvelous Garden, the clock had already ticked well past eleven at night. The streets lay almost deserted, with the night breeze murmuring gently beneath a sky where the moon gleamed brightly and the stars twinkled like forgotten dreams. Wront's night was unusually calm, as still as a deep lake without a single ripple. Maia raised her hand to flag down a taxi, slipped into the back seat, and told the driver, "Elysium Apartments, please." Inside the cab, a faint, soft light glowed around her, while the city's lights outside streamed by like a swift, flowing river.

It seemed as if all the evening's noise had been wiped away by the moving view, leaving only a peaceful quiet behind. . . .