Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 572: Maia's heart ached. "So that's how your life ended up like this?" To keep himself alive, he'd turned into the reckless playboy everyone gossiped about - the man who drowned his pain in parties, fights, and chaos. The further he fell, the safer he was. "It was the only way I could survive." Chris's gaze met Maia's. "Do you see me as pathetic?" A hush settled between them. Maia stared at him, and a deep pain surfaced in her eyes. So everything Chris had said before was true! The reason he had acted wild and aimless wasn't that he wanted to.

By doing so, he wanted to put Kolton at ease and avoid becoming a target. Getting into Ocktin University, a globally renowned institution, proved his real ability. But growing up in the Cooper family, surrounded by bitter competition, he'd been forced to hide his potential - trading his future for safety and letting people call him useless. A thought formed in Maia's mind. If Zoey hadn't sent her to help Chris, would he have spent his whole life drifting, wasting his gifts just to stay under the radar?

It turned out that growing up in a rich family didn't guarantee happiness; it came with its own share of struggles and pain. Maia squeezed his hand, looking at him for a long moment. When she spoke, her voice was gentle. "No one who fights to survive is pathetic in my eyes. You don't have to worry - I won't let this happen again." She made up her mind right then. She would do whatever it took to see Chris become the head of the Cooper family, sweeping away every threat so he could finally live as himself. Chris smiled and ruffled her hair with a tenderness that softened his expression.

"I'll do whatever you say." The heaviness between them seemed to lift. As her thoughts drifted, Maia remembered Ethan's gift and then Chris' unfinished painting - the one where his mother's face was missing. She turned to him and asked quietly, "Is this the reason you can't recall your mother's face?" Chris fell silent for a few moments before answering in a low voice, "After the shooting, I slowly realized that I can't remember clearly many people and events from before.

The older the memories, the more they fade." Maia felt her heart skip a beat, afraid that Chris might one day lose all of his memories. If the remaining bullet fragment stayed lodged in his brain, there was no telling how Chris' condition might evolve in the future. Noticing the crease forming between Maia's brows, Chris tilted his head, a teasing smile appearing on his lips. "What if one day I don't even remember you? Would you hate me for it?" The moment the words reached her, Maia straightened, eyes locking onto his with fierce clarity. "That day won't come," she said slowly, firmly.

"No matter what, I'll find a way to fix this." There was no hesitation in her voice. She wasn't soothing him - she was making a vow - one she fully intended to keep. Caught off guard by her intensity, Chris went quiet for a beat, then let a smile tug at the corner of his mouth. . . .