Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 688: After a brief pause, Maia gave a slight nod in agreement. Just as she turned, a familiar figure came rushing forward - Pattie, eyes brimming with tears, arms outstretched. She wrapped Maia in a tight embrace, her words tumbling out in a breathless mix of relief and emotion. "Maia, I never doubted you for a second! At last, the truth has come to light. That plagiarism accusation? A trap laid by the Morgans! I swear, they won't get away with this. I've already spoken to our legal team - we're filing a defamation suit first thing tomorrow.

Let's see them squirm!" With animated gestures, Pattie then turned to Maxwell, stepping forward with heartfelt gratitude. "Mr. Payne, you were brilliant-truly. Thank you. If it weren't for you, Maia might've carried this false stain for life." Maxwell gave a modest shrug, though inwardly he sighed. This misunderstanding sure got out of hand... But now wasn't the time to split hairs. He simply nodded. "Think nothing of it. For now, let's just get out of this mess." More reporters began flooding in, their cameras flashing, microphones ready.

Maxwell stepped in like a dam against a raging tide, shielding Maia and Pattie long enough for them to slip away. "Go," he said quickly. "We'll catch up later." But Maia and Pattie had barely walked a few steps when a voice - urgent, cracked with desperation - rang through the air. "Maia!" Richard came stumbling through the crowd, dragging Sandra behind him. His eyes were red, his face a portrait of- Guilt and panic clouded their faces. They looked like people chasing after a train already far from the station. "Maia, we were wrong..." Richard said, his voice heavy.

"We didn't know Rosanna lied. We blamed you without cause. You have every reason to be angry - furious, even. But you grew up in our home. For seventeen years, you were our daughter!" "Please, come back with us," Sandra cried, her voice breaking as she clung to Maia's hand like it was a lifeline. Tears streamed down her cheeks. "We were blind, fooled by Rosanna... But you - only you can save the Morgan family now... Please..." Maia looked at them as though gazing through frosted glass - detached, unreadable. More stories at glnov․m She pulled her hand free and stepped back.

Her eyes shimmered faintly, but her voice was glacial. "The Maia Morgan you knew was shattered - by the Morgans themselves. She no longer exists." She straightened her shoulders, voice steady. "I'm Maia Watson now. I have no ties to your family." And with that, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing with finality. But just as she moved, a heavy sound struck the air. Thud! Richard had dropped to his knees, the sound of bone against marble dull and raw. . . .