Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 701: Outside, rain drummed softly on the windowpane. Maia's heart thumped in time with the raindrops, her cheeks glowing pink. She dared not meet his eyes, sensing the hidden meaning behind his words. Slowly, she shut her eyes. She braced for a soft or fiery kiss, but nothing came. Instead, Chris chuckled quietly and asked, "What are you waiting for?" Maia's eyes snapped open suddenly, and she caught Chris staring at her with a cheeky grin, his head cocked to one side. Her cheeks burned an even deeper shade of red. Wasn't this exactly what Chris had been after?

Maia felt so mortified that she wished the ground would just swallow her whole. "What exactly do you want? If you don't say, I'll just think you want nothing! Then I'll rest," Maia snapped, standing up to walk away. But Chris clutched her wrist firmly and said, "I want you... to call me darling." Maia went rigid. Her face flamed bright crimson. She bit her lip, feeling nervous and a bit ashamed. Although she had accepted that Chris was legally her husband, she still found it hard to address him so intimately. After all, it was just a marriage of convenience.

Noticing her hesitation, Chris let go of her hand, his expression falling into one of hurt and disappointment. "If you don't want to, then forget it. Maybe deep down, you never really saw me that way-" "Darling," Maia's soft voice cut through his words. Chris looked up at her, his eyes shimmering with shaky, overwhelming happiness. "I didn't catch that. Say it once more." Stay tuned galnov.co Maia froze again. Really? Why did she feel like she was being toyed with? Still, thinking of all Chris had done for her, she decided to humor him just this once.

"Darling!" Maia's voice rose louder this time, clear and soft, ringing in Chris's ears and making his heart skip a beat. Without warning, he pulled her close and kissed her with fierce passion. The powerful kiss hit Maia like a wave, but this time she didn't just go along with it. She threw her arms around his neck and took charge. It felt like all the feelings bottled up over four years finally burst out in that moment. She gently shoved Chris away and nibbled on his lip with a teasing smile.

For four long years, neither the Morgan family nor Vince, the man she once loved, had believed she was innocent. The Morgans and Vince had all backed away when she was at her worst. . . .