Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 754: Approaching him seemed almost impossible when half their classmates were busy making things worse on purpose. What had happened during afternoon break still made her cringe. She had finally gathered enough courage to walk over to his desk, but before she could even get close, someone behind her started making jokes. "Oh, going to see Ethan? Trying to stir up trouble again? That will only make you apologize to Maia one more time." Marisa, who should have been in Class Three, appeared suddenly. Her voice cut through the quiet classroom like a blade.

The perfectly timed remark sent ripples of laughter through their classmates. Heat flooded Melanie's cheeks as she spun around and hurried back to her seat, mortified. Now the dismissal bell was seconds away from ringing. This was her last chance, and she knew it. The sharp chime echoed through the room, shattering the afternoon stillness. Ethan gathered his books with practiced efficiency, ready to escape the classroom's stifling atmosphere. Panic surged through Melanie's chest as she bolted forward, her fingers closing around his sleeve before she could second-guess herself.

Ethan froze mid-step. When he turned to face her, wariness flickered across his features, and he instinctively pulled back. "You... you need something?" Ethan's voice was filled with confusion and caution. Taking a shaky breath, she rushed the words out before her courage could abandon her. "Ethan, I need to ask you something." His gaze dropped to where her fingers still gripped his sleeve. A slight frown creased his brow. "Okay, but... could you let go first?" The request hit her like cold water. Her ears burned with embarrassment as she realized she was still clinging to him.

Discover more at galnovels .com She released his sleeve immediately, biting her lip hard and dropping her gaze to the floor. Something in her expression made Ethan pause. Maybe some things did need clearing up between them. The past was the past, after all, and he wasn't completely unreasonable. Besides, her father was Hurst, the man known across Twitter as JusticeBlaze. His reputation for righteousness and heroism spoke volumes about his character. Just as Ethan opened his mouth to respond, a familiar voice cut through the moment from behind them.

"Well, well, well..." Marisa sauntered over, her grin dripping with mischief. "Melanie, why do you keep pestering Ethan? What's your plan? Surely you haven't fallen for him, have you?" Rage blazed through Melanie's chest. All the courage she had painstakingly gathered crumbled under Marisa's taunting words. Her composure snapped like a wire pulled too tight. "Will you just stop already? I've had enough of your games. I need to ask Ethan something, and frankly, it's none of your business." Marisa's eyebrow arched higher, her smile turning predatory. "None of my business?

Since when are Ethan's affairs not my concern?" . . .