Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 814: A moment's hesitation crossed Raegan's face before she looked up and met Kiley's gaze directly. There was no mistaking the underlying threat in Kiley's statement. It sounded like Kiley was saying, "If you cross the Cooper Group, I won't blink twice about taking you out - even if you're one close friend of mine." Despite the tension, Raegan's expression remained composed, though her eyes betrayed a storm of feeling. A subtle smile appeared as she replied, "You're right. I can't help wondering, though - who is this man behind Maia?" A sense of kinship sparkled in Kiley's eyes.

"Seems like our minds work in tandem." Without warning, she reached out, fingers gently tilting Raegan's chin upward. "Raegan, can I count on your loyalty for good?" Nerves tingled under Kiley's touch, but Raegan offered a steady nod. "Absolutely. You can trust me." Her smile seemed effortless, yet tension showed in her whitened knuckles, clenching hard beneath the surface. At that very moment, outside a meeting room at Sceibar Royal Academy's affiliated hospital, Maia sat quietly, waiting for Lenny, her back resting against a chair.

When she had first arrived, a nurse had told her that Lenny was inside, deep in conversation with a panel of international specialists. She thought her wait would be brief, but the hours slid by, turning sunset into nightfall. At last, the conference room doors parted with a quiet creak. Lenny emerged, immediately catching sight of Maia, and hurried over. "Maia, you're early! Didn't we agree on dinner at seven?" A small, self-mocking smile played on Maia's lips. This was classic Lenny - whenever his work consumed him, the world outside faded away.

Lifting her wrist in mild reproach, she pointed to her watch. "Professor Bryant, dinner hour came and went a while ago." Only then did Lenny look sheepish, embarrassment coloring his face. "Already nine o'clock? Ah, I completely lost track. The meeting ran long - everyone had so much to say." : gν[․] Maia's reply was gentle, her tone free of accusation. "That's what I suspected." After a few words to break the ice, she wasted no time getting to what mattered.

"Professor Bryant, do you have an update on Chris' surgery plan?" The question erased the remnants of his smile, bringing a new gravity to his features. With a weary breath, he replied, "Each of us - myself included - has put forward an approach. The trouble is, we can't agree on the best one yet." Her gaze dropped, and a flicker of uncertainty crossed Maia's face. Reading between the lines, she heard the doubt behind her professor's optimism. "So there's truly no option left?" Lenny shook his head gently. "It's not hopeless, Maia...

The issue is that every proposed plan right now comes with significant risks. Tomorrow, I'll sit down with the other surgeons again and keep pushing for something safer." He caught the shadow of disappointment in her eyes and quickly tried to reassure her. "Try not to worry just yet. Why don't we eat first and talk more afterward?" Dinner ended, and Maia walked back to the hotel on her own. She paused outside her suite, gaze lingering on Chris' door across the hall. Not a hint of light escaped - the door remained firmly closed.

Saying nothing, Maia quietly swiped her keycard and slipped inside her room. A sky scattered with stars watched over the city, but inside Maia's chest, unrest churned. . . .