Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 852: Night swallowed the world outside. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and heavy rain battered the windows with sharp, clear taps. Maia opened the door to Chris' hospital room. Inside, a peaceful stillness lingered. She made her way to his side, eased down into a chair, and reached for Chris. Chris' skin felt warm, but he showed no signs of waking, lost in a sleep that seemed impossibly deep. Maia watched him for a long moment, then whispered, barely above a breath, "Chris, promise me you'll come back to me..." A sudden bolt of lightning lit up the sky.

For a second, Chris' fingers moved - a tiny tremor, almost as if he was answering her. That night, Maia explained everything to Alice, asking for some peace and quiet in the days to come. Alice's first instinct was to encourage her. "Maia, artists all over Otrultho are waiting for you. You're a sensation! This is your chance, so don't let it slip away!" Even so, Maia only offered a gentle shake of her head. "There will be more chances down the road. Right now, something else matters far more." A brief silence passed before Alice backed down.

In the following days, she made sure that Maia was left undisturbed and turned away every invitation that came. Within the hospital room, Maia kept constant watch at Chris' bedside. Every sheet was crisp and white, and the only sound was the steady pulse of the monitoring machines. She refused to leave, talking to the unconscious Chris as if her words alone could keep him close. "You can't keep lying there forever. Without your voice pestering me, it's gotten far too quiet," she whispered, her face showing every trace of exhaustion.

: g⍶ⅼν⸳ Not a wink of real sleep touched Maia since Chris slipped into a coma. She stayed put through the day and kept vigil all night, never straying from his side. Lenny made more than one attempt to get her to rest, but Maia wouldn't budge, convinced that leaving even for a moment might mean that Chris would never open his eyes again. "It's been two days already," she murmured, propping her chin in her hand. "If you don't wake up soon, I might just have to find someone else." Her voice cracked a little, but she managed a tired smile as she teased him.

As she gazed at Chris, her words turned softer. "You really are impossible... Who passes out and just sleeps for two days straight? Open your eyes for me." Minute after minute slipped by. Another day ended, and Chris remained silent and still. After spending two days talking nonstop to the unconscious Chris, Maia's throat burned with raw pain. The only thing she could do was lean close, gently wrap his hand in hers, and whisper softly, "How much longer do you plan to sleep? It's been ages since you last called me 'honey.'" As her voice faded, a low, familiar sound drifted to her ears.

"Honey..." Everything about Maia went still. . . .