Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 856: But while Vince was still wrapped up in dreams of a happier tomorrow, his phone chimed with a sudden alert. A photo popped up from his friend in Sceibar, followed by a message: "Here's a picture taken during the exhibition. The person you asked about is just behind Maia." Vince didn't hesitate and opened the photo right away. There was Maia, leading the way, her smile shining. A tall, striking man walked right behind her. The two looked close. Their interaction appeared more than just casual.

The sight of the man's face made Vince's heart lurch, his whole body suddenly going cold. How could it be him yet again? One memory after another flashed through Vince's mind. The first time he noticed that man, it was at the door of a high-end restaurant. He had leaned against a Rolls-Royce Phantom, oozing arrogance and a cold disregard for everyone else. Then there was the scene at Nexus Collective. Vince had watched, powerless, as the same man strode in and led Maia away without a second thought, even landing a punch squarely on Vince's jaw.

At the Lark Fashion launch, the pattern repeated itself. Maia climbed into that man's car and left the event without looking back. Never in his wildest dreams had Vince thought that this man would turn up again, especially not as Maia's companion in Sceibar. Frustration began to bubble up inside him. Vince pulled out his phone and started digging through every lead he could find, determined to learn more. Before long, he had the man's name: Chris Cooper. ⲁν・ Rumor had it Chris served as Maia's bodyguard. A wave of confusion swept over Vince. So this man was Chris?

The Cooper family's illegitimate son? Vince's eyes reflected both shock and burning anger, unable to contain the storm inside him. Over and over, the same thought screamed through his mind. What on earth was happening? Had Chris and Maia really known each other for years? Another possibility dawned on him - what if Maia's secret husband was Chris all along? The very idea made Vince suck in a sharp breath. That kind of ending was impossible to accept. How could an illegitimate son from the Cooper family dare to stand toe-to-toe with the rightful heir of the Ward family for Maia's heart?

How dare he! Who did Chris think he was? Vince's chest tightened. Just imagining Maia grinning that way at someone else made it feel as though knives were being driven straight through him. The pain was nearly unbearable. "No! This can't go on. I refuse to sit here and do nothing." His eyes grew wild and bloodshot, his face twisting with a mixture of obsession and rage. Without hesitating, Vince grabbed his phone and dialed a number. His voice came out cold and razor sharp.

"Get everything ready and bring it to my villa now." Barely thirty minutes later, someone arrived at his door, handling a heavy box with extreme care before setting it down. . . .