Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 859: With her head resting back against the seat, Maia gazed out at the open sky. The emotional weight of the past few days pulled at her, and exhaustion slowly took hold. Sleep crept in as her eyes fluttered shut. Her head tilted gently, coming to rest against Chris's shoulder without her even noticing. Feeling the gentle pressure against him, Chris turned slightly and caught sight of Maia's peaceful expression. A quiet warmth filled his chest. Not wanting to disturb her, he shifted just enough to support her better.

When a flight attendant came by, Chris spoke gently and asked for a blanket, then placed it over Maia with care. His eyes lingered on her sleeping face, and a quiet joy stirred inside him. If it were up to him, he would freeze time right here. Chris hoped with everything in him that he could remain by Maia's side always - to protect her, to bring her peace, and to share moments like this for the rest of their lives. While lost in thought, Chris suddenly became aware of a change - Maia's breathing had grown unsteady, and a thin sheen of sweat had begun to form on her forehead.

Without his knowledge, Maia was trapped in a nightmare. In that dream, she had been dragged back to her early years. Richard and Sandra stood as distant figures, their cold silence shutting her out as she waited alone outside a closed door. Before she could process the ache, the setting twisted. Rosanna emerged next, her expression sharp and triumphant, hurling false accusations that left Maia powerless and unheard. Moments later, Vince appeared. He looked at her not with pity or anger, but with disdain carved into his face, as if her presence itself was repulsive.

: gⲁⱱ﹒ The nightmare took another turn. This time, she saw a little boy - someone familiar but oddly distant. She wanted to see him clearly, to hold on to something real in the chaos, but the dream wouldn't allow it. Everything about him stayed blurred, no matter how much she strained to focus. Then, she rushed forward, bravely chasing away those people who were bullying him. In the next blink, the boy stood tall above her. She looked up and saw only his chin. Her height had changed. She wasn't herself anymore. A realization slowly dawned. In this dream, she had become a child again.

Right as the odd thought settled in her mind, the dream twisted violently, and Maia stood trembling on the edge of a monstrous cliff. Below her stretched an endless black void, alive with rivers of molten lava and flickering flames that licked the air like the breath of some ancient beast. As she turned around, she saw that the Morgan family stood alongside Vince, their smiles unsettling. Without hesitation, countless arms lunged forward, forcing her off the ledge. She tumbled downward, limbs flailing, reaching out in desperation - but the air offered no grip, no salvation.

Then, cutting through the chaos, a gentle and familiar voice floated to her like a lifeline. "Maia... hey, Maia, can you hear me? Wake up... please..." In an instant, Maia's eyes flew open. She found herself staring straight into Chris' face, filled with worry and concern. . . .