Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 941: Then she made a little motion with her hand, nudging him along. "How about you knock instead? I, uh... suddenly feel a bit uneasy." Ethan's stomach fluttered, and a sudden wave of nerves crept up on him. He was only eighteen too, and for most of his life, he'd been shy and quiet. Talking to people didn't come naturally. That only started to change after Maia became part of his world. And meeting Marisa had shifted things even more. Still, the thought that all this was for Maia's sake gave him strength and filled him with happiness.

He let out a slow breath, looked at Melanie, and gave a firm nod. "Alright. I've got it." Maia had even bravely confronted a man armed with a bomb, and now what Ethan was facing was just her husband, which felt trivial by comparison. Besides, her husband had offered no aid during her recent struggles, earning him the label of coward in Ethan's mind. Why should he fear such a man? Ethan steadied his nerves and raised his hand to knock on Room 902's door. Before he could, a soft click sounded, and the door opened from within. His hand paused as he met the gaze of a man observing him closely.

The stranger wore glasses and a loose sweatshirt, holding a bag of trash, clearly about to step out. Ethan swallowed hard, startled by the unexpected encounter. Baylor, equally surprised by the unfamiliar couple, stopped to study them. A young woman lingered cautiously behind the young man, casting nervous glances, while the man, though visibly shaken, returned his look with determination. Unease crept over Baylor as he realized they had arrived, just as his wife had predicted. She had mentioned her younger siblings might visit Wront and stay over, asking him to host them.

Pushing past his surprise, Baylor offered a polite smile. "Are you here to see your sister?" Ethan's pulse quickened at the question. Had Baylor expected them? Clearing his throat, he asked, "Are you her husband, Baylor Dixon?" : Ɐν﹒ⅽ The private investigator, Cade, had provided that name, and Ethan had no reason to doubt it. Hearing his full name, Baylor relaxed, certain of his guests' identities. He sighed, his tone tinged with regret. "Your sister hasn't come home yet." An idea struck him. His wife had been upset over his divorce proposal, and they hadn't spoken in days.

Perhaps, through her siblings, he could convince her to return or agree to end their marriage, which promised only mutual discontent. Keeping his smile, he continued, "I was about to take out the trash. How about I treat you to dinner? There's a good restaurant nearby where we can talk." Melanie, still behind Ethan, exhaled in relief at Baylor's courteous tone. Her initial Her apprehension faded. Maybe Maia's husband wasn't as bad as she'd thought. "If money could resolve this, he might leave Maia willingly," she muttered to herself.

Leaning closer to Ethan, she whispered, "That's a good plan. We can talk properly and settle this." Actually, Melanie was feeling a bit hungry at the moment. Ethan considered it briefly before nodding. Unaware, they were all entangled in a misunderstanding. Baylor assumed Ethan was his wife's brother, while Ethan and Melanie believed Baylor was Maia's estranged husband. Under this cloud of confusion, they walked to a nearby restaurant. On the way, Baylor spoke little, his eyes showing signs of fatigue, as if burdened by heavy thoughts. Melanie, puzzled by the situation, moved closer to Ethan.

"Baylor doesn't seem surprised by us. Doesn't that strike you as strange?" . . .