Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 942: Ethan had noticed it too. "Maybe my sister told him we were coming." In truth, he was confused but determined to stay composed for Maia's sake. "Baylor doesn't seem difficult. We might persuade him to leave her," he said quietly. Melanie's voice carried optimism. "I think so too. Let's resolve this today." They soon arrived at the restaurant, their misconceptions lingering. Baylor picked the booth by the window on purpose, then passed the menu to Ethan and Melanie with a gentle smile.

"Go ahead and pick anything you like." From the other side of the street, Raegan sat inside a shadowed vehicle, her focus pinned on the trio by the glass, a slight frown tugging at her mouth. What was supposed to be a simple situation had taken a turn; Ethan was the only one she meant to keep tabs on, yet somehow a man and a young woman had entered the picture. She pulled her thoughts back into order and muttered to herself, "Alright. Two more people. I can manage that." Still, something about the man stirred her curiosity. Was he the elusive husband Maia kept under wraps?

If that turned out to be true, then the game had just gotten a lot more thrilling. Not far from the entrance of Red Grove, Marisa stood with a lollipop in her mouth, arms folded, her stare tangled with uneasy thoughts as she watched everything unfold inside. She had tailed them to Red Grove with no plans to interfere, only to observe from afar and uncover what had drawn Ethan so closely to Melanie these days. Earlier, while slipping through the crowd behind them, she had caught sight of the two whispering back and forth like it was second nature. Anyone would assume they were dating.

"Seriously, Ethan? You absolute traitor... Even if you're into Melanie now, did you have to shut me out like this?" Marisa pouted, her chest tightening with jealousy she hadn't expected to feel. Turning her eyes toward the window again, she tried to make sense of the unfamiliar man sitting with them. The way he interacted with both Ethan and Melanie suggested he wasn't a stranger; he had even offered to treat them to lunch. Then it hit her. That guy might be Maia's husband-Ethan's brother-in-law. Oh no.

If that were true, then Melanie had already met someone from Ethan's family as his girlfriend? : ⍶ν⧼ⅽ⧽ Marisa quickly buried her reaction beneath a blank expression and muttered, "I came to eat. That's it. Just happened to end up here. Total accident." Trying to look unbothered, she drew in a steady breath and stepped through the doors of Red Grove. The moment she stepped inside, a waiter greeted her and guided her toward a table tucked far from the window. "Wait, why can't I sit over there?" Marisa asked, irritation creeping into her tone.

"That seat's still empty." With an apologetic smile, the waiter said, "That table's already reserved. But if you'd like, I can bring you a little closer to the window." Marisa let out a soft groan, scanning the room until her eyes landed on a different spot. "Fine. I'll take that one instead." "All right, this way." The waiter gave a polite nod and motioned for her to follow. At the table by the window, Baylor paused briefly before breaking the silence. "How's your sister doing these days? Is she all right?" The question made Ethan straighten in his seat. His brows drew together.

"How could you not know about my sister's situation? Aren't you her husband?" What Maia had confessed not long ago resurfaced in his mind. Their marriage, from what she'd said, existed only in name-they didn't even live under the same roof. The thought should have brought relief, and it did, in part. Still, something about the situation didn't sit quite right. Seated across the table, Baylor offered a strained smile, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue. "Truth is... we're going through a divorce. She's been pretty shaken by it and hasn't come home in a while.

I assumed she already mentioned it to you... Still, I'm grateful you dropped by. If there's anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to ask." Although his words were measured, Baylor still had his wife's request in mind. He intended to take the next day off so he could show her siblings around Wront and give them a proper tour. . . . Message from Noah: Hope you like the new content, best regards dear ones. God loves you and Noah wishes you all the best. ( • ᴗ - ) .