Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase Novel

Chapter 981: Up close, he had felt the sheer force behind her kick. Even in her most fragile moment, she had risked everything for him. That realization hit him like a wave. His throat tightened. He held her closer, a weight settling in his chest. Once, he had promised to protect her-sworn it, in fact. Yet here she was, injured and exhausted, because he had failed. Guilt clawed at his ribs. Anger simmered beneath it. Chris knew there was a mastermind behind all this, and now all he could do was find that person and avenge Maia. A set of footsteps broke the tension.

Maxwell stepped into the scene, his eyes scanning the aftermath before settling on Maia and Chris. Relief washed over his face. "You two go ahead," he said, his voice low and commanding. "Leave the rest to me." He glanced at Tyrant, who was lying unconscious on the ground. The coldness in Maxwell's stare said everything. Tyrant would not be getting up again. Chris nodded and turned to Maia. Without a word, he slid his arms beneath her knees and lifted her into his chest once more. "I am taking you to the hospital." His tone was firm but laced with tenderness.

Maia relaxed instantly, resting her head against his shoulder. Her arms wrapped weakly around his neck. A faint smile curled her lips. With Chris holding her, the world felt distant-almost safe. Her eyelids fluttered closed. This time, she did not fight the exhaustion. Updates loaded at gαlησνes․com Raegan slipped back into the car, her expression unreadable. "I am sorry for your losses," Raegan said flatly. The shaven-headed man gave a small shrug. "It's fine. I do not mind." Without another word, he eased the car over to the roadside and reached up toward his neck.

"It's just..." In one smooth motion, he peeled something away. With a sound like silk tearing, the surface of his scalp came off-revealing a different face beneath. What he had peeled off was not real skin, but a synthetic mask. The man blinked slowly, his face now unrecognizable. "This identity has run its course." Night had already settled deep, and the faint glow from the dashboard painted gentle shadows across Raegan's face, giving her an air of quiet control tinged with distance.

"I didn't expect you to remain so cautious after all these years." Raegan's voice came low and measured, laced with subtle curiosity. From the passenger seat, a quiet laugh escaped the man beside her. He reached up, peeled off his mask, and revealed a face both polished and sharp. This was Austen Nelson - the fourth operative under The Mask. Raegan herself had brought him into the fold. . . .