Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 420:

That night at the bar, if she hadn’t boldly claimed him as her own in front of that woman, who knew where he would’ve gone or whom he would’ve gone with?

Maia had drunk quite a bit herself that evening. As her thoughts wandered, she downed her glass in a single swallow. A strange anger rose within her, bubbling for reasons that she couldn’t name.

Without a word, Chris refilled her glass.

By now, Chris was slightly tipsy, his handsome face flushed, a subtle hint of vulnerability creeping into his features.

“Maia,” he said, his voice softer now, “do you know what I’ve always wanted? Just a normal life. That’s all. I never asked to be tangled up in all these family feuds. To me, being an heir to some wealthy empire is nothing more than being a puppet — strings pulled by greed and ambition.”

Then, as if carried by impulse, Chris took Maia’s hand, his lips curling into a smile that held both warmth and weight. “That’s why I agreed to marry you. I never thought I’d end up with such an incredible wife! Composer K, MCN’s famous designer Eileen, and a master pianist too.” He chuckled lightly, like a man discovering treasure where he least expected it.

“But here’s the thing. If Kolton finds out about us, what do you think he’ll do?” The smile on Chris’s face faltered as a shadow crossed his eyes, his drunken demeanor giving way to a rare, unmistakable fear.

Maia understood in a heartbeat. If Kolton ever learned that Chris had such a capable partner at his side, his suspicion and hostility would only grow. Kolton…

Wouldn’t just come after Chris. He’d come after both of them, with all the fury of a threatened king.

She hadn’t expected that her revealed identity would stir up even more trouble for Chris.

Maia raised her gaze and asked with sudden sharpness, “Have you truly never brought a woman home before?”

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Chris crouched slightly, took her hand, and pressed it gently against his chest.

His voice dropped into something solemn. “Maia, I’ve never brought any woman home. In fact… I’ve never even touched a woman.”

“Never touched?” Maia’s fingers stilled as she felt the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Her cheeks flared with heat. “Are you sure about that?”

Chris seemed to recall something and added, “That woman at the dance hall the other day — she was one of Kolton’s spies. I was simply playing along to avoid suspicion. I never crossed the line.”

Maia’s pupils contracted.

If Chris was telling the truth, then his act had been masterful — so convincing that even Zoey had believed it.

“So, when you allowed me to claim you as my kept man in front of her, it was a tactic to get rid of her as a spy?” Maia asked, her tone even but laced with intrigue.

Chris’s expression softened as he looked at Maia with something akin to admiration. “Exactly. And besides, it gave me a legitimate excuse to be close to you.”

A smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned closer, his voice lowering in a playful tease. “And with how you acted back then, I couldn’t resist playing along.”

Maia couldn’t quite tell if Chris was still playing a part or if the alcohol had loosened his tongue.

Her thoughts swirled like leaves caught in a sudden wind. Her gaze deepened, tangled in uncertainty. “Everything you’ve said makes a lot of sense, but still… why should I believe you?”

Chris didn’t rush to argue with Maia. Instead, he lowered himself slowly, crouching as if he were contemplating the weight of her words. He understood that trust wasn’t something to be handed over on a silver platter — it had to be earned, inch by inch, heartbeat by heartbeat.

“Maia,” he began, his voice calm but resolute, “I know it’s hard for you to take me at my word right now. But I didn’t marry you on a whim. I see you as my wife — truly. I would never betray your faith in me or break what we’re slowly building.”

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