Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 497:

Claudius was utterly at a loss. In his lifelong reign as the Cooper Group’s golden heir, never had he weathered such a barrage of rejection in a single afternoon!

And for what? A contract that industry professionals would have crawled through broken glass to secure! Yet here they stood — unmoved, unimpressed, and utterly indifferent to the opportunity he dangled before them.

Rooted to the spot, Claudius felt the first genuine flicker of self-doubt creep into his consciousness. What on earth went wrong?

He glanced at Maia, unwilling to give up, but before he could say anything, his gaze drifted desperately toward her. His mind scrambled for another approach, but before he could gather his thoughts, Chris’ voice sliced through the tension.

“Everyone clearly has commitments elsewhere. Perhaps we should conclude this meeting.”

Claudius’ fingers curled into white-knuckled fists as he shot daggers at Chris with his eyes.

Chris, unfazed, met Claudius’ glare with a smile that dripped with false helpfulness. “Claudius, that scowl doesn’t suit you. Remember, there’s still the third-place competitor waiting in the wings. Why not direct your generous offer her way?”

A palpable silence descended upon the room.

Claudius’ features twisted with barely contained fury.

Sign Melanie? Impossible!

If he dared bring Melanie under Ark Technology’s umbrella — much less cultivate her talent — Hurst would likely storm his corporate headquarters in a blind rage.

The mere thought of Hurst’s perpetual scowl and combative personality sent an unpleasant shiver crawling across Claudius’ scalp. And what of the lavish…

The celebration dinner he’d arranged? With both the champion and runner-up conspicuously absent, the event would be nothing but a hollow charade.

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Tension crackled through the air on stage like static electricity.

Maia broke the uncomfortable silence with a smile that was politeness personified, her voice a study in gracious finality. “Thank you for your kind offer today, Mr. Cooper. If our business here is concluded, Ethan and I must be on our way.”

With these words, she gently clasped Ethan’s hand in hers.

Ethan cast one final, lingering glance at Claudius before yielding to his sister’s gentle guidance.

Claudius stood frozen in disbelief, his hand rising instinctively to halt their departure. Yet before his gesture could fully form, Maia had already steered Ethan away with purposeful strides, her movements fluid and decisive, betraying not a moment’s hesitation or regret.

Witnessing their exit, Chris slipped his hands into his pockets with casual indifference and sauntered after them.

Marisa had settled in, eager to witness the unfolding spectacle, but Maxwell seized her elbow and steered her toward the exit. “Time to make ourselves scarce! If we’ve declined his invitation, lingering here sends mixed signals — he might think you’re reconsidering.”

Thus, Maxwell and Marisa made their hasty departure as well. Claudius stood on the empty stage, somewhat lost.noveldrama

When in his charmed existence had he ever encountered such a comprehensive rejection?

But… it didn’t matter.

After all, the sweetest victories were those hard-won against formidable odds. The same principle applied to people.

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