Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 536:

The ladies of high society seethed behind their painted smiles. Whispers sharp as broken glass floated through the air, each one laced with envy and disbelief. How dare Maia reject Claudius like that — right there, in front of everyone? The man they all secretly longed for had been brushed aside as though he were nothing but an inconvenience. And to make it worse? Maia was a married woman.

“She clearly does not know a good thing when it stares her in the face! Claudius offered her a dance — that is not a gesture one turns down lightly.”

“Exactly. The man put real thought into those gifts. Who says no to that and walks away as if it meant nothing?”

Their voices rippled through the garden like the chill before a storm. Frustration simmered beneath every syllable, every forced chuckle. The glittering fireworks that had lit up the Morgan estate, the glowing words on the building facade, the infamous Crimson Heart — all of it, they claimed, was proof. Not of Claudius’ affection, but of Maia’s gall.

“I have seen women pretend,” one said with a scoff, clutching her wine glass tighter. “But none have worn the mask so convincingly as Maia.”

“Truly. Who else has ever received that kind of birthday tribute from Claudius? No one.”

“And she thinks she can find that kind of devotion elsewhere? From that pathetic husband of hers?”

slap. “Her husband? Though we don’t know his background, I can say for sure that man would never match even a fraction of Claudius’ influence or wealth. She is blind, or

into a smirk. “You are being far too kind. If he

chasing, squeeze more out of

Ⓜⓞⓡⓔ ⓤⓟⓓⓐⓣⓔⓢ ⓘⓝ ⓖⓐⓛⓝⓞⓥⓔⓛⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ

will give her that. A woman does not catch Claudius’ eye

rippling outwards.

now she seemed to be recast as nothing more than a manipulative schemer, a woman who wore

the main gate of the courtyard, a figure emerged — followed by a small, well-dressed entourage that moved

a tailored coat, a mask concealing half his face, and white gloves that gleamed under the lantern light. His presence did not

once, drawn by

too surreal

dark sunglasses concealing their eyes. Their movements were synchronized, like a well-rehearsed drill. Muscles bulged beneath