Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 548:

Above them, heavy clouds rolled in, swallowing the moon’s soft glow.

Meanwhile, the guests started welcoming Mariana warmly.

Richard and Sandra pushed through the crowd to greet her.

No one held it against Mariana for arriving late. If anything, they believed she had missed the earlier excitement.

Richard moved forward with a polite tone. “Miss Cooper, it’s an honor to have you here. Your presence truly elevates the Morgan family’s standing! The dancing just wrapped up, and now we’re about to get to the best part of tonight’s celebration — the cake cutting.”

“Better late than never,” Mariana replied with a smile. She then nodded toward the gifts being brought in and added, “But before we begin, may I present my gifts first?”

“Right this way, Miss Cooper!” Sandra’s beaming smile could have illuminated the entire hall. She was certain that Mariana wouldn’t show up empty-handed. Surely, she had brought something grand for Rosanna. Otherwise, Rosanna would feel quite overshadowed tonight, especially since she hadn’t received many gifts compared to Maia.

couldn’t bear the thought of her daughter being

it’s already wonderful that you’ve come. Why go through the trouble of bringing such enormous gifts? Rosanna’s going to be

at her mother’s sleeve and whispered, “Mom, don’t say that. I’m sure Mariana brought something for both me and Maia, so Maia will be happy too.” Sandra paused, caught off guard by her daughter’s thoughtfulness. Even after spending the evening in Maia’s

with pride. Her daughter was

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I not come?” Mariana said modestly. “Besides, these gifts are just a small token of

one took her modest

couldn’t be ignored. Each box was so large that it required help to

unusually shaped package

whispering, their curiosity and envy swirling as they speculated about

his voice cutting through the

half-annoyed, half-concerned, though only a few could sense the worry hidden beneath. Most, however, only noticed how highly the Cooper Group seemed to value Maia. If both the heir and the eldest daughter had come in