Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 570:

If all of this was just a dream, she didn’t care — she’d gladly stay in it a while longer.

As the kiss faded into silence, Chris cupped Maia’s cheeks and leaned in, resting his forehead against hers, their breaths tangled in the space between them.

“We’ve got the whole night,” he murmured, his voice low and coaxing. “Stay with me a little longer…”

Maia thought of everything he’d done for her that night — the waiting, the quiet care, the thoughtful surprises he’d left at home. Turning him down felt impossible.

She gave a small nod, and without a word, Chris took her hand and guided her to the sofa.

Lowering himself to one knee in front of her, he looked up and asked, “What’ll it be, champagne or juice?”

He hadn’t forgotten that she’d probably had more than enough alcohol back at the birthday banquet, so he left the choice in her hands.

“Juice,” she replied softly. The memory of Mariana’s drugged champagne offering still churned unpleasantly in her stomach.

brought back two clean glasses. After pouring the drinks, he handed one

said automatically, reaching

and gently tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. When she looked up, she found him grinning, that familiar spark in his eyes. “If you keep talking to me, your husband,

Maia’s cheeks again, a quiet flush she tried to hide by lowering her

living room, pooling gently across the dark carpet

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delicate trace of flowers, a lingering note from earlier preparations — as if the room itself was part of an unspoken dream. The memory of his kiss still hovered at the edge

couch, one leg crossed neatly over the

the side of his head, Maia suddenly sat a little straighter, a note of concern rising in her voice. “Is it your head again? Are

Chris blinked, momentarily surprised.

familiar, dull throb he usually ignored. The motion had been

she noticed… that

he turned to her. “It was bothering

fooled by his playful tone. He really was impossible when he