Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 571:

Curiosity sharpened in Maia’s eyes. “Then tell me — what exactly caused it? Was it from an accident, or something more serious?”

Instead of answering immediately, Chris sank deeper into the couch, eyes drifting upward, as if the ceiling could somehow take him back. “A bullet,” he murmured, his voice detached, like he was recounting someone else’s memory. His fingers lifted, touching just behind his temple. “It went through the skull. Lodged close to the brainstem. They got most of it out, but… a fragment’s still in there.”

Maia inhaled sharply. “A bullet? You were shot?” Her hand shot out, clutching his as if trying to tether him to the moment. Her eyes brimmed with disbelief.

Chris let out a dry chuckle, unbothered. “Most people don’t make it through something like that. I got off easy — just a lifetime of headaches.”

The words hung in the air, but Maia couldn’t respond.

What kind of life had he lived?

Not long ago, Chris got injured because he was shot. It was the second time he’d experienced this. But wasn’t he just a driver? How had he come under fire not once, but twice?

them, heavier than

to breathe some levity into the moment, Maia forced a shaky smile. “Let me guess. The first time you got shot, you were taking a bullet for your boss, just

his tone softer this time. “I was eighteen

for a moment, surprised all over again. Chris had only been eighteen when he was shot in

survived all these years

escape begins at

gaze drifting to the old scar on his head. She reached out, gently tracing it with her fingers. “So you’ve just been living with this

the pain gets unbearable. That’s about it.” Chris replied in an offhand way,

had gone missing. “Did you ever think about getting the fragment

down. “I’ve met with top neurosurgeons from all over. Every single one took one look at my scans

condition, but from understanding — no doctor would want to risk their career for a

a moment, she asked softly, “Has your

his own. “Honestly, I’m lucky to even be here. I can drive, dance,