Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 597:

Maia froze, recognizing him. “Mr. Payne? What are you doing here?”

He laughed softly, explaining, “I was next door, heard the singing, figured it was you! Looks like I was right.” He narrowed his eyes, coldly staring at the man beside Maia.

The guy was handsome, but Maia was Chris’ wife. Trouble was brewing.

Then, a man in a black casual shirt stepped inside. Maia’s face stiffened.

Her bright eyes locked on a familiar figure — Chris.

“Mind if we crash the party?”

That smooth, commanding voice rolled in like distant thunder. It was Chris.

Maia’s stomach sank. Without thinking, she handed off the mic and took a few steps back from Roland.

Chris. His face tightened. Wasn’t that the man Maia was supposedly keeping around? What was he doing here of all

when she spotted him. She made a beeline for Maia, nudging her and murmuring, “What’s your next-door guy

down, lashes low, offering silence instead of an answer. She didn’t know either. Chris’ sudden arrival — especially now, while she was mid-duet with Roland — made everything ten times worse. Pattie’s surprise mirrored the others. Never in her wildest thoughts did she expect Maia’s husband to pop up like

just like that, the

who Chris actually was. Playing dumb, she glanced at Maia and

neighbor,” said Maia, each word tasting like stone

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say?” Roland blinked rapidly. Maxwell’s brows shot up as both turned to

a shift in posture, Maxwell leaned close and murmured

side glance and replied in a low tone, “If that’s the story she’s going with, we’re sticking to it. Don’t say a

was briefly stunned. So Chris really was

was still staring at Maia, confusion written all

behind closed doors? How did he become her neighbor? But with so many eyes and ears around, Roland knew better than to

do was protect whatever pride