Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 634:

The assistant nodded quickly before disappearing through the doorway. A heavy sigh escaped Pattie as she leaned back, fatigue settling over her, and she dialed Maia’s number yet again.

Relief washed over her when the call finally connected.

Pattie didn’t wait for a greeting. “Maia, you act as if nothing is wrong. Do you realize how bad things look right now? When are you planning to address the rumors?”

Unfazed, Maia answered in a steady tone while she nibbled on an apple. “There’s no need to rush.”

Hearing Maia’s calm response only heightened Pattie’s anxiety. “This is unbelievable! You’re managing to keep your cool while everything we’ve poured our effort into for this brand is now hanging by a thread!”

Her jaw tightened as she let out her irritation. “And what about Larkin? He really takes the cake. He picked now, of all times, to throw a launch party with the slogan Genuine and Unmatched. Is he trying to rub salt in our wounds?”

in her clear eyes, but her tone remained steady. “Pattie, take a step back and think. The backlash came down on us like a storm, far too

clearly being used as

She said honestly, “You’re making sense, but just sitting around doesn’t feel

hands, but now isn’t the right moment to make a move,”

me. I’ve got a plan,” added

a little. “If you say so, I’ll follow your lead. Still, you know I’m terrible at waiting. Why not put me to work?” Pattie

for tomorrow, and the press

same time, over at Cooper Estate, Mariana’s spirits soared as

stories worth

forgotten her loss to Maia in

credit for things that weren’t hers. For all Mariana knew, the piece that won the competition could have been borrowed — or even stolen