Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 636:

Maia’s alleged plagiarism had turned into a wildfire, burning through every hallway and corner of social media. Even the university itself couldn’t escape the embers. The gossip had begun to spiral, and Ethan found himself unwillingly swept into the storm. Many people were gossiping about Ethan, saying that his sister was a thief who stole others’ works.

At first, Ethan confronted them — every insult met with a protest. But like shouting into a hurricane, his words were swallowed by the noise. Slowly, he began to realize the futility.

No one was more torn up than he was. In his last class, he was a storm contained in a bottle — jittery, silent, but ready to burst.

“Why the long face?” came a voice like a sunbeam through clouds. Marisa stepped out from behind a tree, lollipop in hand, her tone playful.

She blocked his path and, from her pocket, pulled out an orange-flavored lollipop — the kind she remembered he liked — and held it out like an offering.

“Here, this’ll sweeten your mood a little.”

and popped it in, the citrus sweetness sparking a bit of warmth in his chest, softening the

He looked at her.

was in

don’t stare like I just walked out of a fairy tale,” she said, half-laughing and half-blushing. “If you keep that

her brother Maxwell — who, in his carelessness, had dumped all her clean clothes into the wash, including the ones she’d already folded

I wasn’t trying to… I just…

friends. Just

going to tell her he had feelings for

of hope lit her face, but it was quickly

with emotion. “I can’t believe my sister would

to discuss. But she quickly masked it with a calm smile and gave