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.”

hesitate. He peeled the wrapper and popped it in, the citrus sweetness sparking a bit of warmth in his chest, softening the sharp edges of

He looked at her.

in a long dress today. The change caught

stare like I just walked out of a fairy tale,” she said, half-laughing and half-blushing. “If

carelessness, had dumped all her clean clothes into the wash, including the

just… I actually wanted to ask you

her eye. “We’re friends. Just spill it out. But

be? Was he going to tell her he had feelings for her

flicker of hope lit her

asked, his voice brittle with emotion. “I can’t believe my sister would steal someone’s work. There has to be more to it —

what he wanted to discuss. But she quickly masked it with