Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 778:

A faint trace of disappointment flickered in Mariana’s eyes at her sister’s words. Deep down, she had suspected it. Kiley wasn’t in Sceibar just to see her. Still, Mariana reminded herself that Kiley had always been like Claudius — ambitious, driven, and guided by what was best for the family, not sentiment.

“I get it. I’ll give it everything I’ve got,” Mariana replied, keeping her voice steady.

That didn’t escape Kiley’s notice. A quiet laugh slipped out as she leaned forward. “You sound a little upset, Mariana. But I promise I didn’t just come here on Cooper Group’s behalf,” she said, placing her glass down with care.

Her tone softened a beat later. “I also heard things didn’t end well for you back home. Aurora Apparel Company got pulled out from under the Cooper Group, didn’t it?”

Mariana had tried to stay composed, but Kiley’s words struck a nerve. Her eyes turned misty in an instant.

No matter how loud or fearless she usually was, standing before Kiley always made Mariana feel like a younger version of herself — uncertain, exposed, and longing to be understood.

a bitter taste she couldn’t shake. She had counted on the plagiarism scandal to drag Maia down and reclaim the brand,

had brought it up, Mariana realized it was the perfect moment

nodded and began recounting every slight Maia had supposedly inflicted — each one exaggerated to cast Maia

her many accusations, she didn’t forget to claim that Maia had made

and her eyes lost all warmth. “So that’s the kind of woman Maia is?

now at

Claudius — reserved, disinterested in women, and always composed — to fall for her? That was

finances to throw an extravagant birthday party for

past few years focused on expansion overseas, Kiley had distanced herself from local affairs. Her focus had been strictly professional.

stand in the way

Kiley’s face hardened, and her tone dropped to a chilling calm.