Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 798:

Certain of her talent, Mariana refused to be rattled by empty theatrics. Arms folded, she arched a brow and smirked.

“Your art? It’s hardly worth my attention. But if you want to make things interesting, I’ll match your wager.”

Without warning, she raised a single elegant finger.

“But I’m not done. I’ve got a condition of my own to add.”

Mariana’s gaze finally found its mark — Chris.

She bit her lower lip, determination flashing in her eyes like a blade drawn from its sheath.

“If you lose, then from this day forward, stay away from anyone associated with the Cooper family.”

next words sink like

officially part of the family — even if they were born outside of wedlock like Chris — you are not to go near them or have

air, sharp and cold. It lingered there, a silent frost

at one another, bewilderment spreading like wildfire. Whispers drifted through

at Kiley to gauge her reaction — still no visible

this. If she had bluntly forbidden Maia from approaching Chris, it would have sounded too personal, too obvious. It would have

Mariana could easily justify this later — claiming she only wanted to shield Claudius from

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if they were born outside of wedlock”? That, too, had its purpose. She could argue that

all of it was just window

simply wanted to ensure that as long as she defeated Maia, this woman would

Maia raised an eyebrow and cast

for his part, only shrugged —