Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 840:

Cold disapproval gradually settled over the faces of artists and curators in the front rows.

“Illegitimate or not, visiting his grandfather shows proper filial respect. Nothing wrong with that.”

“To think Sophia’s son has endured such treatment… The Cooper family has crossed every line.”

Murmurs of outrage and sympathy swept through the crowd.

Chris couldn’t suppress his smile as Maia’s declaration echoed in his mind: “He’s my man now… I simply refuse to watch others bully my man…”

His gaze found Maia, intense yet tender as their eyes met. Warmth flooded through him, a feeling absent for countless years.

After his parents died, he had become truly alone — unprotected, stepped on by everyone who crossed his path.

small girl. She had positioned herself in front of him,

heart thundered against his ribs, that precious first memory crystallizing with startling

had ever stirred his soul after that day. Learning that his aunt wanted him to marry Maia filled him with joy beyond measure. His

sliced through the moment. “Shame on you, Maia!” Mariana

had been holding herself back all this time, but now her

the Cooper family. You claim he’s yours? Who

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with raw emotion, teetering on the edge

only ever belong to her. How dare Maia stake such a brazen claim

toward her with

two crushing defeats at her hands, likely leaving

with a slight arch of her eyebrow. “Ms. Cooper, surely you can handle such a simple

your request isn’t out of line, but I’ll need my father’s approval before anything moves forward.

skepticism. “Ms. Cooper, are you just stringing me along with empty