Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 841:

Maia silenced them with a single cool gesture, then leveled a sharp look at Kiley. “There’s no need for theatrics, Ms. Cooper. Just tell me what you want.”

Kiley’s gaze narrowed a fraction. Maia’s willingness to negotiate gave her hope — perhaps she could salvage something from this loss in the painting contest.

Letting a thoughtful silence linger, Kiley finally spoke, her tone almost mournful. “As Mariana’s sister, I know how deeply she loves painting. It is everything to her. If she’s banned forever, it’s as if you’re taking the light from her life. I can’t let her wither away like that.”

Her eyes locked on Maia’s. “So, Ms. Watson, if you’ll agree to adjust the wager — let’s make it a one-year ban from art exhibitions for Mariana — I’ll move heaven and earth to get Chris that opportunity with my father.”

Maia’s answer came with a cold laugh. “From a lifetime to a year? That’s a bold counteroffer.”

The crowd around them erupted in whispers once again.

“Do the Coopers even know what dignity means anymore?”

just because they’re losing? Wasn’t Mariana the one who set the whole wager in the first

families with all that power can wriggle out of

and side comments buzzed through

eye. The opinions of bystanders meant nothing compared to shielding the Cooper Group

on damage control and

you can’t accept, I understand,” Kiley replied, her smile never wavering. “But the terms do need some

out of the art scene for five years, and she’ll make a public apology to me. And as of now, she stays away from

𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙨 — 𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬

future came first, so she was willing to give ground

was long enough to dim any artist’s spark and

outrage, her voice ringing out. “What did you just say,

this contest and get to call the

Words failed Mariana, and her complexion faded to a sickly