Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 842:

“Either you apologize on the spot, or you can forget about ever calling yourself a Cooper,” Kiley declared, her ultimatum ringing out for all to hear.

Tears sprang to Mariana’s eyes, emotions bubbling over as her gaze darted to Chris, standing at a distance. “Chris…”

She hoped — prayed — that Chris might defend her, remembering that she was the only Cooper who had ever shown him kindness. Maybe he cared, even just a little?

Chris, however, watched with cold detachment, his silence more cutting than any words.

Mariana’s fists clenched so tightly that her knuckles blanched, pain radiating through her chest as if a blade had pierced straight through.

Where once she had nurtured a forbidden affection for Chris, bitterness now took root in its place.

one else did either. Steeling herself, Mariana swallowed every ounce of grief and fury and forced out the words to Maia,

vanished in the air,

broke, though her

Mask’s leader once cautioning her not to

another chess piece. But now, it was obvious — Maia played her own game and moved herself across the board. Whatever ties existed between Maia and the Mask’s leader, Raegan’s

deceptively calm while her gaze locked onto Mariana with laser focus. “If

𝙛𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢

atmosphere instantly crystallized into something far more

lips quivering as tears gathered in her eyes. Still, she lifted her chin defiantly. “Maia, don’t push this too

had already dismissed her. Turning her head slightly toward Kiley, she spoke with deliberate calm. “What do you think,

landed like a

plummet as gasps rippled through the audience. Nobody had anticipated Maia’s ruthless