Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 930:

Emotion caught in her throat as she cried out, barely holding it together. “I’m your own sister, Claudius! How can you ask me to humble myself to someone who isn’t even family? And have you forgotten how she humiliated me, Melanie, and the whole Cooper family?”

Rage and betrayal burned in her stare, every grievance aimed straight at Claudius.

“You’re not the same brother anymore!” Mariana’s voice cracked and threatened to spiral out of control. “What is it about Maia that’s turned you upside down? Is your obsession so deep you’d throw us away for her? You’re so disgusting! I’ve never…”

“That’s enough!” Claudius’s expression hardened. His voice cut through the room, hand flying up in warning.

Smack! The sound of the slap rang out, snapping the air. Mariana stood there, stunned and unmoving.

Slowly, she pressed trembling fingers to her burning cheek as a red mark began to bloom. “You hit me. For her—for a woman like Maia?”

Each word shook with disbelief, tears spilling down her face as her composure finally collapsed. Tears streamed quietly down Mariana’s cheeks, leaving her looking heartbreakingly fragile.

see you?” His voice was edged with irritation he’d never shown before. “This isn’t the time or place for a scene. Keep acting like this, and you’re dragging the whole Cooper family through the

laugh, Mariana retorted, “Really?

the open like

the headlines yesterday? What could possibly make you choose her over your own family? What

𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮

slipped from

to her, I am not allowed to draw

raw anguish in her cry stirred a wave

over there? The famous one… And isn’t that Claudius Cooper—Cooper

married? What’s she doing

being not allowed to paint for

Claudius, and Mariana—and a few curious bystanders quietly started filming the heated