Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 980:

Up until now, he had held back. But in this moment, he dropped the pretense entirely.

Night settled over the city, deep and heavy, with only the dim glow of streetlights casting soft halos onto the pavement.

Chris gently lowered Maia onto a nearby bench, his movements deliberate, careful. He slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders, shielding her from the wind.

The cold bit through the thin fabric of his white shirt, outlining every taut muscle beneath it. His knuckles cracked as he flexed his hands, tension seeping into every joint.

“I never planned to let you walk away from this,” he said, his voice low and edged with ice. “Touch my woman, and you’d better be prepared to suffer the consequences.”

A twitch pulled at the corner of Tyrant’s mouth. Then he burst into a short, wheezing laugh that ended in a sharp cough. Blood welled at the corner of his lips and dripped down his chin.

“The consequences?” he scoffed between labored breaths. “You’re just her bodyguard. An illegitimate Cooper trying to wear a crown that doesn’t fit. I got careless, that’s all.” He rolled his wrist slowly, joints cracking with effort. Blood still smeared his mouth, but the twisted grin on his face remained.

flipped the power right back on me… beat me with it.” His chest rose and fell, strained and uneven. His eyes narrowed like a hawk zeroing in

favorite tales are

quieter — deadlier — he added, “You want to play hero? Fine. I’ll make sure that title costs you dearly. Another corpse won’t change

him as he charged. The ground trembled beneath his weight. His fists roared through the

not flinch. His eyes burned cold, sharp, and unrelenting. Every inch of

on repeat in his mind — her trembling hands, the raw wounds on her legs, the way she stood and

bravery nearly broke him. Chris’ fists clenched tighter. The moment Tyrant drew close, Chris

screamed, his wrist instantly dislocated, his eyes wide

bout with Maia, Tyrant was already weakened—and Chris exploited every crack in his defense. No hesitation. He drove his foot into the back

effort,

front

He caught up? What about

out!” she