Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 1040:

“No sympathy for a man like him. It’s his own fault. Word is, he never stopped chasing after women.”

As the voices around them carried on, Chris’ brow tightened, uneasy that Maia might take the words to heart. Just when he thought to guide her away, he noticed Maia’s calm demeanor as she strolled past him without a flicker of concern, heading straight for the window.

Long ago, Maia had stopped wasting emotions on such matters. To her, the downfall of a fool held no value worth dwelling on.

Inside the courtroom, Vince appeared hollow, his posture slumped like a scolded child. The sentence itself meant nothing in his eyes. For him, Maia was the only one whose judgment truly mattered. Without Maia’s pardon, redemption would remain forever out of reach. Visions of Maia—bright and unbroken before the years of captivity—haunted every corner of his mind.

How desperately he wished he could rewind life to the moment before he shattered Maia’s trust. Vince tightened his grip, his dry lips moving slightly, but no one knew what words of repentance he whispered.

was the harsh echo of iron doors

grime. The air carried a stench that clung stubbornly, impossible to ignore. Every so often, a stray cat darted past or a rat scurried into the shadows. Although Chris had walked through places like this before, the sight always pressed heavily on his chest. It was

city’s wealth, even hosting grand charity banquets each year to supposedly aid the poor. Still, the contrast

stories are on

way through narrow alleys until they reached the small house at

I used to live. If Maia hadn’t bought a house for Ethan and me, I’d probably still be staying here,” Kathie said as she pushed the door

tugging Maia closer. Once the two of them slipped inside, she lowered her voice. “Tell me the truth, Maia. Is Chris really just your bodyguard? Does he truly have a girlfriend? You’re not secretly in love

steered the conversation elsewhere. “Kathie, our priority now is to ask about

Ethan left the hospital before asking,” Kathie replied with a nod. Dropping the earlier topic, she searched around the cramped room and quickly pulled out an old, yellowed