Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 10:

After a beat, he nodded toward the Morgan family villa behind her. “I heard your family came to pick you up today. Why are you already walking away?”

Maia replied, “That’s none of your business.”

Though her tone was cool, her eyes — bright and guarded — flickered with something unspoken.noveldrama

Those words struck Vince harder than he expected.

“I just wanted to make sure you were alright.”

A bitter laugh escaped Maia’s lips. “Seems like your concern’s pointed in the wrong direction, Mr. Ward. Shouldn’t it be aimed at your girlfriend? You’re nearly engaged, aren’t you? Imagine Rosanna catching you circling around me — how do you think she’d take that? So, is the plan now to turn your back on the real Morgan daughter just to chase after someone like me — a woman branded by a criminal past?”

No words followed from Vince. There was just silence — the same kind that had cut through her four years ago.

Maia let out a sharp, humorless snort. “Why don’t you do us both a favor and stay out of my sight, Ward?”

But Vince’s hand shot out, grabbing her wrist before she could take another step. He held on, refusing to let go. His voice dropped to a hush, rough with emotion. His eyes were turning red.

“Maia, it’s true. Rosanna and I are getting engaged. But things don’t have to be any different — if you’re willing, we could still go back to the way things were.”

To Maia, Vince’s words sounded like a bad joke. Go back to the way things were? The fact that he could even suggest such a thing was laughable. Everything had changed the moment he chose to stand by Rosanna’s side four years ago.

Maia angled her head slightly, her expression unreadable as she fixed her gaze on him. “You must be confused, Mr. Ward. We’re nothing to each other now. Kindly take your hand off me.”

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Though her voice remained steady, a quiet coldness crept through every word. Vince looked stunned, like he hadn’t expected her detachment.

The girl who once followed him with a warmth that lit up every room no longer stood before him. He felt an emptiness inside.

He couldn’t understand how all that love she’d poured into him had disappeared without a trace.

His fingers tightened around her wrist. His temper flared, clouding his reason. “Maia, if you’re still willing to be mine, I’m ready to leave the past behind us.” The way he said it made it seem like he was offering a favor, as if being with him was still a privilege.

After a long look at Vince’s sharp, polished face, Maia suddenly let out a laugh. “Vince, you’re not the man I used to know. Whatever you’ve turned into now — it’s disgusting.”

Her voice turned icy as she finished.

Something in Vince snapped. His face went stiff, the veins along his temple standing out.

Losing control, he yanked Maia forward, the softness in his face twisting into something harsh and unfamiliar.

“Look at you, Maia — an ex-convict acting like she still has the right to talk back. You think you’re better than you are. I’m offering you a chance because of what we once had. Who else would even consider you now?”

He was nothing like the calm, polite man from just moments before.

For the first time, Maia truly saw him — Vince’s real nature out in the open. For so long, she had let her feelings cloud the truth. Now, she saw him clearly for what he was.

A slow, mocking grin tugged at Maia’s lips. “Vince, even if every man except you in the world were gone, I would never be with you! Let go of me, or don’t blame me for what happens next!”

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