Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 45:

Just as she kicked off her shoes out of habit, she froze. She wasn’t living alone anymore. After a beat, she bent down, picked them up, and placed them neatly by the rack.

Soft light spilled from the living room, casting a sleepy glow. Maia crossed the room and picked up the coffee cup from the table, heading toward the kitchen in search of something to clear the fog in her mind.

The coffee brewed quietly as she leaned against the counter. Her phone buzzed just as she reached for the cup.

A quick glance showed it was a string of messages — from Pattie.

Maia chuckled under her breath. “Seriously? We just said goodbye, and she’s already bored enough to start texting?”noveldrama

Balancing the coffee cup carefully in her hand, Maia made her way back to the sofa and opened her chat window.

In an instant, her screen exploded with a barrage of images — shirtless, glistening abs everywhere.

Startled, Maia almost lost her grip on the cup.

She quickly set it down on the coffee table before her nerves got the better of her.

Maia typed out a single confused emoji and hit send.

Pattie’s reply came through almost immediately, saying, “Feast your eyes, bestie! Fresh six-pack deliveries just for you. Pretty good, right? You know I always share the good stuff. We didn’t party enough tonight, but don’t worry — stick with me. I’ll help you make up for the four years you missed.”

Maia let out a groan and facepalmed hard.

She was halfway through crafting a sarcastic comeback when a low, familiar voice broke through the room behind her.

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“Weren’t you going to wait for me so we could tidy up the house together?”

The phone slipped from her hands and clattered onto the coffee table. Already lightheaded from the whiskey, Maia stumbled backward, losing her balance.

Before she could fall, she crashed into a solid, warm chest.

When she tilted her head up, she found herself staring straight at Chris — his sharp jawline framed under the soft, dim light, his long lashes casting shadows over those unreadable eyes.

Only a thin layer of fabric separated them.

Heat surged up her neck, blooming across her cheeks before she could even process it.

Snapping back to her senses, Maia straightened up fast and took a quick step back. “Mr. Cooper… you’re still awake?”

“Couldn’t fall asleep. I figured I ought to thank you. You did a wonderful job. The place feels warm and welcoming. I truly like it.”

Something in his soft voice sent a slight tremor through Maia’s heart.

She hadn’t expected him to stay up just to say that. A smile tugged at her lips. “It wasn’t a big deal. I had some time, so I cleaned up a bit. I’m just glad you like it.”

Under the dim lighting, Chris’s faint smile took on a deeper warmth, his eyes dark and unreadable.

Without meaning to, his gaze drifted to her phone resting on the table. Right there on the screen, a collage of shirtless, sculpted abs flashed like a beacon.

Before Maia could react, another message from Pattie popped up, saying, “Maia, which one’s your favorite?”

Maia’s breath caught. She lunged for the phone, but Chris was faster. His hand wrapped around hers mid-air, trapping her fingers under his.

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