Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase - Chapter 778

Chapter 778:

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A faint trace of disappointment flickered in Mariana’s eyes at her sister’s words. Deep down, she had suspected it. Kiley wasn’t in Sceibar just to see her. Still, Mariana reminded herself that Kiley had always been like Claudius — ambitious, driven, and guided by what was best for the family, not sentiment.

“I get it. I’ll give it everything I’ve got,” Mariana replied, keeping her voice steady.

That didn’t escape Kiley’s notice. A quiet laugh slipped out as she leaned forward. “You sound a little upset, Mariana. But I promise I didn’t just come here on Cooper Group’s behalf,” she said, placing her glass down with care.

Her tone softened a beat later. “I also heard things didn’t end well for you back home. Aurora Apparel Company got pulled out from under the Cooper Group, didn’t it?”

Mariana had tried to stay composed, but Kiley’s words struck a nerve. Her eyes turned misty in an instant.

No matter how loud or fearless she usually was, standing before Kiley always made Mariana feel like a younger version of herself — uncertain, exposed, and longing to be understood.

That night at Cooper Group’s event still haunted her. Losing Aurora Apparel Company had left a bitter taste she couldn’t shake. She had counted on the plagiarism scandal to drag Maia down and reclaim the brand, but her plan had backfired completely.

Now that Kiley had brought it up, Mariana realized it was the perfect moment to unload everything she had been holding back.

She bit her lower lip briefly to steady herself, then nodded and began recounting every slight Maia had supposedly inflicted — each one exaggerated to cast Maia in the worst possible light.

Among her many accusations, she didn’t forget to claim that Maia had made advances toward Claudius.

Kiley’s mood shifted instantly. Her jaw tightened, and her eyes lost all warmth. “So that’s the kind of woman Maia is? A seductress hiding behind a sweet face?”

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For someone like Claudius — reserved, disinterested in women, and always composed — to fall for her? That was shocking.

He had even tapped into Cooper Group’s finances to throw an extravagant birthday party for Maia.

Having spent the past few years focused on expansion overseas, Kiley had distanced herself from local affairs. Her focus had been strictly professional. If Mariana hadn’t shared all this face-to-face, she never would have believed that her level-headed brother could act so recklessly.

If left unchecked, Maia would eventually stand in the way of Cooper Group’s ambitions.

Without missing a beat, Kiley’s face hardened, and her tone dropped to a chilling calm. “Anyone who crosses the Cooper family pays a price. Leave this to me.”

At that, Mariana’s lips curved slightly, her eyes gleaming with quiet satisfaction. “I really appreciate it, Kiley.”

Now that Kiley had taken charge, she was confident that Maia’s downfall was only a matter of time.

Before either of them could say more, a relaxed female voice drifted in from deeper within the suite. “Kiley, do we have company?”

Startled, Mariana turned her head toward the sound just as someone stepped out from the bedroom.

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