Rising from the Ashes The Heiress They Tried to Erase

Chapter 455:

“Absolutely!” Ethan grinned, rushing to bolt the study door.

In the kitchen, Kathie had just arranged fresh fruit on a platter. She intended to bring it to Maia and Ethan but found the door locked and couldn’t push it open.

“What are those two scheming in there?” she muttered under her breath.

Kathie considered knocking but decided against it, assuming that Ethan was studying hard. Quietly, she returned to the living room.

An hour ticked by.

Ethan had been failing for the umpteenth time. Frustrated, he flung the phone onto the desk.

Maia, on the other hand, remained calm and steady. Whether it was races, brain teasers, or fighting rounds, Ethan was trounced every time. He hadn’t managed a single victory.

Groaning, Ethan clutched his head. “Maia, I’m awful! Seriously, is this really your first try? Compared to you, I’m a total amateur!” He let out a heavy sigh. “You’re not just good. You’re phenomenal.”

Ethan had always looked up to Maia, dreaming of becoming as awesome as she was. But now, the gap felt enormous.

Running a hand through his hair, Ethan muttered, “How long will it take before I can match you? At this rate, I wouldn’t even survive the first round of the tournament.”

What Ethan didn’t know was that Maia was actually the top player on the leaderboard. Nor could he ever have imagined that Maia was the mastermind behind the entire game.noveldrama

“Don’t be gloomy!” Maia exclaimed, giving him a playful smack on the shoulder. “You’re gonna compete, right? No quitting just because it’s tough! There’s an entire week left. Don’t judge yourself too soon. I’ll support you all the way!”

Her words reignited Ethan’s spirit. He gave a determined nod, picked up his device, and flashed a wide grin. “You’re absolutely right! Let’s dive back in!”

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⩸𝗰𝗈𝗺

Before they realized it, midnight was fast approaching.

“That’s enough for now,” Maia said, setting her device aside. “You’ve got classes tomorrow. Lights out!”

Ethan, still buzzing with excitement, whined a bit. “It’s not that late… just one more round?”

“Nope.” Maia shut him down, swiftly taking his device. She didn’t want him sneaking in more playtime, which would ruin his sleep schedule.

She gently steered Ethan towards his room, watching him crawl under the covers. Just like a caring big sister, she tucked him in neatly and brushed a few strands from his forehead.

Under the dim glow, Ethan’s eyes sparkled. He murmured, “I really want to clinch first place.”

The generous cash award motivated him deeply.

Maia chuckled warmly. “As long as you give it your all, the outcome doesn’t really matter. But if it’s your goal, I’ll guide you. For now, get some rest. Tomorrow, we train hard.”

Ethan scrunched his nose. “When will I finally be the one helping you instead of always leaning on you?”

Maia paused briefly, her chest tightening. She smoothed his hair with tender fingers. “You’re already doing great. I believe the day will come. Someday, you’ll be strong enough to shield the people who mean the world to you. I’ll be here, cheering you on.” Her voice carried a gentleness that she rarely showed. “Now, sleep well, little warrior.”

Ethan clutched his blanket with extra force. He almost blurted out a question about Maia and Hurst but swallowed it down. He chose to trust her instead.

Regardless of whatever truth lay hidden, if Maia loved Hurst, Ethan would respect her choice as her sibling.

So instead, he quietly asked, “Maia, is there anything you wish for?”

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