?Chapter 377:


    “She lies as easily as she breathes! Even if she really is Eileen, it is impossible she would have Mr. Hurst’s favor!”


    “Ridiculous! She must be faking it. MCN would never taint their name with a thief. She is just hiding behind Eileen’s identity to clean up her own mess!”


    Although Pattie had publicly acknowledged Maia as Eileen at Rosanna’s engagement party, the Ward family’s influence had scrubbed the inte clean — no photos, no videos, only whispers and rumors twisting the truth. The gossip sites had fanned the mes relentlessly, and the world that once revered Eileen now openly doubted her.


    And for these self-proimed elitedies, it was even harder to ept that the designer they idolized might have once been in prison for theft.


    They had waited for a moment like this — and now they pounced.


    “Why has the Cooper family not kicked her out yet?”


    “She stole Eileen’s name, and now a Cooper Group invitation! Despicable!”


    “Call the police! If she is lying, she should rot behind bars again!”


    The crowd’s fury boiled over. The security guards shifted uncertainly, eyes flicking toward Mariana for orders. With the event yet to officially begin, and no Cooper executives present, Mariana’s word was final. To avoid arger scene, the simplest solution was clear: remove Maia immediately.


    Mariana gave a slight nod, a silent signal to the waiting guards. Several towering bodyguards stepped forward, their expressions grim, closing in with purpose.


    Maia’s gaze flickered, her body tense but still. And just as the guards reached out, a tall figure stepped smoothly between them and Maia, shielding her with his body.


    Maia froze in ce, her heart skipping a beat when she recognized the man stepping into view. Chris? What was he doing here?


    She had never once imagined she would see him at the Cooper Group’s private cocktail party. Someone like Chris—cast aside and disowned by the Coopers—should have been thest person allowed into an event like this. Yet here he was, standing before her as real as the tension hanging in the air.


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    Across the room, Mariana stood equally stunned. A moment ago, Chris had yanked his arm free from her hold without a word, striding over to Maia with a purpose she could not decipher. Her mind raced. Why? Why would he protect Maia? What was between them?


    Rosanna blinked in disbelief, staring nkly at the scene unfolding like a bad soap opera.


    Around them, the crowd buzzed in confusion, exchanging puzzled nces. Who was this man? Why was he causing such a stir?


    Chris swept a cold gaze over the room, his mouth curling into a mocking smile. “This Cooper Group party sure is a spectacle,” he said, his voice sharp as broken ss. “All of you, titans of industry, yet you use ady without a shred of evidence. Should word get out, you would all be aughingstock among the truly informed.”


    A heavy silence nketed the room. No one dared respond.


    Just then, a society woman, freshly updated on Chris’s identity, broke the stillness. She narrowed her eyes at him and asked, “Why is the Cooper family’s unacknowledged son protecting Maia?”


    Her words sent a ripple through the crowd. Recognition dawned.


    So this was him—the infamous illegitimate Cooper, the wild son who had been left to run unchecked outside the family fold. Whispers spread like wildfire.


    “I heard he is a notorious yboy,” someone murmured. “Maybe he has taken a fancy to her? She is attractive, after all, even if her reputation is questionable.”


    Thement sliced through the air, making Mariana’s face tighten with anger. Her gaze snapped to Maia, cold and cutting.


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