Maeve froze for a moment. "Wasn''t it you who saved me?"


    "No." Byron replied, his brows deeply furrowed. "When I found you, you had fainted on the path leading to that abandoned


    warehouse.


    If the kidnappers hadn''t released her, how could she have ended up there?" Byron wondered.


    "I don''t know, I was knocked out from behind. After that, I don''t remember anything. Maeve murmured, her eyes filled with confusion. "Wait, are you suspecting that I had something to do with the kidnappers?" As the realization hit her, she stared at Byron in disbelief. "You were both abducted and while Karen was harmed, you managed to escape unscathed. Do you think that makes sense?" Byron countered coldly.


    "So what?" Maeve''s heart sank. "Whatever happened after I was knocked out was beyond my control. Are you saying that unless I suffered like Karen, it wouldn''t make sense?"


    Byron frowned. "Maeve, don''t be unreasonable. I''m just trying to get the facts.


    "Unreasonable?" Maeve almostughed out of frustration. "You''ve already decided I''m a suspect, haven''t you? I don''t have a grudge against Karen, so why would I do such a thing? Even if you''re suspicious, shouldn''t there be some basic logic to it!"


    If I had really done it, I''d admit it. But for something I didn''t do, no one can force me to confess, Maeve thought, seething in anger.


    The ward fell into silence. After a long pause, Byron spoke slowly, staring at Maeve''s reddening eyes. "Back then at the restaurant, you didn''t want me to meet Karen, and you evenined about her, didn''t you?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Maeve''s fingers clenched tightly, a trace of destion creeping into her gaze. "So that''s why you suspect me? Byron, are you! disappointed that nothing happened to me? Do you wish it had been me instead of Karen? I''m so sorry to have let you down


    "Maeve!" Byron''s eyes hardened. "Do you even know what you''re saying?"


    Maeve''s eyes welled up with tears. "Haven''t you already decided that I colluded with the kidnappers? I''m asking you, what evidence do you have? What makes you think I''m guilty?"


    Just because Karen is the one he holds dearest. What about me? Am I so worthless? Not only do I have to endure this nightmare, but I''m also being wrongfully used, Maeve thought, bitterness rising within her.


    Byron caught the huet in her eyes, his throat tightening, frustration and agitation evident in his expression. "Think whatever you want," he said coldly, walking out of the ward and mming the door shut behind him.


    Maeve lowered her head,ughing wryly as tears slid down her cheeks. Her heart felt as empty as a forsaken wastnd, chilled by an unrelenting wind. She thought, Karen is pitiful, but what about me? Is it my fault that something terrible happened to her? How can he be so biased? Is this how you tell if someone is loved or not?


    "Maeve!" Bonnie limped into the ward and threw herself into Maeve''s arms at that moment. "How could something like this happen? You must have been terrified."


    "Bonnie." Maeve wiped the tears from her eyes, her voice hoarse. Tin fine now."


    "Fine?" Bonnie''s voice trembled with anger. "What''s with the bodyguards at the door? They almost wouldn''t let me in. Did Byron send them to keep an eye on you? What''s his problem?"


    le''s watching me? Maeve''s face turned ashen, thinking. He really thinks I colluded with those kidnappers. Is it because I


    П


    0:75%0


    Seeing Maeve''s pale expression, Bonnie quickly said, "It might not be that. Maybe he''s just worried about your safety and sent them to protect you."


    Maeve chuckled bitterly. "Don''t try tofort me. I know what''s going on." She reflected with a touch of irony, ''Karen was hurt. It''s a miracle he didn''t strangle me. And now he wants to protect me? "Maeve, are you alright?" Bonnie asked with concern. "I heard that Byron arrived just in time, and you weren''t harmed. But Karen... she was seriously injured and is still in surgery."


    Recalling the voices she heard before she passed out, Maeve closed her eyes. As a fellow woman, she didn''t wish such a fate. upon Karen. But being wrongfully used made her feel suffocated. She had to wait for Karen to wake up and tell her side of the story to clear her name.


    Meanwhile, Karen was wheeled into her ward. Standing at the side, Lydia sobbed as she said, "Byron, there''s something wrong with Maeve. She and Karen were kidnapped together. How could the kidnappers just let her go? I can''t believe there''s no foul y involved!" Byron''s eyes darkened. "Maeve is also a victim. Besides, the kidnappers haven''t been caught yet. It''s too early to draw conclusions.


    "Who''s to say she wasn''t putting on an act?" Lydia gritted her teeth. "Byron, you can''t be biased just because she''s your wife. My husband just passed away, and now Karen has to go through this. If he knew, he wouldn''t rest in peace." "Please don''t say that. Byron''s voice was steady. Tm not taking sides."


    "I trust you," Lydia said, wiping her tears. "But now that this has happened, how can Karen ever get married? Byron, you promised her father you''d take care of her. You won''t turn your back on her, will you?"


    Remembering Patrick''sst words, Byron said reassuringly, "Don''t worry. I''ll keep this incident under wraps. No one else will know." He would repay Karen with the kindness her father had shown him. Lydia nodded in relief.


    The next day. Maeve was almost stopped by the bodyguards at the door when she left her room. After much persuasion, she finally got out. She found Karen''s ward and pushed the door open.


    Karen was already awake, lying pale on the bed. When she saw Maeve enter, her gaze became sharp with hostility as she spoke, "You''re here."


    "Didn''t you ask me toe?" Maeve frowned. "What did you mean by that text you sent me?"


    "I meant exactly what it said." Karen sneered. "Maeve, I heard everything while those kidnappers were torturing me. You''re in cahoots with them. You''re jealous of my rtionship with Byron, so you set this up to ruin me, didn''t you?" Maeve''s expression faltered. "No, I don''t even know those people!"


    "Is that so?" Karen narrowed her eyes. "Who do you think Byron will believe? You or me?"


    Maeve''s breath hitched, and before she could react, Karen suddenly sprang up, grabbed a fruit knife from the table, and shed her own arm. In an instant, blood sttered everywhere


    Maeve''s eyes widened in shock. Before she couldprehend what had happened, Karen copsed to the floor, tears streaming down her face.


    "Ms. Reese, I know I was wrong! I''ll tell Byron that the kidnappers weren''t sent by you. Please don''t hurt me. I beg you..." Karen pleaded.


    "What are you talking about?" Maeve was baffled, almost amused by the absurdity of the situation. She was about to pull Karen up when a figure brushed past her.


    Byron strode over to Karen''s side, gently helping her back onto the bed. Then, he turned to Maeve, his gaze icy and filled. with disappointment. "Maeve, haven''t you had enough?"


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