Byron''s words sent a chill through Macve''s veins. She immediately tried to exin, "ver said such a thing, nor did I force her to rify anything. I—''


    "It hurts!" Karen clutched her bleeding arm, copsing into Byron''s embrace with a weak groan. "Byron, don''t me Ms. Reese. She was just so afraid of me revealing the truth that she resorted to shing me...


    "I didn''t!" Maeve was appalled by Karen''s tant lies. "You saw Byrone in and deliberately cut yourself to frame me..."


    "Enough," Byron interrupted Maeve as he saw Karen''s pained expression. "Get out. From now on, you''re not allowed to enter this room without my permission."


    Marve''s gaze dulled as she looked at the tearful Karen clinging to Byron, feeling the bitterness spread within her. She let out a wry smile, saying softly, "Byron, you''re truly blind." She turned and left the room with a numbing detachment, unable to bear the sight of their intimate closeness any longer.


    "Byron. I''m in so much pain," Karen sobbed. "Ms. Reese barged in, trying to force me into giving false testimony, and even threatened me with a knife... What did I do to deserve this?"


    Byron rang for the doctor and nurse, his brow furrowing as he listened. The kidnappers are still atrge, and now she''s threatening you with a knife to make you lie? Is she really that foolish to incriminate herself?"


    Karen hadn''t expected his focus would be so misdirected, and her cries ceased abruptly. I don''t know, but I heard the kidnappers and Maeve talking on the phone, and they told her everything was settled."


    Byron''s gaze instantly became piercing. "Not only did they make the call in front of you, but they also put it on speaker? He thought. The kidnappers'' actions seemed too deliberate, as if to make Karen believe Maeve was the mastermind:


    Karen was at a loss for words, thinking in frustration, Isn''t the main issue here that Maeve is causing me harm? Why does he keep defending her and absolving her of guilt?"


    "I... I''m so dizzy." Karen closed her eyes and pretended to faint.


    Seeing her copse, Byron had to set aside his doubts and let the doctor tend to her wounds.


    Meanwhile, Maeve returned to her ward in a daze, only to find an unexpected visitor. It was Alex.


    "I heard from Bonnie that you were hospitalized, so I came to check on you," Alex said with concern, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at her pale face. "Are you alright? Have you been hurt?"


    Maeve forced a smile. "Thank you, Mr. Brown. I''m fine. I should be back at work by tomorrow at thetest."


    Alex shook his head. "You look terrible. You don''t need to rush back to work. We can discuss this once you''ve fully recovered. I''ll grant you leave."


    Maeve''s eyes grew moist at Alex''s genuine concern. Others could see her difort and cared for her, while Byron''s eyes. were solely on Karen. She had foolishly agreed not to divorce him temporarily for the sake of that apartment.


    "Maeve, what''s wrong?" Alex noticed her reddened eyes and mistook her emotional state for illness. After hesitating for a moment, he helped her to the bed. "I''ll call the doctor."


    "It''s alright." Maeve quickly stopped him. "Mr. Brown, I''m fine. I''m just a little dizzy from standing for too long. The blow to her head left her feeling unwell from time to time.


    Alex sighed in relief and took a seat by her bed. He said gently, "I heard from Bonnie that the hospital food is quite nd, and since you prefer stronger vors, I brought you lunch from a private kitchen."


    "How did you know I like stronger vors?" Maeve asked with surprise.


    2K 75%


    "I guessed from how you kept adding cheese to your spaghetti time," Alex replied with a smile as he set out the dishes. T wasn''t sure what you liked, so I brought a variety. Try it and see if you like it."


    His "variety" turned out to be quite a spread, all nutritionally bnced Marve tasted the food, which was well-seasoned but not greasy, much better than the hospital''s nd offerings. Despite herck of appetite, she made an effort to eat in order to not waste Alex''s thoughtful gesture. "It''s delicious. Thank you, Mr. Brown, Maeve said gratefully.


    Alex''s gaze was warm as he watched her enjoy her meal. "You should have more," he said. His efforts were worth it. He had spent two hours overseeing the chef to make sure the meal was suitable for a patient. "By the w


    way, Mr. Brown, you visited Bonnie earlier, right? Is she about to be discharged?" Maeve asked.


    Alex hesitated before replying vaguely. "Probably, though she''s not fully recovered yet."


    Biting into a cherry from the fruit tter, Maeve remarked, "Bonnie is so lucky to have a cousin like you. You even look after her friend. How kind of you"


    Alex chuckled. "You and Bonnie are close friends. Calling me Mr. Brown feels too formal. Since I''m not much older than you, you can call me by my name."


    "Are you sure, Mr. Brown?" Maeve asked.


    Of course, Alex responded cheerfully.


    Without much thought, Maeve nodded and said, "Alright, Alex


    A deeper smile spread across Alex''s face as he looked at Maeve.


    As evening approached, Maeve was resting on her bed when she was jolted awake by a shake on her shoulder. Turning to see Byron standing by the bed, she felt a pang of confusion.


    doctor said if Karen''s wound had been deeper, it might have rendered her hand useless," Byron said, his eyes brooding with anger. And you seem quite at ease."


    Maeve''s throat tightened, sitting up in defiance. "I didn''t injure her. Why shouldn''t I be at case? I haven''t done anything wrong. How many times do I need to say it?"


    "You''re not remorseful at all." Byron scoffed. "Get up. We''re going to Karen''s ward."


    Byron had previously forbidden her from entering Karen''s room. His abrupt change gave Maeve a sense of foreboding.


    "What do you want?" Maeve asked defensively.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Karen can let it go, but only if you agree to take care of her until her hand heals," Byron said firmly


    Maeve felt a lump in her throat, her face growing pale. "Why should I bear the consequences of her actions? The kidnapping and her self-inflicted injury-why should I be responsible for all that'' He won''t listen to my exnations and has already determined it''s my fault. Now, he''s demanding that I care for Karen. How can he humiliate me like this? Maeve thought, fuming with indignation.


    Hearing the quiver in her hoarse voice, Byron''s gaze was conflicted. Yet, thinking of Karen''s nearly ruined hand, his resolve hardened. "Either you go over yourself, or I''ll have the bod