Maeve''s arm ached slightly, and she furrowed her brow, retorting. "What does it matter to you who I live next to? Your precious Karen is still waiting for you. I don''t need your concern here."


    "Maeve, stop trying to provoke me," Byron uttered with a chilling tone, his eyes glinting ominously. "Reject him, do you hear me?"


    "Why should I listen to you? What right do you have to control me?"


    His grip on Maeve''s arm was unyielding. No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn''t break free. Annoyed, she snapped,


    "Let go


    Byron grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to face him. He took a nce at Alex, who looked puzzled inside the car, but his words were directed at Maeve. "You''d better do as I say, or I''ll kiss you right in front of him. Do you believe I won''t?" he hissed under his breath. How shameless. Maeve eximed internally. Her face flushed with anger, and she felt a strong urge to bite him. Then, her rage turned into augh. Fine, if you''re not afraid of him thinking we''re involved in an incestuous rtionship, then go ahead.


    Byron was momentarily at a loss for words, his expression freezing and growing even colder. "You think I won''t?"


    At that moment, Alex, sensing something was amiss, stepped out of the car and asked with a frown, "Is everything okay?"


    Maeve quickly seized the chance before Byron could speak. "Alex, my uncle is afraid that my aunt will find out about his womanizing ways, so he''s pressuring me to keep it a secret"


    Byron''s face darkened instantly at the mention of "womanizing


    "Maeve, when have I ever sought out other women?" Byron demanded.


    "Fine, you haven''t, I must have misunderstood, Maeve said dismissively. "Can you let me go now? I promise I''ll keep your secret, and your wife won''t find out about your affairs."


    Byron''s clenched his jaw in anger.


    Alex looked troubled as he realized what was happening. "Mr. Reese, it''s wrong to pursue other women when you''re married. Threatening Maeve won''t solve anything. You should stop this before it gets worse."


    I didn''t expect Maeve''s uncle to be a womanizer. He seems so proper and repressive, Alex thought to himself. I thought it was just that woman''s one-sided obsession.


    "Maeve," Byron said coldly, gripping her wrist tightly and pulling her closer. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Do you want to lose your contract?"


    The threat was as chilling as a hand tightening around Maeve''s neck, deting her resistance instantly. "Are you threatening me with the contract?" she said through gritted teeth.


    "Go to the apartment and wait for me. If you''re not around when I return, you''ll face the consequences." Byron loosened hist grip on Maeve, shot a frosty nce at Alex, and then turned to head back to the hospital.


    Maeve was so furious that her shoulders were trembling. If she had known that this would happen, she would have had Byron sign the contract at the resort. Now, he was using it as leverage against her. Why can he be intimate with Karen, while I''m not allowed to ept Alex''s help? He''s got a serious double standard, she grumbled inwardly.


    "What did your uncle say to you?" Alex asked with concern. "Did he threaten you to keep it from your dunt?"


    08:13This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Tue, Uc


    Maeve snapped back to her senses, straining a smile as she replied, "No, he just wants me to go home tonight."


    Tll give you a ride and take you to a nice restaurant."


    "I should treat you this time. Otherwise, I''d feel too embarrassed to go with you."


    "Alright, I won''t fight you for it."


    As night fell. Maeve arrived at the vintage apartment. Perhaps it was because she had been away for too long, but as she looked at the familiar furnishings, she felt a pang of mncholy


    Maeve really liked this ce. She wondered if Byron would be willing to sell it to her after the divorce. Suddenly recalling something. Maeve quickly walked to the terrace. To her surprise, the vegetables she had thought Byron would throw away were still in ce. The watering can was running slowly, set on a ten-minute timer.


    She squatted down to take a look. The vegetables hadn''t wilted as she had imagined. Instead, they were lush and green, even better than before she left. There wasn''t even a weed in sight. ''Has Byron been tending to these vegetables every day?'' Maeve wondered. Feeling a chill, Maeve stood up and went inside. She saw her favorite bunny head pillow on the floor with an obvious. ttened spot on it, as if someone had squeezed it hard. Letting out a snort, she bent down to pick it up and noticed a photo wedged under the table leg. When she pulled it out to take a look, her eyes widened in shock


    It was the explicit photo that Jeff had sent her. She had opened the package in the hospital and thrown all those photos in the trash, so there was no reason for one to be here. Moreover, judging by how the photo was stuck under the table leg. had clearly been there for a while.


    Maeve recalled Byron burning some paper items on the terrace few weeks ago. It must have been those photos from Jeff, she thought, biting her lip with aplicated look in her eyes. No wonder he stopped me from opening the package and quickly realized the photos were fake. It turns out he has already seen them.


    Yet, instead of doubting or looking down on her, he had kept this matter hidden and burned the photos. If Jeff hadn''t been foolish enough to send another package, she might never have known about this.


    Maeve sank onto the sofa. Her heart, which had hardened over the past few days in the hospital, now softened into a pool of warmth and sadness. While she was lost in thought, her phone rang. In a daze, she picked it up and read the message. Bonnie: [Maeve, do you remember when Jeff was thrown out of the partyst time? I just heard from Ray that it was the Great Demon King who set up the gamble against Jeff, winning all his assets and even taking his shares in the Graves Group!] Bonnie: [The Great Demon King has no grudge against Jeff Why go to such lengths? I guess it was all for you]


    Bonnie: [Is this the benefit of having a dominant husband? I take back what I said before about him not being right for you.]


    After reading the messages, Maeve was stunned, thinking, Jeff losing his inheritance and being abandoned by his father was actually Byron''s doing? She had thought it was just her luck and Wace taking a righteous stand. Never did she imagine that someone was protecting her behind the scenes. And that person was Byron.


    She had feared his power, dreaded that he might turn out to be like Jeff, and even once considered divorcing him distance herself. But now, she realized she might have beenpletely wrong. Maeve''s head throbbed intensely, so shey down, staring at the ceiling until she gradually fell asleep.


    lo her drowsy state, Maeve heard someone calling her. She tried to open her eyes, but they felt as though they were weighed down, refusing to lift. Her skin was flushed with heat, and her breath was scorching.