"What did you just say?" Maeve''s heart sank. "How could this apartment be yours?"


    Maeve had told Byron she didn''t want the apartment, provided they got a divorce immediately. He hadn''t agreed, so their arrangement remained unchanged. Why is Karen saying that the apartment will soon be hers? she thought in disbelief.


    Karenughed derisively. "Byron didn''t tell you? Well, it seems there was no need. I just wanted to recuperate in his apartment, and he agreed to give it to me.


    The smugness in Karen''s voice caused Maeve to tighten her grip on her phone before she hung up abruptly. Staring at the empty bowl on the dining table, she wanted to get up and clean but couldn''t muster any strength.


    He can give Karen whatever he wants, but why does it have to be this apartment?'' Maeve thought with a hollow ache in her chest. She bit her lip so hard she could taste blood.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    The phone on the table rang. Maeve, absorbed in her thoughts, looked up in a daze. When she saw Byron''s name on the screen, she felt a quick sense of reluctance.


    Yet, she remembered the lies Karen had told her previously and decided she couldn''t fully believe Karen''s words alone. She took a deep breath and answered the call. "Maeve?" Byron''s voice came through the line. Why did you call me?"


    Maeve pursed her lips. "Nothing. Karen just told me she would being here to recuperate, and that you are giving her the apartment. Is that true?" Byron replied, "Yes, I was about to tell you."


    "Are you not going to exin this?" Maeve questioned, frustration evident in her tone.


    Byron frowned slightly. "Exin what?"


    Maeve fell silent.


    After waiting for a response that never came, Byron sensed something was off and said dismissively, "Maeve, it''s just an apartment. Don''t be so petty.


    At that moment, Maeve felt a sharp pain in her heart, tears of bitterness clouding her vision. "Did you consider my feelings when you made this decision?" she croaked. "If you can''t keep our promise, then there''s nothing more to say. I assure you, I''ll leave and make rooiu for your precious ex-girlfriend. Are you satisfied now?"


    Maeve''s face went pale as she ended the call. She sat in silence for a long time before gathering the strength to get up. She put the empty bowl into the dishwasher and went to the master bedroom to change. ct in the


    Recalling she hadn''t searched the room thoroughly, she half-heartedly rummaged around and found the contract drawer of the nightstand.


    Before leaving, Maeve took onest look at the room she had lived in. Once it became Karen''s ce, she would never have


    the chance to returil


    However, it was nothing like the room she had once upied. When Maeve opened the guest bedroom door, it waspletely empty. Even the light apricot-colored sheer curtain she loved was gone. Staring at the empty room, tears finally streamed uncontrobly down her face, dripping onto her clothes.


    It turns out the signs were there all along. He even cleared out my room for Karen''s arrival. What''s the point of holding on to this apartment? she reflected with a rueful smile.


    Maeve wiped her eyes roughly, took out her phone, and called for a cab. She moved all the vegetables from the terrace, leaving nothing behind. She then closed the apartment door and left, contract in hand, without looking back. Meanwhile, in the hospital ward, Karen leaned against the headboard, observing Byron''s sudden shift to a cold demeanor after he hung up,


    "Byron. I only wanted a ce to recuperate. If Ms. Reese is unwilling, perhaps we should forget it," Karen said weakly.


    "Since I promised you, I won''t go back on my word. Byron''s voice was slightly somber.


    "Alright," Karen responded with a sorrowful expression. "Ms. Reese has such a bad temper, it must be hard on


    Byron cast a cold nce at her. "Maeve has a bad temper?"


    If her temper is bad, then everyone else must bepletely unhinged. Even her rare outbursts were nothing more than harmless quirks, more yful than menacing he thought, his lips curling into a faint smile.


    Sensing an edge in his voice, Karen forced a smile. She did cut me with a knife the other day and threw a cup at me. It was quite frightening


    The smile on Byron''s lips slowly faded as he looked at Karen, his eyes piercing right through her. "Karen, there are things I''ve chosen not to spell out to spare your feelings. But that doesn''t mean I''m oblivious. Do you understand?" Karen''s heart skipped a beat, her fingers trembling slightly. "I-I don''t quite get what you


    mean.


    Byron didn''t answer, his gaze flicking to the bandaged wounds on her left hand. Karen''s face turned ashen.


    The wound on her wrist and the one she imed Maeve inflicted were consistent in depth and direction. If it were just one wound, Byron might not have figured, but with two, it was easy to spot the pattern. He chose not to say anything, allowing her to maintain a shred of dignity.


    How terrifying... How could he so calmly and rationally judge whether my injuries were consistent? Does he truly believe that Maeve would never hurt me? Karen thought, unable to suppress the resentment welling up inside her. ''Mom was right. Maeve has to be destroyed.


    After viewing the house at Zephyr Heights, Maeve and Alex returned to the car.


    "Alex, thank you for yourpany today. I hope I haven''t taken up too much of your time," Maeve said with a smile.


    "Not at all. I was free anyway." Alex replied with a gentle gaze. "What did you think of the house? Are you satisfied?"


    Maeve thought for a moment. "It''s quite good. But I wasn''t nning on looking for a ce in such a high-end neighborhood, so my budget is a bit tight. I might be wasting your efforts."


    Her expectations for a house were modest, and it couldn''t be too expensive. With her monthly sry, she preferred to stay within her means.


    The owner is going overseas soon, so he''s in a hurry to rent out the house. He cares more about finding a good tenant who Will take care of the property rather than the money, Alex said. "Since I''m on good terms with him, I can help you get a discount." Maeve''s eyes lit up. "Really?"


    "Of course. Would I lie to you?" Alex quipped with a chuckle.


    Maeve shook her head repeatedly. "I just feel like I''m bothering you too much. I''m not sure how to repay you."


    Alex had intended to say she didn''t need to repay him, but he was worried it might put pressure on her, so he said, "Actually. I do have a favor to ask"


    What is it?" Maeve immediately perked up.


    "There''s a banquet tomorrow night that my parents insist I attend. They even want me to bring a date, or they''ll set me up with one," Alex said with a touch of helplessness.


    In other words, they''re subtly pushing for marriage, Maeve thou