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    The person remained the same, but the voice suddenly shifted several tones, bing rough and unrecognizable. The face that appeared bore no resemnce to Byron at all; it was utterly ordinary.


    Karen shot him an impatient nce. "Are you a statue or something? Hurry up and get a doctor! My nose is broken! Are you taking responsibility for this?"


    She bellowed inwardly, Apart from being able to mimic Byron''s voice, he''s utterly useless!


    The bodyguard quickly replied. "I''ll go get someone right now!"C0pyright ? 2024 N?v)(elDrama.Org.


    By the time Lydia received the news and rushed over, Karen had already unleashed her fury on the doctors nearby. "What do you mean my nose will be crooked even if it heals? You''re all aseless! Can''t you fix something as minor as this? Why don''t you just drop dead? If something happens to my nose, I''ll make sure you never work again and end up begging on the streets! Quacks! Useless!"


    Lydia noticed the doctors'' ufortable expressions and asked them to leave before turning to Karen. "What happened? How did your nose end up like this?"


    Karen copsed into her mother''s arms, crying.


    As she heard the story. Lydia''s expression turned cold. "That little brat dared to mess with your face? She has no idea what she''s up against! Is she admitting to it?"


    "She''s stubborn as a mule! The evidence is all there, but she won''t admit to it!" Karen gritted her teeth. "Mom, Byron always disappears around this time of year, and I have no idea where he goes or when he''ll be back. If hees back and finds out what happened to Marve..."


    "What are you worried about!" Lydia asked calmly. "Byron always returns in a foul mood after disappearing. Even Gilbert''s words can''t sway him. You think Maeve will have a good oue if she confronts him?" The mother-daughter duo had meticulously nned everything, so they dared to set up this trap.


    "With Byron''s debt to your father, who do you think he''ll stand by, you or Maeve?" Lydia said earnestly.


    Karen immediately perked up. "Of course it''s me!"


    "Good. Just remember that," Lydia said. "Keep her locked up for a few more days, and have the bodyguard who can imitate Byron''s voice mock her daily, so she can feel the pain. After that, we''ll let her go."


    Karen frowned "Shouldn''t we just... get rid of her? That would be better."


    Γ


    Lydia shot her a disapproving look. "Are you stupid? If we kill her, even if Byron lets us off easy because of your father, do you really think there won''t be resentment? That''s a terrible deal "Alright..." Karen pouted. "Then I''ll just follow your lead."


    Lydia finally looked satisfied, thinking. My little girl might be a bit dumb, but at least she listened. Must be like her father


    While they were plotting upstairs, they werepletely unaware that Maeve, who had been unconscious, quietly opened her eyes. She pulled out the phone she had stealthily taken from Karen''s pocket during the chaos and, using her body for -cover, sent a message to Bonnie. [Help me. Basement of Vi 3 on Maple Street. Maeve]


    After sending the message, Maeve could no longer hold on and fell back into unconsciousness.


    Time passed, though how long, Maeve couldn''t tell. When she woke up again, she found herself in a hospital room. Bonnie and Alex stood by her bedside, worry etched across their faces.


    "Bonnic, Alex?" Marve''s voice was hoarse and painful. "Did you get me out?"


    Tears streamed down Bonnie''s face. "Maeve, don''t be scared! You''re safe now! I swear I''ll make whoever kidnapped you pay


    for this


    "The police are investigating and will catch the culprits, Alex added, his usually gentle voice now chilling. "I won''t let them get away. When he and the police barged into that basement and found Maeve bloodied and unconscious, no one could know how close his heart was to stopping. Only after arriving at the hospital did the paralyzing fear finally begin to fadle.


    Alex looked at Maeve''s pale, injured face and wanted to reach out to wipe the cold sweat from her, but he hesitated. clenching his fists instead.


    "Maeve, are you okay?" Bonnie asked when she saw Marve remain silent, worry creeping into her voice. "The doctor said you have a mild concussion. Do you still feel dizzy?" Not just a concussion; Maeve had bruises on her abdomen, and the cut on her cheek needed immediate care or it would get infected and scarred.


    Maeve shook her head lightly. T''m fine. Don''t worry about me." She could no longer tell what hurt more, her body or her heart. She felt she was just numb and felt nothing at all.


    "After all this, you still want to act tough? Bonnie cried. "I''m going to get a doctor!"


    The doctorarrived shortly after and examined Maeve. "Ms. Reese. Do you feel nauseous at all?"


    Maeve shook her head.


    The doctor said, "You need to rest in bed and avoid moving for now. I''ll check on you again in a couple of days."


    Maeve replied, "Thank you, doctor,"


    Once the doctor left, the police entered the room to ask Maeve some routine questions. When asked who had kidnapped her, she fell silent for a moment.


    "I only saw four people clearly. I''m not sure if there were others, Maeve replied.


    Those four were the two bodyguards who came for her, Karen, and the other kidnapper also locked up. Maeve didn''t mention Byron-not because she wanted to protect him, but because she hadn''t seen his face clearly that day. She couldn''t identify him just by his voice and scent. Given this uncertainty, she kept that part to herself.


    "Ms. Reese. Do you know why they kidnapped you?" the police asked again.


    Maeve nodded and replied softly. "Yes, this goes back to myst kidnapping..."


    The police hadn''t expected that this kidnapping case was connected to another one. And Maeve was the victim of both. That changed everything


    "Thank you for your cooperation. We''ll do everything we can to piece together the details. Please wait for further news.


    "Thank you.


    After the police left, Bonnie and Alex returned to the room. Bonnie peeled an apple while Alex pulled a chair closer and set out some food.


    "You''ve been unconscious for a day and a night. Have some warm soup first and then eat," Alex said gently. "Or is there something else you''d like? I can go get it."


    Maeve hurriedly said, "This is enough. Thank you, Alex."


    Bonnie held up the apple. "I''ll cut it into pieces for you. It''ll be easier to eat, and your face won''t..." Before she could finish, Alex gently nudged her.


    Bonnie bit her lip in frustration, thinking. How could I be so clumsy and bring that up?


    Maeve smiled gently. "You don''t need to be so careful; I''m not that fragile. Can you hand me a mirror?" That blow from Karen had hurt a lot, and she suspected it would leave an ugly scar. After a moment''s hesitation, Bonnie handed her the mirror. "Marve, don''t be upset. The doctor said that as long as the wound is treated in time, it''ll heal nicely."