Every was no exception.


    girl hoped to be remembered in the best light by the person she liked, and Mac


    When her face was first injured, she still had the mood to joke around with Bonnie. But as the days passed and the wound showed no signs of healing, she began to feel an underlying anxiety that it might leave a permanent scar. It was thest image she wanted Byron to see.


    "Don''t touch it." Byron frowned and reprimanded, gripping Marye''s wrist to prevent her from reaching her scar. "Your hands have a lot of bacteria on them. Do you want to ruin your face?"


    With her eyes red, Maeve turned her head, only to be forcibly tuned back by his grip on her chin. Frustrated, she red at him fiercely. "What do you want? Is it amusing to tease me? Do you want to see me in such a terrible state?" As she spoke, her voice caught in her throat. In a burst of anger, she bit down hard on his thumb.


    Byron watched her silently, neither moving nor stopping her. It wasn''t until he noticed her grip loosening that he coldly said. "What''s the point of wearing something like that?"


    Feeling bold. Maeve said, "I can wear it if I want to! It''s none of your business!"


    To her surprise, Byron didn''t get angry; instead, heughed. "I can''t control you, but who do you want to be in charge? That pretty boy?"


    "That''s my freedom. Don''t you think you''re overstepping? Macve looked straight into his deep eyes. "I haven''t interfered with you and Karen, so why do you feel you can control me!*


    The air in the car froze for a moment. Byron''s grip on her chin varied between gentle and firm. After a moment, he said coldly. Just because you''re in the same household as me does that reason suffice?"Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    Maeve had expected him to say, "I''m yound, so I have the right to control you Hearing his words instead nearly choked her. She thought, ''What kind of reason is that?"


    She didn''t want to argue with him over something so trivial and reached for the veil beside her. With a quick flick of his fingers, Byron sent the veil straight into the trash can.


    "Byron Mcdaniel!" Maeve was furious. "Is this how you want to see me humiliated? What exactly am I doing to bother you? Haven''t you already taken enough revenge for Karen!" It felt like he was twisting the knife when Karen was already bullying Byron''s deep eyes fixed on her. "Am I taking revenge for Karen? Maeve Reese, do you have any conscience left?


    Maeve bit her lip in silence, her eyes red and puffy, the corners tinged with a hint of pink. Byron closed his eyes briefly, suppressing the frustration that surged within him. He said in a low voice, "The veil also carries bacteria. Covering your face with something like that-are you trying to ensure your wound gets worse?"


    ''Gets worse? Maeve''s attention was drawn to that point, and she furrowed her brows, asking, "How do you know my wound has been getting worse?" She thought, He had only visited me once during my hospitalization, hadn''t he?"


    Byron swallowed as he paused for several seconds. "If your wound hasn''t been getting worse, why hasn''t it healed by now?"


    Maeve fell silent, knowing deep down that he was right. She thought, ''But didn''t I know that veils could harbor bacteria and shouldn''t be worn for long periods? I wouldn''t want to cover my face like this if I had a choice. With that thought, she scoffed, "Karen did this to my face, and while I''ve been lying in the hospital all this time, I didn''t see you caring about me.


    Now you''re pretending to care. Is it because Mr. Mcdaniel wants to see me again, or do you need something from me as your nominal wife? You can say it outright. This act doesn''t suit you.


    At her words, a cold glint seeped into the depths of Byron''s eyes, resembling an icy, shadowy pool "You think I''m being


    insincere?"


    "Isn''t that the case? As soon as the words left her lips, the temperature in the car plummeted to freezing point.


    The driver and Archer wished they could disappear beneath the car. As Byron''s capable assistant, Archer couldn''t stand by and watch; he cautiously said, "Ms. Reese, you might have misunderstood Mr. Mcdaniel. He has been extremely busy withpany affairs these past few days, hardly finding any time to rest, and he''s been focused on helping you with the kidnapping investigation..."


    "Shut up." Byron interrupted coldly, cutting him off before he could continue. Archer quickly went silent and retreated into


    his seat.


    Maeve''s expression momentarily froze as she thought, ''Reinvestigating the kidnapping? Is Byron looking into the kidnapping case again? Didn''t he already determine that Karen was innocent? Why would he be reinvestigating?


    As she was lost in thought, the driver''s timid voice came from the front, "Mr. Mcdaniel, we''re here."


    She wondered, Where are we? Maeve instinctively nced out the window.


    What caught her eye was a series of beautifully arranged flower arches nked by expansive grassy areas and topiary sculptures, all surrounding a grand double-tiered fountain in the center. The car stopped before an emerald green townhouse, its modern-style eaves shimmering in the sunlight, exuding luxury and elegance.


    Maeve asked Byron, "Why did you bring me here?"


    Byron didn''t even nce up, his tone as cold as ever. "Bringing you home doesn''t require a reason."


    Karen stayed at the apartment while Maeve threw a tantrum and refused to move in. The only ce that could be called his home was this one. The mention of "going home and bringing her home" felt like a small hammer gently tapping Maeve''s heart and stirring sweetness and difort.


    She was momentarily stunned, but when she returned to her senses, Byron exited the car and approached her side, signaling her to get out.


    Maeve hesitated, her eyes reflecting uncertainty. "What about my face..."


    Byron''s gaze softened as he looked at her scar; he said, "I have a star on my back that''s deeper than this one. It''s nothing to worry about."


    "You have that on your back!" Maeve grumbled in dissatisfaction: "No one can see it."


    "And what does that matter?" Byron replied, his expression unwavering. "Would you stop being yourself just because of a scar? No matter if there''s a scar, you''re still Maeve Reese."


    Maeve felt a tremor in her heart, a vague understanding of the deeper meaning behind his words. The anxiety and self-doubt that had been pressing against her heart vanished like droplets of water evaporating under the zing sun. A swell of joy came in their ce, filling her with warmth and lightness.


    This scar that she couldn''t ept seemed to mean nothing to him. She imagined, "Could he mean I looked perfect in his eyes?


    Lost in thought, she suddenly felt a warm cover above her head. Thinking she still minded, Byron removed his suit jacket and draped it over her head, blocking her face and ensuring it wouldn''t touch the wound.


    He clicked his tongue in annoyance, "What a nuisance" Maeve was the most troublesome woman he had ever encountered, and she didn''t even appreciate it


    Maeve puffed up her cheeks, yanked off the jacket, and stepped out of the car. "It''s fine if it doesn''t cover."


    She returned the jacket to him, catching the refreshing your perfume easy to find?"


    "ver use perfume, Byron said.


    Linwood scent lingering on it, her heart skipping a brat. "Byron, is


    Maeve looked at him in confusion, "Then what''s that scent on you?"


    "It''s a special energizing aromatic blend prepared by my private doctor, Anthony Garcia. It naturally lingers on me after using it for a while, Byron exined tly.


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