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    Just as Maeve was lost in thought, her cell phone beeped


    It was a message from Byron, asking her toe downstairs immediately.


    She quickly gathered her things and headed down, momentarily stunned when she saw his car parked at the curb. This was the first time he hade to pick her up from work.


    Usually, he just gave her a ride to work.


    "Wait! Maeve thought, suddenly realizing something,


    The Mcdaniel Group and Eternal Hope were inpletely opposite directions, so he just specially took her to work before


    A smile tugged at the corners of Maeve''s lips as she jogged over pulled open the door, and slid into the back seat.


    "What brings you here to pick me up today?" she a


    asked.


    Byron, flipping through some documents, paused for a second before responding coolly, "Just happened to be passing by didn''t believe him, but she didn''t feel the need to make him admit it. Instead, she stifled a quietugh.


    Maeve


    As she fastened her seatbelt, she habitually slipped her hands into her pockets to warm them, only to brush against the hard edge of a business card. Her lighthearted mood fell instantly. Two years-it wasn''t long, but it wasn''t short either.


    If it had been two months ago, Maeve wouldn''t have hesitated to pursue further studies at Gradelle University.


    But now..


    Maeve gazed absentmindedly at Byron''s face, so bright andposed.


    She had an attachment now.


    And he had once told her, even without entering a rtionship, that she was his wife.


    If she chose to study abroad, there was no doubt their marriage would end.


    She couldn''t afford to give that up.


    rat


    "What''s the matter?" Byron noticed her gaze and lifted his eyelids slightly. "You''ve been staring at me with that look for a while. What''s on your mind?" So, staring at someone too long did get one noticed.


    Maeve''s ears warmed as she quickly averted her gaze. "Nothing, just trying to figure something out."


    "Maybe you can ask me," Byron said.


    Maeve hesitated, arranging her thoughts. But as soon as she opened her mouth, she felt like it was the wrong thing to say.


    a long pause, she realized the car was heading in the wrong direction. Confusion flickered in her eyes. "This isn''t the way back to the apartment."


    After a


    "I had Archer make a restaurant reservation," Byron said casually


    Tha


    "Why the sudden dinner ns?" Macve asked, puzzled.


    Byron


    shot her azy nce. Just a change of pace."


    Maeve nodded. That worked-she didn''t really feel like cooking tonight, anyway.


    The restaurant was across the river. By now, night had fallen, and the streetlights along both banks formed a shimmering line that stretched into the distance, illuminating the view from their window seat. It was breathtaking. Maeve''s earlier gloom began to lift. While By


    took a phone call, she quietly poured herself a small ss of red wine.


    Byron ended the call and returned to his seat, only to find Macve watching him, her chin propped on her hand, cheeks faintly flushed, and eyes shining with a soft giggle. situation


    His eyebrow arched when he noticed the nearly empty ss of red wine in her hand. It didn''t take much to understand the


    "Who gave you permission to drink?" Byron snatched the ss from her and set it aside, sulking. "Did you forget that you can''t drink too much wine?"


    Maeve smiled, waving a hand casually. "I know. I only drank a little."


    Ignoring her protests, Byron called the waiter over to bring a cup of water.


    Maeve muttered under her breath, "Why didn''t you wear the suit I designed for you? Don''t you like it?"


    Who said I didn''t?" Byron''s gaze darkened. "I wore it the day you stood me up.


    He was, of of course, referring to the day of the Mcdaniel Group''s annual meeting.


    Maeve suddenly felt a cold shiver down the back of her neck, her eyes darting nervously. "The wine here is pretty good."


    Byron snorted. "Don''t change the subject. Tell me-where were you that day?"


    "At the resort hotel... Maeve said.


    "With who?" Byron asked.


    "Ms. Mason and a coworker," Maeve answered.


    Byron raised an eyebrow, mildly surprised she''d answered so quickly.


    Then,


    noticing her gaze growing unfocused, he smiled.


    you love he suddenly asked.


    Maeve''s eyshes fluttered like butterfly wings, and she quickly covered her blushing face with her hand. "My dear brother-inw, it''s wrong of us to do this." The smile on Byron''s lips froze.


    The waiter, arriving with a ss of water, trembled slightly.


    Marve continued sadly. "My sister just left. If she finds out we''re doing this, she''ll be very angry ande to us half the night!" ng. +


    The waiter''s hands shook, and he ced the ss of water down little too hard.


    An oppressive silence followed, with Byron''s intense gaze locking onto him.


    "P-please, enjoy your meal." The waiter stammered before quickly retreating, fearing he''d heard too much


    "Byron..."


    Maeve


    still tried to say something.


    "Shut up. Byron''s brow furrowed as he interrupted her in a deep voice. "Drink the water"


    Maeve nced at the ss of water, a mischievous smile twisting on her lips. "I want you to feed me, mouth to mouth." Byron was struck speechless.


    He silently swore never to let her near alcohol again.


    lit Retro brightened.


    Maeve shoved Byron away and stumbled toward the trash can on unsteady feet, where she promptly threw up.


    She continued retching until there was nothing left but bile, still dry-heaving painfully.


    Byron, staying calm, patted her back and handed her a ss of water to help her rinse her mouth and soothe her. "Are you going to drink again next time?"


    The vomiting had cleared Maeve''s mind, though her face remained pale, almost ghostly. "Byron, this is awful."


    The lingering nausea gnawed at her, even though she hadn''t been able to bring up anything for a while.


    How could less than half a ss of light red wine have hit her so hard?


    Byron frowned as he picked up his phone from the table. "T''ll call the doctor."


    "No need," Maeve quickly stopped him. "It''s toote now. No point in bothering the doctor. I''ll just drink some water and


    rest."


    Byron studied her frail appearance and reached out, pinching her slightly warm, flushed cheek.


    He intended to give her a sharp pinch, a little reminder of her overindulgence, but instead, his fingers lingered, gently tracing her skin.


    Maeve squirmed slightly at the ticklish sensation and lifted her head, only to meet his intense, dark gaze. "W-what''s wrong?"


    Byron''s voice dropped to a dangerously low murmur. "Didn''t you just ask me to feed you?" His tone carried a slow, teasing menace. T''ll make good on that now,"


    A shiver ran down Maeve''s spine, and her instincts told her to run.


    She barely took a step before Byron caught her around the waist pulling her back effortlessly. "Where do you think you''re going?" he teased, his grip firm. "Do you really think you can get away?" She had been so b bold to tease him at the restaurant.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    And now they were at home. Even though she tried to escape, Byron wouldn''t let it happen


    Byron scooped up the blushing Maeve and set her down gently on the couch, his tall frame pinning her in ce. She had nowhere to run.


    His handsome face loomed closer, and Maeve felt her breath catch


    Tm on my period, she blurted out, desperately clinging to thest shreds of rationality. "So we can''t... do this


    Byron chuckled darkly, his eyes gleaming. "Who says we can''t?"


    Maeve''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    Could he really be this... shameless? she tho