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    Maeve''s face flushed deeper, and she struggled to find her words


    "Grandpa, she was eager to go out and set off fireworks, and she choked on some water, Byron said calmly, quickly making up an excuse. Then he stood up. "I''ll take her over now."


    Gilbert smiled knowingly. "Good. Take Maeve and have some fun. No need to rush back."


    Maeve sensed that Gilbert''sstment held some deeper meaning, but feeling guilty, she didn''t dwell on it as she left the dining room with Byron.


    din


    Just as they stepped out, the butler rushed in and whispered something to Gilbert.


    Gilbert adjusted his cor and sleeves before saying, "Help me over there."


    "Yes," said the butler.


    In the backyard, the entirewn was dimly lit except for the small paths around it, making it feel vast and distant. Maeve initially insisted she wasn''t interested in fireworks, but after watching Byron set off a few, she couldn''t resist joining him.


    Byron nced at her and scoffed lightly. "You''re just pretending. Such a contradiction."


    Maeve''s ears turned red, and she pretended not to hear him, focusing instead on the sparkling glow of the wand in her hand, warmth spreading in her heart.


    Since Horace turned three, the family fireworks had been exclusively his


    The only ones she could y with were the ones he didn''t want


    As a child, Maeve always wished her parents would buy more so she could enjoy them fully, but that dream had nevere


    true.


    Later, as she grew older and could buy as many fireworks as she wanted, that sense of anticipation and joy from childhood faded away.


    Maeve turned to Byron, who had one hand in his pocket and the other holding a wand with, aid-back and rxed air


    about him.


    Today, he broke from his usual attire and wore a smoke-gray trench coat over a white turtleneck sweater, softening his typically stern face. He looked like a character straight out of aic.


    Suddenly, Maeve wanted to capture this scene.


    The sound of a camera shutter startled Byron,


    He turned his head, eyeing Maeve, who was holding the camera. "Are you taking a picture of me?"


    Maeve smiled calmly, looking up at the sky where the fireworks wereunching. "I''m not photographing you. I''m capturing the fireworks."


    At that moment,rge fireworks were being set off throughout the city.


    Byron urately tossed the spent fireworks into the trash can and walked toward her.


    G


    Maeve sensed trouble and-turned to run, but in the next second, he pinned her shoulder against a nearby tree trunk.


    He grabbed her wrist and lifted it, and the photo on her phone screen caught his eye.


    Byron smirked. "What''s this?"


    Maeve''s cheeks flushed. "I was actually photographing the wand in your hand and happened to take a picture of you..."


    "Is that so?" Byron leaned down slightly, his long fingers weaving through her dark, smooth hair, lifting the back of her head.


    Then, slowly yet forcefully, he sealed her lips with his, reiming what had been interrupted back in the dining room.


    Just then, fireworks exploded overhead, illuminating the dark sky above thewn like falling stars.


    In the fleeting light, one could see two figures by the sycamore tree, their lips locked, seemingly merging with the romantic- night.


    Before the fireworks finished, Maeve was already breathless, her legs weak


    Byron lightly caressed the back of her neck, his voice thick with desire. "When does your period end?"


    Hearing the implication in his words, Maeve blushed even more


    She gently touched her abdomen, slowly saying. "It ended a while ago, but I''ve been having stomach pains, so you might want to hold off for now." Byron frowned, his palm sliding up her waist, resting near her stomach.


    "Does it still hurt?" Byron asked.


    Maeve said, "Sometimes it hurts a little, but it''s not too severe."


    Byron leaned down and kissed her lips heavily, and when he pulled away, his eyes were filled with a mixture of frustration and helplessness. "Such a delicate flower."


    Maeve immediately bristled. I''m not delicate."


    Byron snickered, crossing his arms and leaning against the tree, ignoring her.


    After watching the fireworks in silence for a moment, Maeve suddenly said, "Byron, I have a question."


    "Hmm?"


    Maeve bit her lip, hesitating before finally gathering the courage to ask, "You said before that once Grandpa''s condition stabilizes, you would divorce me. What are your thoughts now? Have you changed your mind?" Her voice trailed off, bing softer and softer.


    Byron stared at her for a long while, about to respond when a servant rushed over from a distance.


    "Sir, Mr. Gilbert Mcdaniel asked me to bring Ms. Reese to the fifth floor."


    Byron asked. "Just Maeve?"


    "Yes, he said he would call for youter. He wants to speak with Ms. Reese alone," said the servant.


    Byron nodded slightly and turned to Maeve. "You go ahead"


    Maeve suppressed her disappointment, nodding "Okay."


    Just a few steps out, Byron''s deep voice suddenly came from behind her. "Tll give you the answer to your questionter."


    Maeve''s eyes brightened, and with her back to him, she sofily replied, "Alright."


    She would wait.


    The servant only took Maeve to the stairway entrance, telling her to walk straight to the end of the hallway and wait in the room. Gilbert would be back shortly. "Okay, thank you."


    After thanking him, Maeve walked toward the room at the end of the hallway.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Pushing the door open, she found the room dark, without any lights on, and it smelled bloody.


    Maeve felt something under her feet and bent down to feel around. She touched a cold object. It was too dark to see what it


    t was.


    Finding a touch panel on the wall, she turned on the lights.


    As the light brightened, she saw Gilbert unconscious in a pool of blood, her face going pale instantly.


    "Gilbert?" Panicking, Maeve rushed over, checking for his breath. Realizing he was still alive, she immediately grabbed her phone to call an ambnce.


    At that moment, she saw the object she had picked up earlier.


    It was a bloody fruit knife.


    Just then, the door burst open, and a furious voice exploded in Maeve''s ear.


    Jason shouted, "Maeve, what are you doing? What did you do to Gilbert? Are you crazy? Throw away the knife you''re holding! If you do anything reckless, we''ll call the police right now." Jason and Alexis entered, finding Maeve in apromising position, their faces sullen with anger,


    Hearing their words and looking at the knife in her hand, Maeve felt chilled, and she reflexively tossed the knife aside.


    Maeve said, "No, it wasn''t me..."


    Ignoring her exnation, Jason stepped forward, pushing her away from Gilbert and coldly telling Alexis, "Call the police. Immediately."