"Well?" Byron lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze directly.


    Maeve steeled herself and boldly said, I came to find that somewhat silly girl. I feared you wouldn''t let me in, so I dressed a little. Is that so wrong?"


    Byron sized her up. "You call this a little bit of dressing up?"


    Her face was caked with makeup, and her features were so altered that there was hardly a trace of her original self. She resembled a t painting with no distinct characteristics. Perhaps he should alsopliment her on her skillful artistry. Maeve held her head high and stayed silent.


    "What do you want with her?" Byron asked again.


    Maeve bit her lip and remained silent. He was convinced she was responsible for hurting Gilbert, and if he knew her true intentions for being there, he would likely chase her out on the spot.


    "Not going to say anything?" Byron narrowed his eyes dangerously. "Should I have someone chase you out right now?"


    "Don''t!" Maeve quickly grabbed his arm, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.


    At that moment, there was a knock on the door. "Daddy, can Ie in?" A soft yetposed child''s voice came from outside.


    Maeve was overjoyed as she whispered urgently to Byron, "Your son is here! Hurry up and let me go!"


    Byron nced at her and then casually said, "Come in.


    Maeve froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. She thought, Is he out of his mind? Doesn''t he care about being misunderstood by his son?''


    Will pushed the door open and, seeing Byron leaning against the corner of the sofa awkwardly, asked curiously, "Daddy, are you not feeling well?"Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Hearing the sweet voice so close, Maeve felt a rush of panic. She kept shooting Byron desperate looks, silently urging him not to do anything reckless. She thought, "If his son sees us, what will that make us? Caught in the act of cheating? He might not care, but I still dol


    Byron ignored her warning gaze and replied to Will in a low voice, I might have a cold. You can say what you need from there; there''s no need toe closer."


    "Okay." Will thought Byron didn''t want to spread germs, so he obediently stayed where he was.


    "Daddy, I want to talk to you about some things between men," Will said,


    "What?" It was amusing that Will addressed himself as a man at ch a young age.


    "I believe that as a man, one must not only shoulder the responsibility of providing for the family but also harbor ambitions and ideals. Pursuing one''s career should be a lifelong goal, and dhe must strive with all their might to achieve it," Will said slowly. While subtly adjusting Mueve''s skirt, Byron replied, "That''s true I''m delighted to see you thinking like this."


    Lying beneath him, unable to move, Maeve rolled her eyes, feeling a wave of bitterness rise in her heart. Both were his sons, yes her child, Theo, along with the one she had yet to give birth to, faced his strong rejection, even to the point of pressuring her to terminate the pregnancy. In contrast, Lynn''s son received all his tenderness and affection


    Strangely, while Maeve felt resentment and even hatred toward Byron, she couldn''t muster any dislike for the child whose voice she could only hear. Perhaps it was because the child''s voice slightly resembled Theo''s that softened her heart.


    While Maeve was lost in thought, Will delivered a lengthy speech arguing that "men should focus on their careers." Byron''s brow twitched as he asked Will, "Alright, what exactly do you want to talk to me about?"


    With a serious expression. Will concluded, ''Daddy, I believe that men who get married before the age of forty are disrespecting their careers. What do you think?


    No wonder there was so much buildup; he was setting a trap for him. Byron nced at the indignant Maeve and replied cryptically. "Tm afraid I can''t agree.


    "Why?" Will frowned, wondering if Byron intended to marry Lym


    "Because... Byron hadn''t finished speaking when his brows suddenly furrowed. Macve bit down on his palm, a mix of frustration and provocation.


    Byron remained unfazed, not even pulling his hand back as he pressed down on her full lower lip, giving it a firm rub. His action carried a hint of teasing.


    Marve felt her ears flush with embarrassment, thinking. This bastard!''


    After punishing Maeve. Byron finally turned his gaze to Will, who was quietly standing. "As for the conditions mentioned, Daddy has already met them." His current status of the Mcdaniel Group served as the best proof.


    Will pouted slightly, a hint of disappointment crossing his fair face. He wondered, "Is Daddy still intended to marry Miss Anderson?


    "Do you have any other questions?" Byron asked again.


    "Nothing more, donor," Will said tly, his round eyes reflecting an air of calm indifference as if he saw through everything. I''m going to meditate now. Goodbye."


    Byron was speechless about Will''s behavior.


    Maeve initially thought Will was the privileged child raised with strict discipline, serious yet slightly old-fashioned. However, when he referred to Byron as a "donor," she had to pinch her thigh hard to keep fromughing. She didn''t want to find it funny, but it struck her as hrious.


    Byron saw her struggling to hold backughter and asked casually, "Is my son adorable?"


    Maeve''s smile faded as she retorted, "He''s your


    your son, so whether he''s adorable or not has nothing to do with me. He''s not my


    Byron''s lips curved slightly, the words "he''s your son" hanging unspoken. He lowered his voice and asked, "Maeve, do you regret it? If it weren''t for your stubbornness back then, we wouldn''t have ended up like this." Maeve''s heart clenched, and her bright eyes sparkled with sarcain. I truly regret it. I regret not running far enough back then so that you would never be able to lind me."


    If it hadn''t been for him, she wouldn''t have had the heart to leave that child behind in the hospital. She wouldn''t have allowed him to be left without a final ce to call home. But at least she had managed to keep Theo safe. Byron''s expression grew increasingly icy. Maeve indeed showed no signs of remorse. "Then why did youe back?" he asked, his voice chulling


    "This has nothing to do with you, does it? Marve raised her chi overstepping your bounds? Or do you want to be one of the me


    defiantly. "As my ex-husband, don''t you think you''re in my life?"


    111


    1. BB.


    Byron tightened his grip around her waist suddenly, his deep eyes reflecting a chilling intensity. "Do you think I''m that easy to please! A selfish, vain, and pretentious woman like you wouldn''t even be worthy of carrying my shoes. Then may I ask what you were just doing? Maeve retorted sarcastically. "Sneaking around with me, a vain and selfish woman, right in front of your son? I didn''t realize you were so discerning


    Byron snorted. After indulging in rich foods, one asionally craves something light to cleanse the pte. Is that so wrong? Besides, aren''t you the one lying beneath me, at any mercy, while sneaking around behind your fiance''s back?" As Byron''sst words hung in the air, a surge of humiliation overwhelmed Maeve. In a fit of anger, she bit down fiercely on the finger he had pressed against her lower lip, wishing