Maeve''s ears burned with embarrassment under Gilbert''s teasing. Her eyes darted around, unsure where to look.


    Byron calmly stated, "You''ve misunderstood. What I meant is that she''s already Will''s biological mother, so there''s no need toplicate things further."


    Those few words caused an immediate uproar. In an instant, all five pairs of eyes snapped toward Byron, filled with shock and disbelief. Even Maeve herself. She eximed inwardly, ''He just said it? Just like that? No warning at all?''


    Maeve had sensed for a while that when it came to Will, Byron''s attitude toward her was a bit off as if he was holding something against her. But she couldn''t pinpoint it.


    So, when Byron kept silent, Maeve yed along as though she didn''t know. But she never expected he would suddenly announce it publicly.


    "Byron, you''re not joking with me, right?" Gilbert''s voice trembled with surprise and delight, his gaze bouncing between Maeve and Will. "I always thought Will resembled Maeve quite a bit, but ver thought much of it."


    After all, his own grandson had sworn to him that Will''s mother was nowhere to be found.


    Alexis''s eyes brightened with happiness, but doubt quickly followed. "If that''s true, why keep it hidden all this time? And Maeve, how could you nevere back to see Will all these years?"


    Gilbert shared her confusion.


    As Maeve, hesitated, unsure of how to exin, Byron spoke up on her behalf. "That was my fault."


    Gilbert frowned deeply. "How so?"


    "Four years ago, Karen used my name and had her men force Maeve to undergo an abortion." Byron''s voice dropped to a low, serious tone. "The day Maeve gave birth, I found her at the hospital, but she feared I''d harm her again and had no choice but to run." At that, both Gilbert''s and Alexis''s faces turned grim. It was that troublesome Karen again.


    Byron continued, "When Will was born, he experienced respiratory failure, and even the doctors mistakenly believed he had passed away. Maeve never knew the child had survived."


    Maeve''s wide eyes fixed on Byron''s sharp profile, her heart churning with a storm of emotions.


    It seemed her reaction to the video that day allowed him to piece together why she had chosen to run back then. But she hadn''t expected him to take all the me himself.


    upon


    By doing so, it shielded her from any resentment Gilbert and Alexis might have felt toward her for seemingly neglecting Will over the past four years.


    Gilbert''s expression darkened. "I warned you that Karen was no good. I told you to keep your distance, but you didn''t listen."Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    He added, "That woman is downright evil. Using Byron''s name to force Maeve into an abortion? Even if I were a vegetable lying in bed, I''d still know exactly what she was scheming!" Alexis, filled with shame, lowered her head.


    She had been the one most deceived by Karen, the least qualified to make excuses. And had Karen seeded back then, there would be no Will today.


    V


    .


    That thought sent cold sweat trickling down Alexis''s back. "Gilbert, you''re right. I was too trusting, foolishly thinking she was a good person. Thank god Maeve is safe. And thank god Will is still with us..." Maeve was taken aback by the sincere relief in Alexis''s words. It seemed Alexis had truly changed.


    Gilbert''s anger boiled over as he pointed at Jason, scolding him fiercely, "And you! I know you secretly met Karen several times, pushing her to sabotage Byron''s rtionship with Maeve. Aren''t you ashamed?" Jason, who had been silent throughout, felt unjustly attacked. "Dad, I had no idea about any of this..."


    Gilbert huffed, thinking that if Jason had known, a scolding would have been the least of his worries. "That''s because you''re a fool! You couldn''t even see through her malicious schemes. If I give Mcdaniel Group to you, it''ll be ruined!" Jason felt dejected. He had never felt so humiliated in his life.


    Even after the outburst, Gilbert''s frustration lingered, and he looked at Maeve with a deep sense of guilt. "Maeve, you''ve suffered. Our family owes you a great deal."


    Maeve shook her head gently. "It''s nothing. Just finding Will again is more than enough for me."


    Gilbert was relieved and heartbroken by her response. "Byron should spend the rest of his life making up for it. Don''t go easy on him."


    The sudden shift in conversation left Maeve flustered and embarrassed again, unsure how to respond.


    Byron smiled faintly as he gazed at her flushed face, his tone full of calm assurance. "I''m more than happy to."


    Will''s eyes sparkled as he silently praised his great-grandfather. Grandpa Gilbert, you''re amazing!"


    But the pleasant atmosphere was short-lived when Jason spoke up again. "Dad, there''s something you''re forgetting. Before Mom passed, she left a will. She insisted that the spouses of our Mcdaniel family''s descendants muste from clean, respectable backgrounds." The words cast a chilling silence over the room.


    Byron''s expression darkened, his eyes narrowing coldly at Jason.


    Undeterred, Jason pressed on. "Maeve was taken by the Reese family. Her true origins are still unclear. Suggesting she remarry Byron now seems rather premature."


    His insinuation was a thinly veiled jab at Maeve''s potentially dubious background.


    Maeve clenched her hands tightly in herp, struggling to stayposed.


    Byron''s voice sliced through the tension like ice. "You''d better watch your words. If you can''t take responsibility for every word you speak, I''ll make sure your precious illegitimate son pays the price."


    Jason was nervous, knowing full well that Byron was capable of following through on the threat, However, he had already achieved his goal.


    Gilbert adored histe wife, preserving every one of her belongings with meticulous care. There was no way he''d go against herst wishes.


    Even Alexis understood this. She frowned with frustration as she shot Jason a look of disdain. "You should shut up. No one wants to hear you speak."


    Jason did not reply.


    Meanwhile, Will gently grasped Maeve''s hand, his wide eyes full of worry and concern. "Mommy," he whispered, offering


    herfort.


    Maeve shook her head, signaling that she was okay.


    3


    She did not know her biological parents and thus couldn''t refute what Jason had said. But what troubled her more than the uncertainty of her parentage was the mention of Laurel''s will. Recalling histe wife, Gilbert seemed visibly downcast, his mood sinking further.


    Sensing the shift, Byron spoke up once more. "Grandpa, we aren''t getting remarried immediately. It''s too soon to talk about these things."


    Maeve noticed the tired look on Gilbert''s face and felt a pang of worry. "Mr. Gilbert, you''re still recovering. It''s not good for you to get worked up like this."