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    Byron''s eyes darkened momentarily as the softness in his arms withdrew, leaving his hands empty. Maeve took a few steps back, looking at him with a bright smile. "Mr. Mcdaniel, you lit that cigarette but didn''t smoke it; was it just to wait for me?" He knew she didn''t like the smell of cigarettes and guessed that the woulde out, so he had deliberately waited here, like a hunter lying in wait. The dare had been to kiss for two minutes, but it hadsted far longer than that. Her lips were still


    tir


    sore from the intensity of it all.


    "Full of yourself." Byron scoffed lightly, though the coldness in his deep eyes had lessened from the initial chill. "Only my woman is worth the wait. What do you think you are?"


    Maeve sensed a particr implication in his words, and her heart began to race. Byron merely shot her a sideways nce before walking past her toward the elevator.


    Maeve rubbed her cheeks, secretly annoyed with herself for being so weak, but she still followed him. Byron parked the car in front of her at the restaurant entrance and looked at her through the window, "Get in," he said casually. Maeve opened the door to the passenger seat and was about to sit down when Byron said, "Sit in the back."


    "What?" Maeve asked.


    "My passenger seat is reserved for my girlfriend only, so it would be better for you to have a little self-awareness, Ms. Reese Byron said.


    Maeve was speechless, frustrated by his remark, but couldn''t find a way to counter it. Resigned, she mmed the car door and sat in the back seat. She thought, "What''s this about? Just because I''m not his girlfriend now, he thinks he can mess with my feelings?''


    As Maeve fastened her seatbelt, she shot him a covert re. If it weren''t for that recording, no one would have guessed that he had feelings for her beneath his icy exterior. She would have in away long ago. He must have been just as infuriating when he was in love with his first love.


    With a thought in mind, Maeve unfastened her seatbelt and leaned closer to Byron''s seat, adopting a teasing tone. "It''s sote already, and you''re sending me home. Won''t your girlfriend get jealous?"


    Byron''s arm resting on the steering wheel paused as he replied calmly, "She won''t mind. My girlfriend is very understanding; she doesn''t mind when we hang out together."


    Maeve nearly choked on his words. She thought, What the hell, three people hanging out together? I didn''t realize you were such a yer!''


    "Well, your girlfriend sounds open-minded, Maeve said, grinding her teeth slightly. "Why not just call her out and have her join us?"


    Byronughed and reached back to grip Maeve''s neck, gently pulling her closer to him. He tilted his head and slowly leaned in, his deep eyes fixed on hers. "Maeve Reese, should I take that as an invitation for us to have an air Maeve looked at him innocently and asked, "Does it sound like I''m suggesting that?


    Then you''re deliberately teasing me," Byron said, pressing his fingertip against the corner of her lips. "So, have you thought it through? Are you ready to break off the engagement with Jaylen Chatterly?"


    Maeve''s yful demeanor faded, and she suddenly fell silent. She had almost forgotten about that whole situation.


    Seeing her fall silent, the warmth in Byron''s eyes faded, and he withdrew his hand. His voice turned cold as he said, "If you''re not nning to end things with him, don''te here to provoke me Thu, Nov


    Chapter 328 97%


    "Maeve Reese, you won''t be able to handle the consequences," he said, and with that, he drove the car out of the parking lot.


    As Maeve looked at his cold,plex profile, frustration washed over her. After hearing that recording, she had been eager to ask him one question about whather she was the one he saw back then or if it was someone else. But now it seemed that even if she got an answer, it would change nothing about their current situation and wouldn''t help or alter anything.


    After insomnia, Maeve woke up feeling groggy. She put on makeup to hide her tiredness, not wanting the little ones to: notice. Today, only Theo sat quietly at the dining table; Will was howhere to be found.


    Maeve walked over and kissed Theo. Good morning, sweetie. Where''s Will?"


    "Mommy, Will was taken home by that stinky dadst night. The said with a hint of sadness. "It seems like he''s going to stay there for a while and won''te over here during this time


    She thought, Byron took Will back to the manor? Does that mean it won''t be easy for me to see him in the future?


    Maeve''s already fragile mood plummeted further. With Will''s custody in Byron''s hands, she worried about what she would do if he decided not to let her see him anymore. Thankfully, she hadn''t mentioned Theo''s situation to him; otherwise, she might be unable to keep him, either. She instinctively hugged Theo''s chubby frame with that thought, seekingfort and security.


    Theo blinked his big eyes and hugged her, suggesting. "Mommy, should we sneak Will out and elope together"


    "That''s not cloping: it''s escaping, Maeve said, gently flicking his forehead. "Unless necessary, Mommy suggests we avoid such risky actions. Otherwise, she might book a flight only to be caught by Byron immediately.


    Theo looked very disappointed. "Alright then, it seems like Loren''s new toy won''t be useful after all."


    "What did he send you this time?" Maeve asked.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "Ten mini infrared cannonballs!" Theo replied.


    Maeve was shocked, she had already told Loren not to give such dangerous weapons to the kids.


    After breakfast, Maeve took Theo to kindergarten. Afterward, she met Jaylen to help him pick out a gift for his grandfather, His current physical condition had deteriorated to the point where he could barely walk and could only get around in a wheelchair


    At the antique art store, Daryl pushed Jaylen in his wheelchair while Maeve walked beside them, helping him choose suitable gifts for his grandpa''s birthday. They ultimately decided on a high-quality easel and a fine paintbrush. Since Charles loved painting, these two items would be perfect gifts.


    After settling the bill, Jaylen waved at Maeve. "Maeve, could you lower your head a bit?"


    "What?" Maeve asked, a bit confused, but she lowered her head anyway.


    Jaylen turned his head away, seemingly cing something in her hair. After a moment, be-withdrew his hand and looked at Maeve, a warm smile spreading across his pale face. "You look beautiful," he said.


    Maeve nced at the mirror in the store and noticed a crimson rose hairpin tucked into her hair, Remembering the price of the hairpin, she feltpelled to remove it and return it to Jaylen.


    Maeve said, "No, I can''t ept this. It''s too precious, and I don''t usually wear essories. It would be a waste to give it to


    me....


    Jaylen gently stopped her from removing the hairpin and said earnestly. "Think of it as a token of appreciation for apanying me today to pick out gifts. It''s already purchased, so I''d like to see you wear it at Grandpa''s birthday banquet, Chapter 328


    okay?"


    Maeve hesitated for a while before taking a step back. "Then you should choose something as a return gift for me epting this hairpin," she suggested. Otherwise, she felt uneasy about just taking his gift without reciprocating. Jaylen smiled. "Okay,"


    As Serena spotted the scene, she snapped a photo and sent it to Byron, captioning it: [Mr. Chatterly is so good to his girlfriend, taking her out shopping on a weekday. It''s enviable.]


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