The Heir's Secret Bride

Henry quickly patted him on the back. "Please don't get so worked up. Your health comes first."

Gilbert took a few deep breaths to steady himself, then asked, "What's Neville been up to lately?"

"Mr. Mcdaniel is still recuperating at the sanatorium in the mountains. It seems he's had another flare-up recently."

Have

someone look into his accounts. See if there's been any unusual activity," Gilbert instructed. Then he added, "Whether you find anything or not, make sure he's kept under strict watch, with no outside contact." "Understood. I'll take care of it right away." Gilbert nodded slightly and fell silent, absently rubbing his cane.

Henry lately caught on. "Under

He thought, Only Byron is t is fit to lead the Mcdaniel Group.

If Neville refuses to accept his place and tries to stir up trouble, he'd be better off staying in the mountains and focusing on his recovery. Otherwise, with the connections he's built within the Mcdaniel Group, who knows what kind of chaos he might cause. ver

'Maybe...

should d have stood tood by

and let Neville become the family's second young master in name!

Late at

at night, while the nurse was away, Maeve quietly slipped into the room next door and took a seat by the bed. Byron still showed no signs of waking up.

All day, the scene of the accident and the tense veins on his hand kept replaying in her mind.

The more she dwelled on it, the more restless she became, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

t now, seeing him in front of her, the anxiety and unease in her heart finally began to settle.

"Please wake up soon," Maeve murmured softly, gently holding his uninjured left hand. "You don't want your grandpa to keep worrying about you, do you?"

The room was silent. Thin wisps of mist drifted from the humidifier, and the faint beeps of the heart monitor were the only sounds that broke the stillness.

"I'm worried too," she whispered, so softly it was almost lost in the air.

Maeve stayed until just before the nurse returned, then quietly left the room.

As the door clicked shut, Byron, lying in bed, slowly opened his eyes.

The next morning, when Maeve heard that Byron had woken up, she didn't even finish her breakfast before rushing next door.

Voices drifted from inside.

"I heard that when they pulled you out of the car, you were clutching a girl tightly. I asked around-it's the same girl we saw at Starlight Pub," Ray said.

Ray was lounging backward in a chair, leaning his arms on the backrest, and giving Byron a playful look. "What's the deal with two? You actually risked your life to save her?"

you

The Byron he knew wasn't the type to play the hero. Ray couldn't picture him shielding a woman with his own body.

It was a shame there weren't any photos-he would've loved to keep one as a souvenir.

Byron shot him a frosty look. "Will you die if you don't gossip for a day?"

"If I can't gossip this time, I really might," Ray exaggerated dramatically.

"Don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Ray was momentarily speechless, then couldn't help but grumble. "How did I end up with a friend like you? It's not like dating is some big secret, yet you're keeping it from us. Remember when I openly shared Jarrett's secret about wetting the bed when he was nine?" through a magazine nearby, rolled his eyes. "You looking to die? You're still bringing up something from that long ago?" "What's the big Byron's lips twitched. "When When are you two leaving?"

Jarrett, flipp deal? If we're friends, we should be able to roast each other."

"In such a a rush to kick us out?" Ray rubbed his chin. "You're hiding her from us, aren't you? Afraid she'll fall for me the moment she sees this handsome face?"

Byron paused slightly, recalling Maeve's earlier compliments about Ray.

"This has nothing to do with you," he replied coldly. "Keep your distance from her."

Ray grinned. "No can do. I'm planning on having a nice chat with your future wife."

For once, Jarrett Jarrett chimed med in with agreement. "Yeah, we should at least say hi. I'm curious too-what kind of girl could make you risk your life for her?"

"We're not what you think," Byron cut them off c****ly. "I only saved her because my grandpa likes her. It was convenient. Even if it had been Karen in the car, I would've done the same. That's all it was." brief silence to the room.

His firm and matter-of-fact tone brought a slightly, a subtle wave of disappointment rising in her chestn

Outside the door, Maeve's eyes dimmed I

She wasn't unaware that given Byron's personality, he likely saved her because of Gilbert. But hearing it straight from his mouth still stung a little... Snapping out of it, Maeve quickly pushed those thoughts aside.

saved her life-she had no right to dwell on his reasons for doing so. She should just be grateful. Anything beyond that wasn't for her to think about.

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herself, Maeve knocked on the door. "Mr. Mcdaniel, may I come in?"

Hearing her voice, Byron's expression tightened. He thought, 'Why does she have to show up right now?"

"Byron, looks like you don't have a choice now," Ray said with a smug grin.

Last time at the bar, Maeve had gotten drunk, and before they could even catch a glimpse of her, Byron whisked her away. This time, they wouldn't be missing out.

"Come in," Byron replied c**lly. When he saw Maeve enter, looking pale in her hospital gown, his brows furrowed. "Why aren't you resting in your room? What are you wandering around for?"

Maeve was stunned by his sharp tone. "I-I'm not as badly injured as you are, and it doesn't hurt much anymore. The doctor

.

said it's okay for me to move around a bit..."

"Byron, don't be so harsh. You're scaring the poor girl," Ray said with a chuckle. Turning to Maeve, he added warmly, "Don't mind him. That's just how he is-when he's worried, it sounds like he's barking orders." Maeve shook her head, then suddenly remembered something and looked at Ray. "Are you... Dr. George?" She had once seen him for a consultation.

RayConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

smiled. "That's me. Good

memory."

He also remembered Macve, mostly because she was the girl who made the usually strict Byron bend his own rules more than once. George and Mr. Mcdaniel know each other?" Maeve asked, turning her gaze to Byron.

"So Dr.

Byron, his expression indiffe indifferent, introduced them briefly, "Ray and Jarrett. We're college friends."

Nice

to o meet you," Maeve nodded politely. "I'm Maeve, and I'm Mr. Mcdaniel's..."

Before she could figure out how to finish, Byron cut her off flatly, "Maid."

He wasn't one to waste time on unnecessary explanations. Better to keep things simple now than have to clear later if they ended up divorcing. Maeve's fingers trembled slightly, a trace of disappointment rising in her heart.

up confusion

She

thought,

'So, to him, I am just a maid. Well, considering I am living in his house and, aside from that piece of paper, there isn't much difference between me and a maid...'

Ray and Jarrett exchanged knowing glances, their eyebrows shooting up. They thought, 'Maid? We aren't buying it."

"If she's the maid, that's perfect," Ray said, smirking. "With your hand injured and your movements limited, you definitely need someone close by to take care of you, don't you?"

Jarrett joined in, clearly enjoying the situation. "Meals, meds, helping you wash up-it's all up to Miss Maid now."

"Oh please, Byron hates people touching him. Like he'd ever agree to a little maid doing any of that," Ray added, laughing.

Catching the teasing in their tone, Byron's expression tightened with discomfort. His voice cold, he snapped, "Did your businesses go under? How much longer are you planning to hang around here?" The way they were talking made it sound like there was something going on between him and Maeve. For some reason, that thought irritated him more than it should.