The Heir's Secret Bride

43

After peeling the apple, Maeve didn't bother asking this time-she just took a big bite.

She had rushed through lunch earlier, worried about getting here quickly, so she hadn't eaten enough.

After finishing the apple, she grabbed a banana, peeled it, and ate that too. Once that was done, her hand reached for the grapes. Byron couldn't take it anymore. He glared at her, clearly annoyed. "Maeve, are you here to take care of me or to raid the fruit basket?" Holding a grape, Maeve blinked innocently. "You said you didn't need my help, so what's wrong with me eating some fruit?"

Suddenly remembering something, she put the grapes back and asked in a small voice, "These fruits in the hospital room aren't extra, are they? Do we have to pay for them?" Byron had been ready to give her a piece of his mind, but when he saw her genuinely worried about being charged for eating the fruit, the words got stuck in his throat. He found it almost funny. "Weren't you the one who said when we got married that you'd earn enough to support me? And now you're worried about a few pieces of fruit?" "It's not that... I'm just trying to save where I can," Maeve mumbled. "The nurse told me yesterday that these VIP rooms we're staying in cost several hundred dollars a day."

"So?"

fine and can be discharged tomorrow, but you're still seriously injured and should probably stay longer." Maeve frowned. "But my bank account can't handle too much more." Back when she was working at her last job, a portion of her salary had to go to her family. The only way she saved money was through freelancing.

She had managed to save up a decent amount, which was why she could now suggest that Byron stay longer in the VIP room, even though it was clearly stressing her out. Her expression showed how much it pained her to spend the money, yet her words were generous.

Byron raised an eyebrow. He'd almost forgotten that the top-floor VIP rooms at First Hospital were beyond what she could afford.

But she had no idea that Mcdaniel Group owned shares in the hospital, meaning they didn't have to pay for any of the

expenses.

"You don't need to worry about it," Byron said calmly. "We ended up in this mess because someone tampered with the car- it was bad luck meant for someone else. The hospital bills are being covered; you don't need to pay anything." "Is your boss covering it?" Maeve looked up in surprise. "But what about the compensation for that Maybach...?" your

The car had been totaled, beyond repair. Honestly, she'd already mentally prepared herself to be in debt for the rest of her life paying it off. Byron's eyes narrowed slightly. "Someone will cover it."

That car was the oldest and most valuable limited-edition model in his collection. Neville would definitely be paying for it.

Maeve's

expression shifted from shock to disbelief. "Rich people really are that generous these days?"

08:27 Wed, OcContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

She thought, "That is a Maybach, and they aren't even asking for compensation!

But then again, it made sense. After all, Byron had essentially saved his boss's life. The wealthier someone was, the more they valued their life.

Seeing her look so naive and out of touch, Byron scoffed. "How many rich people have you even met?"

"My ex-boyfriend-does he count?" Maeve muttered as she popped a grape into her mouth. "After meeting him, I figured all rich people were just as annoying."

"That's b

because you've seen too little of the world."

Iso?"

Maeve shrugged. "Maybe. Anyway, I've decided I'm done getting involved with rich people in this lifetime."

Byron paused, his gaze lingering on her. "Is that

He thought, 'So what does that make me, then?"

"Jeff thinks he can control me just because his family is several notches above mine, and that I should tolerate whatever he throws at me," Maeve said with a calm tone. "Turns out, there's some truth to the saying that being well-matched in status really matters." She propped her chin on her hand and smiled at Byron. "Lucky for me, you're just a driver. It makes things much more relaxed between us." Without the pressure of a powerful family background hanging over her, she felt genuinely at ease.

Byron locked eyes with her, a flicker of emotion crossing his gaze.

He thought, 'So, for her, my being a mere driver is what makes things work. Anything more, and it will be a problem?'

He didn't care to analyze whether she truly meant it or was just talking. But as he looked at the carefully prepared, nutritious meal in front of him, he suddenly lost his appetite. After finishing the meal and tidying up the table, Maeve returned to her room for a nap.

In the evening, she was startled awake by a phone call.

"Hello?" She answered groggily, still half-

"Maeve, where hav

The

If-asleep.

where have you been? I've called you so many times, and you didn't pick up!" Valda's furious voice blared through the phone. "I told you days ago to transfer money into my account-did you forget, or are you just ignoring me?" last traces of sleepiness faded as Maeve eve sat up, her right shoulder aching from the awkward position she'd slept in.

"I was in a car accident and I'm in the hospital," she said, rubbing her shoulder, her voice laced with fatigue. "And I've made it clear already-whoever spent that money should be the one to pay it back. I'm not doing it." "You're in the hospital?" Valda's tone was skeptical. "Which hospital? Are your hands still working? Can you transfer the money? Mr. Graves has been hounding us like crazy, demanding immediate payment, and we've got nothing left..." When Jeff initially asked for the money, he had said they could pay it back slowly. But within just a few days, he'd turned aggressive, demanding payment as if he were broke himself.

Whatever lingering hope Maeve had for some understanding from her family evaporated.

Despite having slept all afternoon, she felt more exhausted than before.

"If it were Horace in an accident, would you be this calmly demanding money from him?" Maeve finally snapped.

Wed,

Oct 16

00$ 000 71%u

Valda immediately lashed out, "Are you insane, cursing your own brother like that? How did I end up with such a heartless daughter like you?

"Don't you realize that if we don't repay this debt, Horace will be expelled from his elite private school, and your father will lose his job at Graves Group? You only ever care about yourself how can you be so selfish? "If you don't send the money, don't bother calling me 'Mom' again!"" With that, Valda hung up.

Maeve lowered her head and covered her eyes with her hand, a sharp sting in her nose as tears threatened to spill. Her heart felt cold and empty.

because I refuse to be their pawn, that makes me selfish? Fine, then I may as well be selfish to the end! opened her phone and blocked both Valda's number and WhatsApp contact. She was done hoping for any love from them. By the time she had finally collected herself, night had fully fallen outside. washed her door to check on Byron.

She thought, 'So, Maeve

He had

She got just

I her face, and went next door

finished dinner and taken his medication, leaving little for her to do.

Maeve figured there wasn't much point in staying, so she e turned to

to leave.

Noticing that she hadn't come in, and was even planning to leave, Byron's mood darkened.

He set down his tablet and gave her an amused but slightly critical look.

"You keep saying you're here to take care of me, but it seems like you're just looking for excuses to slack off," he said.

Maeve flushed with embarrassment. "I saw you handling everything on your own, so I figured you didn't need me."

"Who said that?" Byron's tone was calm, but his words were pointed. "I still need help with changing clothes and wiping down." Maeve was taken aback, thinking, 'Wait a minute-I am definitely not ready for that!'

0