The Heir's Secret Bride

"I'll visit you guys when I get the chance," Maeve said with a smile.

Wren's face lit up. "Alright, but be careful on your way. Call me as soon as you arrive, okay? And don't forget to bundle up- it's been so unpredictable lately. Don't go catching a cold. Oh, and also...."

She kept going, rattling off reminders about little things. Maeve, who had never been doted on like this by her own mother, felt a warmth she wasn't used to. Despite not knowing each other for long, Wren's love felt genuine. Maeve couldn't help herself anymore. She leaned in, wrapped her arms around Wren, and whispered, "Thank you, Mom."

Wren froze for a moment, then her eyes turned glassy as they filled with tears.

Later, as Maeve boarded her flight at noon, she had this nagging feeling she'd forgotten something. She couldn't put her finger on it, though.

Probably just her usual nerves-whenever she traveled, it always felt like she was leaving something behind.

>Meanwhile, over at the Trazir headquarters, Zephyr had been standing at the entrance for nearly half an hour, checking his

phone over and over. 'Did I mix up the time? Or worse, did I get stood up again?'

Maeve, blissfully unaware of any of this, landed at Kleymond Airport that evening. She sent a quick text to Byron to let him know she'd arrived, then spotted the car he'd arranged to pick her up. She walked over, handed her suitcase to the driver, and slid into the backseat.

"Who the hell changes the date of a big drill without telling me?" came a sharp, cold voice. "If anyone in my team tried that, I'd have them fired on the spot. Save the excuses. That doesn't fly with me." The icy tone hit Maeve like a bucket of cold water. She stiffened in her seat, glancing toward the source of the voice.

The man turned to look at her, his eyes sharp and unrelenting, like he was sizing her up for a fight. His entire presence screamed danger.

After a beat, his expression shifted slightly. "You?" His voice dropped, laced with confusion. "Why are you in my car?"

"Mr. Soar, are you sure this isn't my car?" Maeve asked, her voice a little shaky. His intense stare wasn't helping her nerves.

One second, he looked like a polished businessman. The next, he seemed like something straight out of a nightmare-like a demon who'd survived a battlefield and came looking for blood.

Gale tapped his phone against the leather seat, his frown deepening. "You didn't even check whose car it was before hopping in? Are you always this reckless? Seriously careless." Maeve blinked, stunned by his tone. 'What is his deal?' She had made a mistake, sure, but it wasn't like she'd crashed his car.

There was also something familiar about his tone, though she couldn't quite place where she'd heard it before. Still, his reaction seemed over the top for a simple mistake. Something was off, and she didn't want to poke the bear.

"Sorry! I just got off the plane and wasn't thinking straight," Maeve stammered, grabbing her handbag. "I didn't mean to bother you. I'll leave right now."

"Wait," Gale said, his voice sharp and laced with suspicion. "Did you hear anything you shouldn't have?"

Maeve turned back, looking genuinely confused. "I was in there for less than a minute. What could I possibly hear?"

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Gale stared at her for a beat, then waved her off. "Fine. Go."

"Okay, thanks," Maeve muttered, practically running away.

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But halfway across the parking lot, she realized she'd forgotten her suitcase. Groaning, she turned around and hurried back to retrieve it, avoiding Gale's gaze entirely.

As she disappeared into the distance, Gale shook his head and muttered, "Unbelievable. So stupid."

At First Hospital, the atmosphere in the VIP suite was heavy. Jason and Ryan sat in the living room, looking drained and worried.

Byron was deep in conversation with the doctor by the window when Maeve arrived. Will spotted her first, his face lighting up as he ran to her.

"Mom, you're back!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms around her

Maeve hugged him tightly and glanced around. "Where's Theo?"Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.

Will's excitement dimmed. "He's inside with great-grandfather, trying acupuncture. But-" His voice dropped, and he fidgeted with his hands. "Great-grandfather's not doing well. Maybe...."

Maeve gently patted his back, comforting him. When she looked up, her gaze met Byron's. He turned from the window, and the coldness in his expression softened, replaced by the faintest trace of a smile. After the doctor left, Byron walked up to Maeve, his voice low and rough. "Are you tired?"

It had only been a night, but he looked completely drained. His clothes were the same as yesterday's, with creases on his usually crisp collar-a clear sign that Gilbert's condition had taken a toll on him. Knowing how particular he was about cleanliness, Maeve's heart sank. It must be bad.

She tightened her hold on Will. "I'm fine. How's Grandpa?"

Byron sighed softly. "He's stable for now. The medical team finalized a treatment plan. As long as we stay on top of the follow-up care, his life shouldn't be at risk."

His words brought a small wave of relief, though Maeve knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy. Gilbert might survive, but the recovery process would be grueling. Still, knowing Theo was in the room with him helped her relax a bit.

"I'll head home and grab you some clothes and toiletries," Maeve offered. "Is there anything else you need me to bring?"

Byron glanced at his phone before replying. "If it's not too much trouble, swing by the office and grab the red document from my safe."

"Red file, got it," Maeve nodded.

Maeve stopped by her apartment first to gather what she needed before heading to Mcdaniel Group.

With the pass Byron gave her, getting to the top floor was a breeze. After checking in with Archer, she walked into his office.

The safe's code was Will's birthday. Inside was a mountain of stuff, but Maeve focused on finding the red file, ignoring everything else.

"What are you doing?" The sudden, sharp voice behind her made her jump.

Spinning around, she saw a young woman standing in the doorway, her ponytail swinging as she stared Maeve down.

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Dressed in a sleek office outfit, her eyes burned with suspicion, like she'd just caught a spy mid-mission.

For some reason, Maeve thought of those movie scenes where someone got busted stealing top-secret files.

"Wait, hold on!" Maeve said, hands up. "I'm not stealing anything Mr. Mcdaniel asked me to grab something for him."

The secretary froze for a second, then frowned. "And who are you to Mr. Mcdaniel?"

Maeve raised an eyebrow, feeling a little thrown off but not overthinking it. "I'm his girlfriend," she said, the words slipping out before she could stop herself. 'Seriously? Did I just say that? Way to sell myself short,' she quickly thought.

The secretary's expression turned skeptical, her guard going up. "Prove it. How do I know Mr. Mcdaniel actually sent you?"

Maeve tried not to roll her eyes. "Okay, but think about it-if he didn't send me, how would I even get up here, let alone open his safe?"

Still, she could see where the secretary was coming from, though. Anyone stumbling on this scene would probably think she was up to no good.

Seeing the doubt still written all over the secretary's face, Maeve sighed and added, "Alright, let's just go ask Archer. He knows who I am and can tell you Mr. Mcdaniel asked me to come."