Maggie's eyes snapped open in the darkness, her mind clearing as memories of Tom's words danced at the edges of her consciousness. She rolled onto her back, her gaze finding Tom standing in her room in the dead of night.

"Who's there?!" she blurted out, her voice tinged with sleep and confusion.

Tom's eyes burned with an intensity that sent fresh waves of recollection flooding Maggie's mind. She blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog of sleep.

With a shy rustle of sheets, she pulled the comforter over her head, hiding from Tom's penetrating gaze.

But Tom was relentless, flipping back the blanket. "You've been telling everyone you're hell-bent on marrying me. Have you gone mad?"

Maggie remained silent, turning away from him.

Undeterred, Tom pulled her to sit up. "I said yes."

Maggie's eyes widened in shock. "You said yes to what?"

Tom was dead serious. "To us getting married."

Maggie was bewildered. When exactly had she asked for his consent?

In a daze, Maggie felt like she had won the lottery-everything seemed unreal, floating in a state of disbelief.

"Have you been drinking?" she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.

Tom leaned in close. "Do I smell like booze?"

Maggie shook her head. "Then I must be dreaming."

leg sharply. "Does that

"Ouch, yes!"

"Still dreaming?"

growing. In retaliation, she slapped Tom's shoulder, leaving her hand awkwardly

explain, "You hit me, I hit you. We're

quite on the same page

Grandpa have agreed to let

incredulous. "No

lay out his case. "Our mom's been sick, unable to handle business affairs for a couple of

groggy from sleep. "What's

get anywhere, Tom added, "I'm just a simple cop. Without Byrne Enterprises, I couldn't afford a house in

and they'll inherit your company. And if I marry and

and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa-they're not saints. Mom built a company from the ground up, and if she hands it over

okay," Maggie said naively. "I'll just leave it to your

one can guarantee the future. Even if you were a blood relative, which you're not, you can't count on their

understood the harsh reality; after all, her last name

what's your point,

It was time

"Marry me."

Tom's earnest eyes, felt as if

"At Byrne Enterprises, you need a Byrne identity. Marrying me would also infuriate Vivian, and... well,

Second, I've got plenty of ways to deal with Vivian without resorting to extremes. And lastly!" Her face flushed as she locked eyes with Tom. "Just pretend last

was going to be Maggie's dark secret, indelible

too late," Tom stated

at him,

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