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."
her leg
"Ouch, yes!"
"Still dreaming?"
growing. In retaliation, she slapped Tom's shoulder, leaving her hand awkwardly hovering in the air, unsure of what to
explain, "You hit me, I hit
she was not quite on the same page
and Grandpa have agreed to let Vivian marry
incredulous.
to handle business affairs for a couple of
sleep. "What's
mind whirred, attempting to do the math, but before she could get anywhere, Tom added, "I'm just a simple cop. Without Byrne Enterprises, I couldn't afford a house in
kids, and they'll inherit your company. And if I marry and have
Mom built a company from the ground up, and if she hands it over to you, then
Maggie said naively. "I'll just leave it
future. Even if you were a blood
understood the harsh reality; after
your
It was time
"Marry me."
into Tom's earnest eyes, felt as if
need a Byrne identity. Marrying me would also infuriate Vivian, and... well, I saw more than I should have last night. I need
of ways to
be Maggie's dark
too late," Tom stated
at
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