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."
slapped her leg sharply. "Does
"Ouch, yes!"
"Still dreaming?"
Tom's shoulder, leaving her hand awkwardly hovering in the air, unsure of what
to explain, "You hit me, I hit
quite on the same
agreed to let Vivian marry
was incredulous. "No
to lay out his case. "Our mom's been sick, unable to handle business affairs for a couple of years now. You're
still groggy from sleep. "What's my salary? How much
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 Havenbrook within
inherit the company and treat me well, what about when you get married? You'll have kids, and they'll inherit your company. And if I marry and have kids, won't I lose my claim to the company..." "Hold
the ground up, and if she hands it
okay," Maggie said naively. "I'll just leave it to
"No one can guarantee the future. Even if you were a blood
the harsh reality; after all, her last name was
what's your
was time to
"Marry me."
Tom's earnest eyes, felt as if she'd been
identity. Marrying me would also infuriate Vivian, and... well, I saw more than I should
plenty of ways to deal with Vivian without
to be Maggie's dark secret,
too late,"
looked at him,
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