The Heir's Secret Bride

It was only October, but the air in Kleymond was already crisp and cold.

Early in the morning, Maeve Reese was still curled up in bed, deep in sleep. Suddenly, her mother, Valda Reese, burst into the room, her voice slicing through the silence. "Maeve, come on! Stop lazing around. You've got to get ready-today's the big day. You and Jeff Graves are getting your marriage license. Don't make him wait!" The words "marriage license" hit Maeve like a bucket of ice water. She shot up in bed, hesitating for a moment before lowering her gaze. "Mom, I don't want to marry him," she mumbled.

"What the hell did you just say?" Valda's voice spiked with disbelief. "Are you out of your damn mind? Jeff comes from a rich family! Marrying him means you'll be set for life. Do you know how many people would kill for this chance, and you're saying you don't want it?" "He's screwing around with someone else. There's no way I'm marrying him," Maeve said firmly.

Just yesterday, she had gone to bring Jeff some hangover medicine, only to stumble upon a gut-wrenching truth. Peeking through a crack in the door, she had seen Jeff tangled up in bed with another woman.

The sight was a brutal wake-up call, shattering the illusions she'd held about him and making her realize just how little she really knew about him.

Maeve had first met Jeff at the hospital when her father was seriously ill and in desperate need of an expensive surgery the family couldn't afford. It was Jeff's father, Wallace Graves, who had stepped in to help, covering the costs and even offering Maeve's father a job at the Graves family company.

Out of gratitude for the Graves family's support and feeling crushed by the pressure from both sides to make a match, Maeve eventually gave in to Jeff's advances.

At first, Jeff seemed like the perfect guy-kind, attentive, and always looking out for Maeve. But as soon as she refused to take their relationship to a physical level, his attitude took a sharp turn.

downright cruel. He'd call her in the middle of the night to bring him medicine or deliver booze, not giving a damn about

mentally and physically. In her relationship, she felt less like a girlfriend and more

hoping that talking to Valda

we supposed to find the tens of thousands we need for your brother's tuition? "Have you ever thought about

her in shock, thinking, 'I'm the one who's been wronged, and all she cares about is the damn money? I didn't even know they'd already

Maeve's frustration erupted, even more intense than the night before. "He cheated on me! How can you expect me to go

Valda snapped. "Every man messes up. As long as he straightens out after the

go of the money she already had her hands on. She dragged Maeve out of bed, rushed her through a quick wash and change, and practically shoved her out the door toward the city hall. Standing outside the city hall,

went to, the friends she had, and the career she chose. But today, she wasn't going to let them control her anymore-not when it meant marrying a man who treated her like a doormat. After twenty-three years of being the obedient daughter, Maeve suddenly had a bold idea. Before Jeff showed up, she'd find someone else to marry and put an end

am I going to find someone to

behind Maeve. "So, you're telling me it took you this long to figure out my

and "ran off" hit Maeve like a slap, forcing her