The Heir's Secret Bride

Even Maeve, who almost never lost her composure, felt a surge of anger boiling up inside her.

Why does helping him always come back to bite me? Is kindness really just a mistake?' she thought, her eyes burning with frustration.

All Maeve could feel was the sting on her lips. The moment Byron pulled away from that degrading kiss, her hand flew up. instinctively ready to slap him.

But Byron caught her wrist effortlessly, a mocking grin spreading across his face as he met her furious gaze. "What? Want another kiss?"

Maeve's cheeks flushed bright red as she yanked her hand away. You **d! Why do people like you even exist? Every time I try to help, you just turn it into shit!" Her voice shook with rage, barely keeping her frustration in check. Byron straightened up, his eyes cold as ice as he stared her down. "If you know I'm just gonna let you down, then stay the hell out of my way. Don't think I don't see through your little games."

She was so furious she could barely get the words out; her anger was reaching a boiling point. She should never have been so soft-hearted even if he dropped dead from that fever, it wouldn't have been her problem.

"Fine! If I ever give a damn about you again, I'll be the biggest fool on earth!" Maeve snapped, her face tight with anger as she stormed our of the room.

That night, Maeve would have gladly crashed on the couch rather than share a bed with Byron. But with the chilly autumn air and the unheated living room, it wasn't a real option. She'd probably end up with a cold by morning if she stayed out there..

As it got closer to eleven, and Byron was supposed to be asleep, Maeve slipped back into the bedroom. Wait a minute-this is my place. Why am I sneaking around?'

With that thought, she dropped the pretense and marched straight to the closet to grab a blanket.

through the closet, a faint groan of pain caught her ear. She bit her lip, trying to ignore it, grabbing the blanket

about to leave, the dim light from

cold features softened into an expression of discomfort. His lips were flushed red, his face pale and drawn, his brows furrowed tightly. There wasn't a hint of peace

a fever? Maeve wondered, torn between checking on him and remembering his past rotten behavior. "Maybe it's best to just leave him be. I'd be asking for trouble

blanket tightly as she quietly slipped

than five minutes later, unable to shake off the worry gnawing at her,

herself it was just her good deed for the day. If he tried anything funny again, she'd make sure to

hesitation

He didn't flinch or even bat

need a hospital. But then she remembered how much Byron hated hospitals, and there was

Mon, Oct 14

B

201

You better not blame me when you wake up, she muttered,

but an hour later, Maeve checked Byron's temperature and saw

check. She kept this up until morning. when sheer exhaustion finally claimed

as fierce as it had been the night before. He noticed his abdominal wound had been

had vowed to stop caring about him, yet she had