The Heir's Secret Bride

Chapter 13

Maeve hesitated before dialing Byron's mumber again. She didn't want to come off as needy, so she decided to just wait it out, hoping he'd get back to her sooner or later.

Almost a full day had passed without a single bite to cat. Her stomach growled and twisted in pain, and eventually, exhaustion took over. She drifted into a restless sleep, too drained and hungry to keep her eyes open any longer. what felt like forever, Maeve woke up groggily, squinting at her phone to see it was already past ten in the morning.

After

She realized she'd been stuck in this room for nearly twenty-four hours, and her phone battery was barely holding on at three percent.

She stared at her phone, her heart sinking as there were no missed calls or messages. A wave of despair washed over her. She shut her eyes and curled up on the cold floor, trying to ignore the gnawing hunger.

Is he too busy to call back, or did he just forget about me?' she wondered, pulling her knees closer to her chest, shielding her eyes with her hand.

The hunger was bad, but the endless, crushing darkness was worse.

In

the executive office at Mcdaniel Group, the afternoon sun poured through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing Byron in a warm, golden light as he sat behind his desk. With his sharp looks and commanding presence, he was every inch the powerful CEO Mr. McDaniel, you just got over a fever and barely slept last night," Archer said for the third time as he entered the office. "If you keep pushing yourself like this, you're gonna crash. Plus, it's time to change the dressing on your wound," Byron put down the contract and, with a swift flick of his wrist, signed his name with bold, decisive strokes-sharp and unyielding, just like him

"What time is it?" he asked.

"It's already five in the afternoon. Id b***ds?"

left. Said they'd talk to your f

father.

back of his chair and stood up. Have the driver bring the car around." "Oh, by

to Maeve's call from two days ago.

The call connected

me

'Something's come up I won't be coming home tonight, Byron said as he stepped out of the office. was about to hang up when a faint

grip tightened on the phone. "Where are

the phone beeped, signaling the battery had died. Byron quickly redialed, but the call went straight

Oct 14

Chapter 13

grandfather called again-he's insisting

before he

back seat of the car, pressing his fingers lightly against the wound on his abdomen, his mind deep in thought. Take me to the Reese residence, he instructed. "Yes, sir." the driver

an hour later, they arrived at the Reese

and Valda was out shopping, leaving Maeve alone at

locked up. Maeve was completely drained. She lay on the cold floor, barely conscious, her strength almost

jolted Maeve awake was the loud crack of the door lock breaking and the blinding rush

saw Byron's tall, commanding figure striding toward her, his presence cutting

her hand weakly grasping the hem of Byron's coat. Her voice

frail, trembling hands,

shook her head weakly,

Byron muttered, his