The Heir's Secret Bride

Chapter 20

Byron's voice turned icy as he spat. "Neville McDaniel.

This jaw clenched as he thought. Using Grandpa to check if I'm actually hurt-nice try. You really think I'll go easy on you just for Grandpa's sake? Not a chance"

"Archer," Byron's voice cut through the room, sharp and commanding.

"Yes, sir." Archer promptly stepped into the room, ready for orders.

"Get rid of all of Neville's crap from his office, Byron ordered, his voice cold enough to freeze. "Then turn it into a public

restroom

Archer almost lost his composure, barely managing to stifle a laugh.

Before Byron's return. Neville had been the General Manager of the McDaniel Group, practically a heartbeat away from the

CEO title.

But now, even if they converted his office into a restroom, Byron's authority in the company wouldn't budge an inch. It was a brutal slap in the face-more humiliating than any outright confrontation, turning Neville into a punchline in the office gossip. "And find out who tipped Neville off about my injury. Byron's eyes gleamed with a dangerous glint. "When you do, deal with them. However you see fit."

Archer nodded without hesitation. "Understood, sir."

The office fell back into silence.

Byron rubbed his temple, trying to ease the dull ache, when his phone rang. It was Ray.

He answered casually, "Yeah, what's up?"

"Byron, we've known each other for over a decade. We're like brothers. And you're hiding a girl from me? What the hell, man. Ray's voice was dripping with playful sarcasm.

Byron's face went blank. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I saw her today-a cute little thing with a photo of your injury, coming to the hospital to get it checked, Ray teased. "Where'd you find her? Can you set me up with someone like that too?"

I

photo of my injury? What

me to describe your own woman?" Ray quipped, though he went ahead and

his team, but he never thought Maeve would have the nerve

Ray off before storming out

the sudden rage? I didn't even get to tell him that the girl seemed really worried about him-like she's head over heels.... But Byron was already long

Apartments, Maeve was in the kitchen, tasting the soup when

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Chapter 20

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sight of Byron's stormy expression as he stormed

cold as ice. "And then you took it to the hospital

was taken aback but nodded. "Yes, I noticed your wound wasn't healing well. I thought

hardened even further. His voice was sharp he snapped, "Who

at her, his tone almost frighteningly harsh, "Do I need to remind you? Apart

"I wasn't trying to meddle,"

"don't!

voice dripped with disdain. "If you're so desperate to

those photos you took.

him like this-cold and terrifying. The man who gentle while applying ointment to

pull out her phone, her hands trembling as she deleted the photo. Tears stung her

"It's deleted. I only took one photo while you

have noticed the tremor in her voice. But his anger clouded his judgment, and

to him. He had watched her with the patience of a cat stalking its prey, intrigued

out, leaving without another word. Maeve's legs buckled, and she sank to the floor, staring at the ground as tears welled in her eyes. She wondered, 'Had I really overstepped? Is everything I've done wrong? I wasn't trying to be

soup she'd spent all afternoon making, now barely touched except by her own spoon. She couldn't taste a thing. Her mind was blank, swallowed up by the empfiness around

dragged herself out of bed the next

her sketchbook and flopped onto the small couch

webcomic.

Oct