The Heir's Secret Bride

Chapter 33

Byron quickly averted his gaze, his dark eyes deepening with a hint of darkness. After a moment, he finally replied, "My grandpa set up that stall just to meet you." He thought, 'Now that he's met you, there's no need for him to keep doing it!

"Why didn't you tell me sooner that your grandpa wanted to see me? Making an elderly man go through all that trouble for me feels a bit embarrassing," Maeve mumbled. "I was planning to tell you after he got out of the hospital, but he was too impatient to wait."

Hearing the slight frustration in his tone, Maeve couldn't help but smile. "By the way, Mr. Mcdaniel, since I'm staying here, how much should I pay you in rent each month?" Already feeling a a ton edg Byron's brows furrowed at her question. "Who said anything about you paying rent?"

"I can't just live here for

"I'm not in need of money. You can pay with your cooking skills instead."

Maeve pressed her lips together, thinking, "The vase in the living room is practically falling apart, yet he claims he doesn't need money? Still, does this mean he actually likes my cooking now?' Thinking back to how he used to flatly refuse to eat her food, Maeve couldn't help but find it amusing.

Noticing her slight smirk, Byron shot her a sideways glance. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." Maeve quickly denied it, then asked, "Mr. Mcdaniel, is this apartment something you bought or are you renting?"

"I bought it."

She thought, 'No wonder the place has so little furniture, and what's here is so outdated. He probably poured all his savings into buying this place.' Even if he was not charging rent, she figured she should at least contribute something to make it feel more like home.

"I'm going to sleep now. There's a lot to do tomorrow. Goodnight, Mr. Mcdaniel." She pulled the blanket up and closed her

eyes.

A flicker of something unreadable crossed Byron's eyes as he looked at the blanket cocoon she made for herself. He replied quietly, "Goodnight."

The next morning, Maeve woke up early. Finding nothing in the fridge but bottled water, she went downstairs and bought some pasta.

When Byron was ready, they sat down across from each other to have breakfast before heading back to Pinehurst Apartments.

Just the plants from her balcony filled up the entire trunk, and it took a second trip to get everything moved into his apartment. After returning her keys to the landlord and getting her deposit back, Maeve finally felt like the move was real.

"I need to head to the office soon. You can organize things, however you like, just stay out of the study," Byron said, glancing at his watch.

10t

"Got it." As Maeve arranged the plants on the balcony, she noticed him dressed sharply in a suit, ready to head out, and Chapter 33

Mcdaniel, aren't you a driver? Why do you go to the office

"It's

an easy gig, but considering how busy he always is, it's probably not as simple as it

"I will." I will.

finished organizing everything and gave the whole place a deep

previously bare balcony was now filled with lush greenery, adding a

it still felt like something was missing. She headed out to the mall and returned with several bags

living room, swapped out the sofa covers for warm, soft ones, and added some patterned placemats to the coffee table. She placed a new

furniture delivery arrivwith water, and arranged some roses so they'd stay fresh

movers left,

Not long at This

arrived.

sight of the cream-colored round bed and the matching

so cute! It's

and even got her new

comfy," she muttered, rolling around on the bed. She quickly snapped a picture of the

new furn furniture arrived. Thanks for going through the trouble, Mr. Mcdaniel. I

like having for dinner tonight? Feel free

When the

through, Byron was in the middle of a

A

at t the head of the table, Byron found his patience was

at the screen-Maeve had

set up the guest room, and with the new furniture in place, it

was clearly

corner of Byron's lips curved slightly as he scrolled down-then

the next image was a picture of Maeve from a summer

sitting on a bridge over water, wearing a light green camisole dress.

+5

214

Chapter 33

214

fair

at the camera, her expression as soft and breezy as

Then, with a quick swipe, he saved the