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She thought, 'No wonder the place has so little furniture, and what's here is so outdated.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

driver? Why do you

paused slightly. "It's what my

he's following his employer to the office. It sounds like an easy gig, but considering how busy he always

"I will." I will.

organizing everything and gave the whole place

balcony was now filled with lush

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

a cream-colored rug in the living room, swapped out the sofa covers for warm, soft ones, and added some patterned placemats to the coffee table. She placed a new vase beside

arrivwith water,

movers left,

Not long at This

arrived.

bed is so ve stood in the bedroom, taking in the sight of the cream-colored round bed and the matching furniture, her eyes wide with

so cute! It's exactly my

didn't charge her any rent and even got her new furniture. She decided she'd repay him by cooking some

She quickly

arrived. Thanks for going through the trouble, Mr.

feel like having for dinner tonight? Feel free

When the

came through, Byron was in

A

project, but it was mostly empty buzzwords with little substance. Sitting at t the head

the screen-Maeve

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

excited tone, she was

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

was a picture of Maeve from

light green camisole dress. Her slender

+5

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Chapter 33

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droplets sparkling on her fair skin as they caught the

expression as soft and breezy as a gentle wind through

Then, with a quick swipe, he saved