The Heir's Secret Bride

Chapter 554

An her sighed quietly, gently closing the door behind him before turning to Maeve, who sat looking utterly fost

"Mr. Melaniel carried you out of the fire and asked me not to tell you about it," he said, his voice almost reluctant. "But now that you've seen it, there's no point in keeping it from you any longer." Maeve slowly lifted her head, her pale lips barely moving as she spoke. "Why? Why did he want to hide it from me?

She had almost believed that Aiden had been the one to save her

Had she not run into Archer today, she might have never know who had saved her, not even when she left the hospital.

And now, she wondered, How long does he plan to keep it from her?"

Tean

"Mr. Medaniel didn't say much," Archer continued, his voice soft but steady. But after working with him all these years, I can guess. He probably didn't want you to feel guilty or burdened by t

Maeve's temples throbbed as she recalled the scene she'd witnessed at the hospital door. A wave of sorrow filled her chest, and the sting of tears pressed at the back of her eyes.

Archer went on, his voice taking on a more certain tone. "From what I know of Mr. Mcdaniel, he's not someone who acts out of kindness or weakness, nor would he risk his own interests for anyone. He sees everyone equally, without favoritism." "Except for you," he added quietly, almost as if he was speaking to himself. "You should be able to feel it, the way he looks, out for you. It's different, Macve. His care for you is unique. He would put his own safety aside for you without hesitation Maeve lowered her eyes, her heart tightening. Her throat felt constricted, and her voice came out hoarse. "I don't understand."

Or rather, she didn't want to understand.

She feared that if she let herself waver, she'd fall back into the complicated web of emotions between him and Molly.

She wanted to trust him, but the haunting fear of falling into another illusion, a dream easily shattered if he ever decided to break the engagement, kept her from fully opening up.

She thought, 'Besides, how can I ever be more important to him than Molly?'

Having worked by Byron's side for so long, Archer had mastered more than just impeccable efficiency, he had an unmatched knack for reading people, sharp and perceptive in every interaction.

As he noticed the subtle way Maeve was avoiding the truth, he connected the dots, remembering the earlier investigation into her past.

quiet but serious. "This isn't the first time something like this

brow furrowing. "What do

weighing the consequences of his words. Finally, he braced himself. "Do you remember when you were infected with Xasia? It was only because volunteers were willing to test the antidote that you survived, right?" "Of course I remember,"

had been far too intense to fade so easily. Then, a sudden, uncomfortable premonition settled in her gut. She pondered,

up now?

1/3

Jan

Chapter 354

her concem, the truth hit her

such thing as a willing volunteer, he said softly. "Mr. Mcdaniel took at huge risk, exposing himself to that virtis, testing the experimental treatment on his own body. He endured the severe side effects every single time,

all of it hit Byron simultaneously. I

type, the treatment was exponentially more effective on him. That way, when you took the antidote, the rejection

She had been told a different story, one involving willing volunteers and the quick development of the

that wasn't the

the person who had risked everything to save her

time, he had built walls around her heart. She thought she was just being paranoid,

But now she understood.

the truth from her, not because he wanted to hurt her, but because he thought she couldn't handle it. Her heart pounded as tears threatened to spill from her eyes. She blinked them away furiously, but they kept coming Archer paused before continuing. "I don't know what happened between you and Mr. Mcdaniel, but

leave. But when he heard you were heading to that dangerous building, he couldn't just walk away. The rest, you know." Archer didn't want to

the tears still glistening in her eyes. Her nose was red, and her expression was more vulnerable than he had ever seen

does this

feelings, thinking that keeping things from me is for my own good. He makes everything

A few bumps

me. But I am

that's what I hate most. I don't

of his love, the kind he was

man in the world who would charge into a