The Heir's Secret Bride

With a frown, Byron looked at Maeve beside him and spoke in a lowered voice, "Consolidate the specifics and send them to me. Stay put for now."

"Yes,

I'll organize it and send it to you right away," the head of the McDaniel Group's public relations department replied.

Byron hung up the phone and turned to Maeve, who looked puzzled. "I still have something to take care of. Remember to take your stomach pills before bed and don't stay up late. Maeve nodded slowly. "Got it. By the way, let Will and Leo sleep through the night-don't go waking them up."

Byron gave a slight nod, picked up his jacket from the couch, and stood to leave.

The next morning, Maeve woke up to a barrage of frantic messages from Bonnie.

Having a

a best friend who loved to surf the internet for gossip meant Maeve wouldn't be out of touch with the world, even if she didn't go online very often This time, though, it was her own name making the rounds.

Maeve's drowsiness quickly faded as she scrolled through her phone, growing angrier by the second.

Where on earth did they get off accusing me of not supporting them? And even claiming Horace's imprisonment was my fauly? What about the tens of thousands I'd already given them? Did that mean nothing?' Maeve thought angrily.

Fuming, Maeve got out of bed, washed up, made breakfast for the two little ones, and left it on the table before grabbing her bag and heading out.

At the hospital, Valda was awake, sitting up in bed, waiting for Scott to peel an orange for her.

Maeve opened the door and stormed in. "I've already paid for your surgery and medical bills. What the hell are you going to do to leave me alone?"

Scott and Valda exchanged looks. Scott nervously rubbed his hands and stood up. "Maeve, your mom and I didn't have a choice. The money you gave us last time is gone, and we couldn't reach you. We were in a tight spot, so we had to ask for help from some friends online."

"I gave you 120 thousand dollars, and you spent it all?" Maeve's voice rose in disbelief. "The surgery hasn't even been scheduled yet. Where did the money go?"

Valda explained, "Your father's creditors came knocking, and we had to use the money to pay off his debts. We also bought some things for your brother. He's been through a lot in prison. Don't you, as his sister, feel sorry for him?"

Maeve's eyes grew cold. "Did he ever feel sorry for me when he brought those thugs to smash up my studio?" Valda fell silent.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

Maeve took a deep breath. "So what about the surgery? Are you not planning to have surgery now?"

Scott smiled awkwardly. "The doctor said we need to pay today Since you're here, why don't you go ahead and cover the fee? We'll pay you back when we can."

"Last time, I clearly rejected your request and refused to help you pay off your debt. You did it to yourself, but you expect me to bear the consequences? Maeve couldn't believe it.

It seemed they were experts at taking action first and reporting afterward.

U/-26 Mon .

"How can you say that? We're family" Valda noticed Maeve's anger and quickly added, "I worked hard to give birth to your and raise you. Now all I want is for you to give us a little financial help in return, and you won't take it? Do you really want to force your own mother to the brink of despair?"

Marve closed her eyes, suddenly filled with self-loathing for sharing their blood and feeling morally inferior to them.

But based on what? Based on this damned blood relationship? she thought. She preferred not to!

"That money I gave you the last time was all the savings I had. You don't take your lives seriously enough to spend it wisely, and now you're asking me for money again. Have you ever wondered where I got all this money?" Maeve said.

Scott chimed in. "Aren't you and the president of the McDaniel Group pretty close these days? He has so much property that even what slips through his fingels would be enough for us to live comfortably for the rest of our lives. Why don't you go ask him for help?" Maeve snapped back. "How did you know I was close to him? Who told you?"

"I just... saw it mentioned online," Scott replied, his eyes glinting

That's not true. People on the Internet should believe that Byron and I divorced and broke off contact, Maeve thought.

Maeve studied Scott's evasive expression, suspicion growing in her eyes.

They were old, and

old, and they wouldn't normally think to use online opinion to pressure her.

Someone must be behind this

LOOP like you have a good strategist backing you, Maeve said with a sneer. "In that case, don't expect to take money from me. Wouldn't it be better to go to him for help?"

"Looks like

With that, she stormed out of the hospital room.

Valda shot an irritated glance at at Scott. "Why didn't you think to pull her back? We still need money from her."

"We can't let her realize someone is pulling the strings behind all of this, Scott replied darkly. "Karen's final payment hasn't even been called in yet, so we can't afford to let things fall apart right now. Don't worry. That stubborn girl is thin-skinned. I won't be long before the internet's backlash forces her to come back and beg us to help her clarify things." this day and age, a few harsh words could kill a person.

When Maeve returned to them, they would want more than just money.

It shouldn't be difficult

t for the president of THE McDaniel Group to get Horace out of prison, anyway,

Valda hesitated. "But she looked very determined just now...

Then she must be concerned about what the McDaniel family would think as well, right? tf her reputation is tarnished, how could she still be with Byron in the future?"

Valda finally felt relieved after hearing what he said.

Neither of them realized that Maeve was leaning against the wall next to the entrance of the hospital room and hadn't gone

far.

Her head was bowed, with her hair falling around her cheeks, obscuring the expression on her face.

Her slender fingers, hanging at her sides, were clenched in a death grip.

300

So it was Karen behind this again.

ון

It was unthinkable that Karen would still have the heart to deal with her after being imprisoned. depths of Maeve's eyes were ice-cold as she stepped toward the elevator.

The

After leaving the hospital building, she took a taxi to the detention center.

Before the verdict was handed down. Karen was locked up here,

In the meeting room, Karen stared at Maeve with dark circles under her eyes, her face haggard and somber. "I thought the

like it?" first person to visit me here would be Byron. Looks like you received the gift I prepared in advance. Did you

Maeve locked

eyes with her for a few seconds and suddenly smiled. "I was quite angry when I came here, but now that I see you, I'm not angry anymore."

Karen's eyes twitched at the corners. "Are you feeling smug now! Don't think I've already lost. Even if I'm in here, there are ways to make you uncomfortable. Don't believe me? Just try it."

"Do you really think that by holding my parents, you can control me through them?" Maeve said.

"Then what are you doing here now?" Karen sneered. "See! Without Byron, you've never managed to win a fight against me. Four years ago it was the same, and it still is. So what are you feeling smug about?"

"Yeah, I still envy you, Maeve replied earnestly. "After all, not everyone gets the chance to stay in the jail, and I'll never have that blessing for the rest of my life."

Karen's face nearly twisted in rage as she glared at Maeve.

"Also, there's no internet in there, so you probably don't know that Booth Group declared bankruptcy this morning. Your house was seized by the bank, and your mother was taken to the hospital because she couldn't handle the news and fainted on the spot," Maeve said this with a harmless smile. "Don't be too grateful that I relayed something so important to you. Just consider it my reward for all that you have done for me."