The Heir's Secret Bride
Chapter 39

After setting up a time with Alex, Maeve returned to the party hall to replace Bonnie.

"Maeve!" Bonnie spotted her just in time and grabbed her arm. "Where did you disappear to? I've been looking all ov for you."

"I was just taking a walk in the garden. Why? What's up?" Maeve asked.

"The designer I arranged to meet just told me he might not be able to make it after all..." Bonnie said apologetically. "I'm really sorry. I didn't expect him to flake out like this." Maeve shook her head with a smile. "Actually, I was just about to tell you-l ran into the boss of Eternal Hope in the garden, and he invited me for an interview next Monday." "Seriously? You're not just saying that to make me feel better?"

"It's true,"

Maeve said earnestly. "And it's all thanks to you, Bonnie. If you hadn't brought me here, I wouldn't have gotten such a great opportunity."

The unreliable designer was no longer an issue, and Maeve didn't have to worry about wasting Bonnie's effort.

Bonnie instantly brightened. "Well, when you get the job, you owe me a big meal."

"Of course. Only the best for our Lady Bonnie,"

"Oh, stop it."

Just then, Maeve's phone rang.

Seeing that it was Byron calling, she was a bit surprised and stepped aside to answer. "Mr. Mcdaniel, is something wrong?"

"Where are you?" His tone was sharper than usual.

Mare

blinked. "Didn't I tell you? I'm at a party at Half-Moon Villa with a friend. I'll be home a bit later..."

"I forgot to mention, my house has a curfew." Byron's voice was cold. "You need to be back by ten."

"A curfew?" Maeve couldn't believe what she was hearing. "What century are we living in? Why would you still have a rule like that?" "It's my grandfather's rule."

Maeve

was left speechless.

Gilbert did

did grow up in a time when curfews were common, so it wasn't entirely surprising

"But I came here with my friend, and she can't leave yet. There aren't any taxis around here either..."

Byron cut her off sternly. "I'm in the area anyway. I'll pick you up. Wait for me at the entrance."

And with that, he hung up.

And

Maeve was left puzzled, thinking, 'Half-Moon Villa is on a mountainside. How could he be "in the area" in such a remote place?'

)))

look!" Bonnie suddenly tugged at her sleeve. "Isn't that your ex? Why is he being carried down the stairs?"

"Maeve, look

'Ex?' Maeve took a second to process, then turned to look.

At the corner near the staircase, two of the George family's bodyguards were carrying a stretcher with Jeff on it. His forehead was bleeding, and his face was battered and bruised. A crowd had gathered to watch as the bodyguards deliberately slowed their pace, dragging the scene out for everyone to see. It was a public humiliation. Maeve had never seen Jeff in such a pitiful state.

He had always been arrogant and self-in self-important, as if his wealth meant everyone should bow to him. Now, he was lying on a stretcher, exposed to everyone's ridicule. Bonnie leaned in and I whispered to I to Maeve, "I heard he kept pestering Mr. George to play cards, and when he lost, he refused to pay up and even started cursing. "Even someone as patient as Mr. George wouldn't let that slide, so he taught him a lesson. Serves him right." Knowing that Jeff had bullied Maeve in the past, she didn't hold back in her criticism. "Really?" Maeve watched the Maeve watched the scene, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders.

The fear and anxiety Jeff had caused her started to fade.

She thought, So, he

he can't just rely on his family background to act like a tyrant and do whatever he wants. There are plenty of people in this world with more power and influence than him.'

Feeling lighter, Maeve didn't spare Jeff another glance. She quickly told Bonnie she had to go, then hurried toward the party hall entrance. She had almost forgotten that Byron was coming to pick her up.

When Maeve reached the entrance, she spotted the black Maybach parked by the roadside, standing out even among the surrounding luxury cars.

She couldn't help but wonder how Byron could drive his boss's car so openly all the time without facing any consequences "Why are you so slow?" Byron rested his elbow on the car window, casting an impatient glance at her. "Get in." "Okay." I Maeve quickly got into the passenger seat and began explaining her delay. "I just saw Jeff inside." Byron raised t the window. "Oh?"

Maeve recounted what had happened, then remarked with a sigh, "Mr. George really did everyone a favor by dealing with Jeff."

She thought, 'People like Jeff can really use a good beating every now and then.

Byron paused, then looked at her with an unreadable expression "You think he's a good guy?"

If Ray heard this, he might just pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate replaceing someone this clueless.

Maeve nodded eagerly. "I always thought rich heirs were all arrogant and unreasonable like Jeff, but it's nice to know there are decent ones out there.

"Even though he didn't do it for me, seeing Jeff get what he deserved felt really satisfying."

In her good mood, Maeve kept praising Ray, completely oblivious to the growing chill in the car. =))

9

As she continued to chatter on, Byron suddenly unfastened his seatbelt and leaned toward her.

Maeve's words died in her throat, her eyes widening as his handsome face came dangerously close. "Mr. Mcdaniel, what are you doing?"

He was so close that she could see the exposed line of his collarbone beneath his shirt.

The faint scent of cedarwood surrounded her, filling her senses with every breath.

Her heart skipped a beat.

Byron, his expression still cool, didn't answer her question. Instead, he pulled the seatbelt over and buckled it for her.

in a car without a seatbelt-do you want me to get pulled over by the police?"

Riding in were

actions were far from gentle; Maeve even wondered for a moment if he was trying to strangle her.

After securing her seatbelt, Byron straightened up, buckled his own, and drove off as if nothing had happened.

Maeve's fingers tightened around the seatbelt, her thoughts swirling.

She thought, 'Are there even police on this mountain road? I haven't noticed any...

Byron glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, satisfied to see that she had finally fallen silent.

The black Maybach cruised smoothly along the winding mountain road.

Maeve began to feel drowsy, but she had barely drifted off when a violent jolt of the car startled her awake.

She quickly grabbed the seat and turned to ask, "Mr. Mcdaniel, isn't the car going a bit too fast?"

He had just taken a turn without slowing down at all, almost hurtling through it on momentum alone.

"The brakes have failed; I can't slow down," Byron said, his jaw tightening, his voice cold. "There are two more sharp turns before we reach the bottom of the mountain." Neville's reach was growing longer and more ruthless. It seemed he had completely run out of patience and was now willing to go to any lengths to take Byron's life. Only with Byron out of the way could Mcdaniel Group change hands.

By showing mercy in the past, Byron had unwittingly nurtured Neville's ambition.

Byron smirked bitterly.

As she heard that the brakes had failed, Maeve's drowsiness vanished. "Can we call for help? Or is there some way to stop the car quickly?"

"There's no safe place to stop on this road. One wrong move, and we could crash through the guardrail and go off the cliff," Byron replied, his expression indifferent. "We'll have to make it to the bottom first and figure it out from there." But there was also the possibility that they might not make it past one of those sharp turns-a possibility that wasn't exactly slim Even if they managed to get down safely, without speed bumps on the road, the brake failure would still be a serious threat.

wed,