The Heir's Secret Bride

Marve felt the sun in his demeanor like a cold draft through an open widow His sudden full teft her puzzled. Why did he think she kissed him out of guilt or pi She thought, I'm still not over it, okay?

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That kiss wasn't planned, it just happened. Seeing him wake up had overwhelmed her, and the surge of emotions led her to act on impulse

Before she could explain, the nurse walked in "Mr. Mcdaniel, it time to change your bandages

"Alright, Byron replied curtly, his gaze avoiding hers entirel

Maeve swallowed her words and moved to the other side of the bed, waiting while the nurse tended to him.

"Go find Archerfor me." Byron said suddenly, his tone neutral but firm.

"Now?" Maeve hesitated. She didn't want to leave.

Yes, it's urgent."

With no other choice, Maeve left the room to search for Archer,

The moment she stepped out, Byron glanced at the nurse and said, "Let's get this done quickly."

"Oh, uh, sure," the nurse stammered, speeding up her work.

Maeve spent longer than expected tracking down Archer. When she finally returned, the nurse was gone, and Byron was sitting upright, swallowing his pills.

"Byron, Archer's here," Maeve said as she walked closer, her gaze falling on his legs. She stared at the fresh bandages, as though trying to see the wounds beneath them. She couldn't shake the feeling that he had deliberately sent her away earlier.

Byron ignored her gaze and turned to Archer, giving him a series of instructions about work.

Once Archer left, Byron looked at her and said, "I'm going to rest now. You should leave." Maeve

heard the dismissal in his tone. She knew why he wanted her gone, but she didn't feel

i feel like

giving

1.

at stuff. And he's the one who got annoyed, thinking I kissed him out

He's the one who didn't want me to know about all that of guilt.

Fine. Let him sulk, she thought.novelbin

Instead of leaving, Maeve kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed beside him.

Byron frowned deeply, his voice low and sharp. "What do you think you're doing?"

Tm resting," she replied, tugging at his pillow. "Lift your head a little. Make some room." "Go back to your own room," he said, unmoving-

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"You're kicking me out?"

""Yeah."

Macve's face fell, her voice softening. Is it because of the scars? Do you think I'm ugly now

Byron's expression froze. He pondered. Is that what she thinks!

"I know I look awful Maeve continued, lowering her gaze. "It's or surprising you'd feel that way. She started to get off the bed. Fine, I'll go. I won't bother you anymore.

Before she could leave, Byron grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks.

His eyes lingered on the deep red burn scar trailing her skin, are something tender flickered in his gaze.

His voice dropped, almost a whisper. "You're not ugly."

Macve didn't respond, but she tried to move away again.

This time, Byron tightened his grip and pulled her back onto the bed. She fell easily into his hold, though he didn't realize she had let him do it. His arm wrapped securely around her wal, keeping her there. Maeve squirmed a little, pretending to struggle. "If you keep acting, I'll make you leave for real," he said, his tone steady.

She thought, 'Caught in the act.

Maeve blinked up at him, curious. He knew she was pretending, but he still wasn't pushing her away. "What is going on?" she wondered

"Does the wound still hurt?" Byron asked quietly.

Maeve hesitated, then nodded slightly. "It hurts, but I can deal with it. I'm used to it by now."

"You should be," he said, his tone suddenly sharp. "What were you thinking, going to a place like that?"

Maeve's jaw dropped in protest. "Someone said they saw Will and Theo run into that old attic. I was worried something might happen to them! I didn't think, I just went after them. The second I got to the door, I knew something was wrong, but before I could leave, someone hit me from behind.

She paused, her voice trembling slightly. "They even drugged me I couldn't move a muscle. I was awake, but I could only watch as the flames burned me."

The memory washed over her like a wave, and her heart clenched. Instinctively, she buried her face in Byron's shoulder, seeking comfort she didn't even realize she needed.

I'm glad you came," she murmured, her voice muffled.

Byron's arm tightened around her, his body stiff as if paralyzed by her touch. The spot where her cheek pressed against him felt oddly warm, sending an unfamiliar sensation through him

He said nothing, simply holding her closer.

Maeve tilted her head to look at him. "By the way, how did you know I was in Naso?"

Byron's lips twitched. "Theo hid your address and phone number in his underwear. It didn't take long to find."

Maeve groaned, covering her face with her hands. 'Of course, Theo thinks that is a clever hiding spot. What am I going to do with him? she thought.

"Byron..." she started, but he cut her off sharply.

"Are you planning to rest or not?" Itis voice carried an unmistakable edge, a quiet warning wrapped in his words.

The implication was clear. If she didn't, she'd be shown the door

Maeve immediately fell in line, obediently lying down on the other side of the pillow he'd shifted to make space for her. "I will. I'm going to sleep now," she muttered.

She wasn't lying. She really was exhausted.

Even though her wounds were mostly superficial, the lairns Stillent sharp, stinging reminders through her skin days later, It wasn't unbearable, but it wasn't exactly pleasant either.

She thought. If my injuries are this bothersome, I can't begin to imagine the agony Byron must have been enduring with his legs.

Her eyes fluttered open again, and she bit her lip, her expression angled with a mix of emotions she couldn't fully process,

"Byron.

"What?"

I'm sorry. Her voice was barely above a whisper, heavy with guil. "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be hurt like this..." Byron's eyes dropped, his gaze steady and detached. "This is exactly why I didn't want you to know anything in the first place, he said quietly. His tone sharpened just slightly as he

are the consequences of that decisioinued, "Listen carefully, Macve. Running into that fire was my choice. The injuries,

are the consequences of that decision. I'm an adult, and it's my responsibility to face those consequences. They belong to me, not you."

He paused as if weighing his next words. "Don't paint me as some kind of martyr. And don't burden yourself with guilt over this. Not this, not anything else."

I didn't save her so she can drown herself in regret.

It is instinct, pure and simple.

Why that instinct had kicked in so fiercely, I am still not sure, he thought.

Maeve stared at the sharp lines of his profile, the calm determination etched into his face. At that moment, it all clicked, She finally understood why he always kept so much from her, why he chose to carry burdens alone.

She thought, 'It's not arrogance or a misguided belief that he's doing this for his own good

"It's not even about sparing my fragile heart.

"It's because... He doesn't expect anything from me. Not gratitude, not acknowledgment, nothing. He doesn't even need me to know.

"He has long seen through my sensitive, introspective nature and guesses that I would feel guilty and upset about those things. So, he makes sure, from the very beginning, that none of it ever happens.

'He'd succeeded too. He could've kept me in the dark forever.