Chapter 524

The boy emerged, his face grim. He ignored her, walking straight past. She rose to follow, but her legs buckled, sending her sprawling to the ground with a pained grimace.

He turned at the sound, his gaze lingering on her as she huddled, legs drawn up. The coldness in his eyes softened, replaced by a flicker of helplessness and something more complex. He returned, squatting with his back to her. "Come on," he said, his voice flat.

Her heart swelled. She leaped onto his back. "Boys only carry their mothers and future wives! You carried me; you can't stop me from chasing you!"

"Get down," he said.

"I'll be quiet. Watch your step."

He was speechless. Joy bubbled up, escaping as a light melody.

He walked on, frowning. "What are you singing? I've never heard it."

"A piano tune an old friend taught me. Nice, right?"

"Awful. Stop."

She reached for him, a playful stranglehold intended, but he anticipated her. "Don't move. I won't catch you if you fall."

Resentfully, she withdrew her hand. "Why are you unhappy?"

"No," he said coldly.

"You are! Why lie? Aren't you an adult, jaded by society? How did you learn to be so deceitful?" He looked at her. "You know?"

"Uh-huh. Don't underestimate me. I can't help, but I'm a great listener. Think of me as your personal trash can for bad moods."

He laughed, a sudden, short burst followed by silence. Finally, calmly, "My new software was plagiarized. That company, seeing I'm a student, offered a pittance for the rights."

Rage ignited in her. "Shameless! Even with their label, it's still yours!"

She unleashed a torrent of furious, inventive invective for several minutes.

He chuckled, starting to speak when she threw her arms around his neck, a fierce hug. He couldn't tell if it was affection or an attempted chokehold. "Someday you'll be bigger than… the heir to that building! Maybe even marry me?"

His lashes fluttered. Stunned by her unwavering faith, his lips curved up, then fell. "What? Study hard. Don't think about dating!"

"You're so annoying..."

The dream faded. Maeve watched them drift away, the warmth of that broad back lingering. Her heart felt unbelievably soft. Then, a voice, Bonnie's or Byron's, whispered near her ear.

"Mr. McDaniel, let Maeve stay at my place tonight? Her fever's just broken." Bonnie, terrified of Byron, could only be meek. Why does Maeve have such a ferocious boyfriend? she wondered.

"No need," Byron rumbled. He lifted the restless Maeve. Before leaving, he turned to Bonnie. "Was she with you all day?"

Bonnie almost nodded, then remembered Maeve's conversation with her assistant. "No, she came after buying fabric. She was soaked."

Byron frowned, said nothing, and carried Maeve away.

Nightfall Manor.

The children knew Byron had gone for Maeve. They squatted at the door, waiting like old men watching a chess match. As Byron returned, they rushed to him.

"Mommy's sick. Keep your distance. Bedtime." He stopped them, carrying Maeve upstairs.

They protested. One made medicine; the other, oatmeal. Maeve's fever was gone, but she was unconscious, coughing occasionally. She heard their whispers, Theo's disgruntled snorts when stopped from feeding her, Will's soothing words.

Byron, to prevent them from getting sick, bundled them off to bed.

"Stinky Daddy!" they fumed.

Byron returned to Maeve, picking up her medicine. The memory of who had fed her earlier struck her. Her stomach churned; she retched, her face chalk-white.

He patted her back gently. "Uncomfortable? Medicine will help."

"Don't touch me," she gasped, unable to push him away. "I'm disgusted by you. Get out."

The air froze. He stared at her pale face. "When did you leave the Rose Pavilion yesterday?"

She clenched her fists. The thought of what happened next made her shudder. If she'd known he'd mistake her for Molly… "Mr. McDaniel, when did you chase me away? Forgot?" she sneered. "Right. I'm terrible at reading people. I should've stayed out of your way."

"I didn't say that," Byron's frown deepened. "Fifth floor of the Rose Pavilion yesterday?"

He'd already seen the security footage, but he needed to hear it from her. The woman from last night… felt exactly like her.

She clenched her fists, exhaustion washing over her, blurring her vision. He couldn't even remember who he'd slept with.