Chapter 22
Byron guided Maeve back to the bedroom before stepping out. Less than half an hour later, he returned with a plate of spaghetti
The aroma was mouthwatering. The pasta was tender, drenched in a zesty tomato sauce, and finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh basil. It was simple, satisfying, and absolutely delicious.
“Wow, I never took you for such a great cook,” Maeve said, her voice full of surprise. “This spaghetti is fantastic. Thanks”
Byron leaned back against the table, arms crossed, his expression as unreadable as ever. “Just shut up and eat. Don’t waste time talking.”
If she hadn’t looked so pitiful and defeated, Byron wouldn’t have Jified a finger to cook. No one else could’ve convinced him to go to such lengths.
But Maeve wasn’t put off by his cold demeanor. She could see right through his tough–guy act. If he were truly as as he liked to pretend, he would have just shrugged her off and let her fend for herself.
indifferent
“Anyway, thanks for coming to my rescue, Maeve said with a smile, her dimples adding a delicate charm to her pale face, like a rose blooming after a rain.
Byron’s gaze held on her face, his brows slightly furrowed and his brown eyes growing darker.
He wondered if Maeve’s gratitude was just a way to flirt with him. No need to thank me,” he said coolly. “Just think of it as repaying the favor you did for me.”
Maeve said nothing more. After finishing her meal and taking some stomach medicine she found in the house, she felt a bit better and was even able to scroll through her phone.
She hadn’t been to the office in two days, and even though she was on leave, her manager, Piers, had still called her out in the group
chat, throwing shade about her absence. His message basically screamed that anyone thinking of jumping ship was just slacking off and coasting through.
Maeve rolled her eyes, shaking off the comments, and opened a message from a colleague.
The message read: [We’re having a department dinner this Friday to say goodbye to you. You’ve always had something come
right?] up before, but since we’ve all worked together, you should definitely come this time.
The invitation was worded in such a way that turning it down would feel downright rude. Her colleagues had only been giving her grief because Jeff had told them to
Now that they thought she was leaving for good, she wouldn’t have to put up with them anymore. One last gathering didn’t seem like such a big deal.
After sending her reply, Maeve turned off her phone, ignoring the barrage of calls from her parents. She got out of bed and left the bedroom just as the front door swung open.
Byron walked in, followed by a group of workers in uniform
