Chapter 6
Marrying me… was that a mistake? Maeve thought, feeling a sharp, painful knot tighten in her chest. The words cut deep. leaving a bitter sting in their wake, and a wave of anger surged through her.
She couldn’t hold back. “What the hell gives you the right to say that? Do you even know me?”
Just dealing with a nightmare she had only ever seen online was bad enough; now, confronted with Byron’s doubts, Maeve felt a deep sense of injustice wash
er her.
ies
Byron was about to respond when a of violent bangs reverberated through the apartment, followed by Jeff’s furious, accusatory voice.
“Maeve! You bitch! I waited at city hall for half an hour, and here you are screwing around with another guy! If I hadn’t checked the security footage, I wouldn’t have known you dragged some random guy into your place! I know you’re in there! Open the damn door!”
Jeff’s voice was a frenzied roar, his rage so intense it practically seeped through the wood, each relentless pound punctuating his fury.
Byron frowned and turned to look at Maeve. She was on the verge of tears, her eyes red and swollen from holding them back. He watched her closely, a flicker of realization crossing his face.
‘So, she didn’t put up the camera? Maybe I got this all wrong… he thought.
Maeve didn’t notice Byron’s stare; she was too focused on the door that was now trembling under Jeff’s violent assault. Her face had gone pale as she grappled with the situation.
Jeff had never been the patient type, especially when he was pissed or drunk. ‘He could get violent over the smallest thing. With Byron hurt and just the two of us here, letting Jeff in could turn deadly, she thought, anxiety gripping her.
Outside, Jeff kept screaming, his voice a snarling mix of rage and bitterness. “You whore! No wonder you’ve been playing coy, acting all high and mighty while sneaking around with some random guy behind my back! Think you can just not open the door? Fine!”
A loud, thunderous crash reverberated as something heavy slammed against the door, shaking the walls. Several more brutal hits followed, and then, with a final shattering impact, the door splintered and crashed inward.
Maeve instinctively jumped back, bumping into Byron. Remembering their earlier argument, she quickly pulled away, but his large hand shot out, catching her and pulling her behind him
His voice was calm but
steel?
as he commanded, “Stay back.”
Maeve froze for a moment, her heart racing, and by the time she snapped out of it, Jeff had already barged into the apartment.
Clutching a metal rod, his face twisted with fury, Jeff’s eyes burned with venom as he spat on the floor. “You filthy cheaters! Did you really think a locked door would keep me out?”
Maeve’s expression hardened. “Jeff, you’re the one who cheated first. I already told you it’s over. Who I’m with now is none of your fucking business-”
“Shut the fuck up!” Jeff bellowed, his rage boiling over. “I’ll deal with this asshole first, then I’ll take care of you, you slut!”
He swung the metal rod with a vicious force, aiming straight for Byron’s head, the kind of blow that could cause serious damage or worse, kill.
Maeve’s face turned as white as a sheet, her heart pounding with fear. She barely managed to shout, “Mr. McDaniel, watch
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21:47 Thu, Dec 26
Chapter 6
out!”
