The Heir's Secret Bride

Maeve's heart pounded wildly as she realized just how much trouble she was in. She turned to make a quick escape, but her coworkers blocked her path, "Marve, don't be so uptight, one of them teased with a smug grin

"Yeah, we heard you and Jeff had a little falling out. Isn't now the perfect time to sort things out?" another chimed in,

forever nudging her forward. "He's been waiting around for you

It all clicked for Maeve in an instant-this was a setup.

It

She shoved their hands away, her voice sharp with anger. "What's your deal? Did you all conspire to lure me here!"

Her coworkers exchanged uncomfortable glances. "Lure you? Oh, come on, we're just trying to help you out. Jeff's a catch. Honestly, you could do worse, so why keep being so damn stubbom?"

Jeff's buddies, lounging nearby, couldn't resist joining in. Jeff went out of his way to patch things up with you. You should be grateful, not giving him attitude"

"A little sassis cute," one of them sneered, his leering gaze making her skin crawl, "but too much just makes you look like a stuck-up b***h"

Maeve's eyes narrowed as she met Jeff's stare. "We're done, Jeff. How many times do I have to say it before it sinks in?"

That was the last straw for Jeff. He jumped up from the couch, grabbed Maeve by the collar, and snarled, "You think I'm just gonna let you embarrass me like that? Asking you to come back to me is doing you a favor, and you'd better start showing some d**n gratitude." "Let go of me!" Maeve snapped, her face twisted in disgust. I'm not getting back with you, Jeff. And don't think I'm s**id-1 know exactly why you want to marry me. You need me to secure your dad's inheritance, right?" "You can't make it on your own, so you're using me as your shortcut. Pathetic!" she spat, her words like knives.

hand Jeff

Jeff's face turned red with fury. After days locked up, his father had pulled every string to get him out. What had once been easy was now an uphill battle. Enraged, his father had threatened to Jeff's to Nestor, his older brother. The rivalry between the two was cutthroat, each one hell-bent on outmaneuvering the other to claim their spot in the Graves family business. was his only ticket to stay in the game against Nestor.

s position over to With his father's soft spot for Maeve. Jeff figured marrying her shirt, tearing it and exposing her skin to the cold air. Maeve's eyes widened in terror as his face came closer, but she managed to turn her head just in time. That thought pushed Jeff over the edge. He yanked at Maeve's:

"You'd better get with the program!" Jeff's eyes were bloodshot as his hand tightened around her throat. "You think you have a choice? Once I'm done with you, you'll have no option but to marry me!" He turned to his friends and barked, 'Get the cameras rolling!"

The group erupted in cheers. "Hell yeah! This is gonna be wild! Jeff, you're the man!"

As the cameras pointed at her, Maeve felt a wave of panic. She tried to break free, but Jeff shoved her hard against the table.

His face, twisted with rage, closed in on her, surrounded by the crude cheers of his friends and the cold, indifferent stares of her colleagues.

Desperate, Maeve's hand found a heavy ashtray on the table. Without thinking, she smashed it over Jeff's head. The sound of

14

breaking glass shattered through the room as Jeff yelled in pain, his grip on her loosening.

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Taking advantage of Jeff's momentary confusion, Maeve s***ed a fruit knife from the table and drove it into the back of his hand with all the force she could muster. "Ahhh" Jeff's scream tore through the room as he crumpled to the floor, his arm twitching uncontrollably, sweat pouring down his face.

"Holy s**t! Did she just f****g do that?" one of the guys blurted out.

"Maeve, have you lost your d**n mind? Aren't y

't you afraid the Graves family will come after you?" another stuttered, the whole group frozen in shock at Maeve's audacity. Maeve yanked the knife out, brandishing the bloodied blade as she aimed it at them. Her face was as pale as a ghost, but her eyes were hard and unflinching-

She shot back. "You think I've got anything left to lose? Go ahead, try me. You mess with me, you better be ready for the consequences. I might not take all of you down, but I swear, a few of you are coming with me." Her words sent a shiver down everyone's spine, including Jeff, who was still on his knees, clutching his bleeding hand.

No one had ever thought the seemingly fragile Maeve could be so d**n terrifying when pushed to the edge. She stood there, fierce and unyielding, like she was ready to drag them all to hell if she had to. Despite their numbers, none of of them wanted to be the unlucky hard to face Maeve if she went on a rampage with that knife

Filk What are you all waiting for? Open the win door and let her out" Jeff shouted, his fear starting to overshadow his anger. He was closest to her, and he knew if she snapped, he'd be the first to pay. were just screwing around, nothing serious! Don't anything crazy!" one of the guys pleaded, fumbling to get the open. do

Maeve kept her grip

"This was all just a light on the knife, her eyes never leaving them as she slowly backed towards the exit. When she reached the door, she flung the knife at them, sending them into a frantic scramble before she bolted out.

Maeve ran as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her chest. She turned a corner and slammed into someone, stumbling back and almost falling. A hand reached out to catch her. "Hey, are you alright?" The voice was s soft, like a a summer breeze. Maeve looked

The

Alex Brown, momentarily stunned, quickly pulled a cleanup, her hair a tangled mess sticking to her tear-streaked face, like a flower battered by a storm. She clutched her shirt tightly, her eyes wide with fear, locking onto the man in frout of her.

handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her. "Here, take this. What happened? Do you need help?"

Maeve snapped back to reality, shaking her head vigorously. "No, I'm fine. Thanks." Without taking the handkerchief, she pulled her hand free from his grasp and dashed off, hurrying away. Alex watched Maeve disappear down the hallway, a smile tugging at his lips.

Suddenly, inspiration-something he'd been chasing for ages-began to stir. A vivid image took shape in his mind, lighting up his eyes with excitement. He couldn't wait to rush back to his studio and dive into his work.

Maeve fled the club and kept running until her legs gave out. Exhausted, she collapsed onto a roadside bench, massaging her sore calves. She'd left her coat and handbag behind in the club, and without them, she had no way to hail a cab. The night air was cool, not freezing but enough to make Maeve wrap her arms tightly around herself for warmth. She gazed up at the crescent moon, her thoughts drifting aimlessly in the quiet of the night 3/3

14:40 Mon,

She'd been in only one relationship before, and it had ended in disaster. "Is this what love is supposed to be, or am I just unlucky enough to end up with a psycho? Maybe I'm just not cut out for relationships, she thought.

As she looked down, her gaze met the curious eyes of a scruffy brown dog sitting nearby.

"Woof woof?" The dog barked at her, clearly feeling challenged.

Maeve tried to ignore it, but the dog only barked louder and more aggressively.

Frustrated, she snapped, "What's your problem? Even you want to pick on me now?" The dog bared its teeth and growled, "Wool wool?"

"Do you

think I'm scared of you?" Maeve retorted, rolling up her sleeves, ready to confront the dog. Just then, a car horn blared. A sleek black Maybach pulled up, and the driver's side window rolled down, revealing Byron's impeccably chiseled face "Maeve. Byron said, his voice laced with amusement. "What the hell are you doing? It's late, and here you are, arguing with a dog in the middle of the street...