The Heir's Secret Bride

Will blushed, realizing this was what it felt like to have a mother Will loved having a mother.

Across the room, Maeve sat close with the children, creating a warm, loving scene. In contrast, Byron stood apart, forming an invisible divide between them.

Even Archer, just an observer, noticed the stark separation and couldn't help feeling that his boss looked isolated. Despite Byron's composed expression, the feeling lingered.

That evening, Maeve worried that Will wasn't eating much because he was sick, so she borrowed the hospital's private kitchen to prepare some light, easy-to-digest dishes for him.

She also made Theo's favorites, ribeye steak and shrimp scampi. Since Maeve still hadn't fully recovered, she ate the same simple food as Will. Before the hospital's dinner arrived, Maeve gathered the children to eat.

Maeve had always been a good cook, and even her light dishes looked delicious. Byron listened to Archer's report, but the aroma drifting over distracted him. His brows furrowed, and he swallowed hard. Even Archer could sense the tension and hurried to wrap up.

"Mommy, Daddy hasn't eaten yet," Will whispered to Maeve. "His eyes are injured, and he's still working so hard."

Theo chimed in reluctantly, "I can share some dessert with him."

Maeve took a bite of lettuce and shrugged. "The hospital will bring him dinner soon. You two just eat and don't worry about

him."

They'd only eaten a bit earlier than Byron, so it wasn't as though he'd starve. Plus, even if Maeve offered him food, he likely wouldn't appreciate it.

Byron seemed to catch Maeve's words. His mouth pressed into a thin line, and frustration simmered within him. Finally, he turned to Archer. "You're dismissed. Come back tomorrow."

"Thank you, sir. Have a good night," Archer replied respectfully, quickly leaving the tension-filled room.

The nurse came in shortly with Byron's dinner. The VIP meal was fine but bland, especially compared to Maeve's home-cooked food. After a few bites, Byron set down his fork and reached for a glass of water. Then, a loud crash rang from the glass shattering.

Maeve turned around and saw Byron still seated, his expression unreadable, though his posture hadn't changed.

Maeve looked away, unfazed. "Theo, could you ring the bell and ask for someone to clean this up?" Maeve asked as she cleaned up the table and left.

"Okay!" Theo ran over, rang the bell, and explained the situation to the nurse.

Afterward, Theo tiptoed around the glass shards and quietly reached for Byron's wrist. If no one would tell him what was going on, he'd find out himself! He suspected his dad's eye injury was more serious than they let on. Just as Theo touched Byron's hand, Byron, thinking it was the nurse, reflexively brushed him off. Theo lost his balance and

stumbled backward, his hand grazing the shards.

Pain shot through Theo's palm, and he began to cry. "Ouch!"

Theo! Are you okay?" Will asked urgently from the bed.

Hearing Will's voice, Byron's frown deepened.

☐☐☐☐ 68%*

Maeve entered the room, saw Theo on the floor, and hurried over, scooping him up. "Where does it hurt? Let me see," Maeve said.

A quick check revealed that Theo's hand had a small cut with only a little bleeding, fortunately not too serious. Maeve sighed in relief, pulling out a first-aid kit to clean the wound.

"Why'd you go near the glass?" she chided gently, dabbing his hand. "Good thing it's just your hand. Imagine if it were your

butt cheeks!"

Theo pouted, glancing briefly at Byron, then buried his face against Maeve's shoulder. 'Am I annoying?' Theo thought.

Will hadn't seen what happened, so he assumed Theo had just fallen.

Byron, meanwhile, finally relaxed. But then he said, in a cool tone, "Stay back from me next time."

Theo sulked, not even glancing up.

Maeve looked at Byron, about to respond, but held back when she saw the gauze over his eyes. He couldn't see right now. He probably hadn't brushed Theo away on purpose. Still, his temperament was even more unpredictable after his illness, so it was better för Theo to keep his distance.

"I'll bring them to my ward. We won't disturb your rest," Maeve said, putting the first-aid kit back in place and gathering the kids to leave.

"No," Byron replied instantly, surprising even himself.

Maeve frowned. "You can't care for Will in this condition. Why not let him stay with me?"

"No reason," Byron said coldly. "Take Theo. Will stays here."

Feeling hurt, Theo averted his gaze, thinking, 'So he doesn't even like a cute kid like me? I don't like stinky daddy anymore!'

"If I insist on taking Will with me, would you really stop me?" Maeve asked, annoyed. "Isn't that a bit much?"

"Try, and see if my bodyguards agree," Byron replied.

'Shameless,' Maeve thought. She forced herself to stay calm. "Then I'll stay here to take care of Will. Any objections?" Maeve didn't feel comfortable leaving Will behind, even with a nurse around.

Byron shrugged dismissively. "Suit yourself."

Theo, annoyed, muttered, "What a tricky guy."

Maeve noticed Theo's grumble but brushed it off. She put him on the bed and headed out to get an extra blanket for the night.

Since Will had a fever and couldn't bathe, she helped Theo get washed up first. Theo was giggling and playing with bubbles until Maeve stopped him. Will lay on his bed, glancing between the clean carpet and his dad's distant face.

"Dad, when will your eyes heal?"

"Soon, Byron replied casually. "Why?"

"Well, since you were willing to risk your life for Mommy, why are you so distant from her now that she's better?" Will asked,

BBQ

genuinely puzzled. "Is there something deeper I'm missing?"

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Byron's lips quirked slightly. 'Seeing through me, are you? Think you're a little philosopher, do you?' Byron thought.