Maeve was stunned. When she recovered, Maura and her boyfriend were kneeling before her, frantically apologizing and looking distressed. "I don't accept your apology," Maeve said emotionlessly. "Remember this lesson."

She thought, I'm not stupid. If Byron hadn't arrived, I might have been forced to drink a whole bottle of alcohol. Maura knows I get rashes after drinking alcohol, yet she insisted I drink a bottle. There's no way I'd forgive them. A faint amusement flickered in Byron's eyes. He thought, I knew it. This woman is not to be trifled with.

"Maeve, come here," he said with keen interest.

Maeve wanted to go to him, but rationality prevailed. Ignoring him, she left through the back door. Byron followed.

Ethan remained, looking at Maura and her boyfriend sprawled on the floor. He smiled. "You've got guts, huh? Offending the CEO of the McDaniel Group? You're on the hotel's blacklist. Don't let me see you again." He left.

These words sent a shockwave through everyone. Lily and Zoe's distress was palpable. They wished they could retract their sarcastic remarks about Maeve.

"The... CEO... of the McDaniel Group? Is it the McDaniel Group?"

"No wonder even Mr. Riley is afraid of him. His presence is terrifying..."

Maura muttered, "No way! Maeve's husband is a poor driver. No way he's a CEO. No way!"

Her boyfriend slapped her. "Shut up! If you hadn't been a blabbermouth, we wouldn't have offended Mr. McDaniel."

"You hit me?" Maura covered her face.

"Yes, bitch, I did," he snarled. "I was a fool to fall for you. We're through. Don't contact me."

Maura sat on the floor, stunned.

In the corridor, Evan called, "Maeve, wait!"

Maeve turned, surprised to see him. "Evan? What's wrong?"

"Did you marry your husband willingly?" Evan scratched his head. "With your qualities, you could do better. Why..."

Maeve said indifferently, "Sorry. It's personal."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry," Evan's face flushed. "I'm worried about you. If you need help, come to me..."

"It's not up to an outsider to help my wife," Byron said coldly, appearing behind them. His handsome face was icy.

He grabbed Maeve's wrist and led her toward the elevator.

Maeve winced. "Let go! You're hurting me."

"Shut up," Byron glared.

Evan's courage evaporated as he watched them go. He thought, Maeve's husband... is terrifying.

In the elevator, Byron pushed Maeve against the wall, trapping her. "What do you mean?" he demanded.

Maeve's ears burned. She tried to push him away, failing. Angry, she punched his arm. "I'm the one who should be asking that! Move!"

Byron grabbed her wrist. "You moved out without paying rent or telling me. And you flirted with another man?"

"I used cooking to pay rent!" Maeve said angrily. "And I didn't flirt! Stop it!"

"Do I need to remind you how lazy you've been with the cooking lately?"

Maeve looked at him with bloodshot eyes. "I'll compensate you for the rent."

Byron's anger subsided slightly. "I don't need your money. The cooking was fine." He released her wrist, noticing a red mark on her skin. He frowned.

Maeve's eyes held self-mockery. "You're the CEO of McDaniel Group. You don't need my money, or my cooking."

She thought, I was stupid to involve myself with him and struggle to save money. He must have mocked me.

Byron squinted. "Maeve, stop your tantrum. Speak properly."

Maeve thought, A tantrum? Bitterness welled up inside her. She realized she couldn't even express her genuine emotions.

"Mr. McDaniel, our marriage is a deal. It's understandable you hid your identity," Maeve said, her voice hoarse. "I have no right to have a tantrum."

Byron's eyes turned cold at her formal address. "You care about this? Does my status matter that much?"

"If I had a choice, I'd rather my husband be an ordinary driver."

"Driver?" Byron scoffed. "Maeve, are you naive? If the man who apologized was just a driver, do you think they would have?"

He thought, This is reality. Power commands respect.

Maeve closed her eyes, not wanting to argue.

Byron pinched her chin. "Maeve, be reasonable. Speak."

Maeve opened her eyes, disheartened. "Mr. McDaniel, let's get a divorce."

Byron's eyes hardened. "Say that again?"

Maeve felt sharp pain. She repeated, "Let's get a divorce!"

Byron smirked coldly. "You suggested marriage. Now you want a divorce? Are you dreaming?" He wondered if she was playing games.

"I'm not joking," Maeve said, holding back tears. "You said we'd divorce after Gilbert's health improved. It's been long enough."

The final sentence fragment "BB" has been removed as it is nonsensical and appears to be an error. The promotional text about FindNovel.net has also been removed as it is irrelevant to the story itself.