Byron's words chilled Maeve to the bone. She tried to explain, "I never said such a thing, nor did I force her to clarify anything. I—"

"It hurts!" Karen clutched her bleeding arm, collapsing into Byron's embrace with a weak groan. "Byron, don't blame Ms. Reese. She was just so afraid of me revealing the truth that she resorted to slashing me—"

"I didn't!" Maeve was appalled by Karen's blatant lie. "You saw Byron come in and deliberately cut yourself to frame me—"

"Enough," Byron interrupted, seeing Karen's pained expression. "Get out. You're not allowed in this room again without my permission."

Maeve's gaze dulled as she watched Karen cling to Byron, bitterness spreading within her. She offered a wry smile. "Byron, you're truly blind," she said softly, then left, numb with detachment.

"Byron, I'm in so much pain," Karen sobbed. "Ms. Reese barged in, trying to force me into giving false testimony, and even threatened me with a knife... What did I do to deserve this?"

Byron rang for the doctor and nurse, his brow furrowing. "The kidnappers are still at large, and now she's threatening you with a knife to make you lie? Is she really that foolish?"

Karen's cries ceased abruptly. She hadn't expected his focus to be so misdirected. "I don't know, but I heard the kidnappers and Maeve talking on the phone, and they told her everything was settled."

Byron's gaze sharpened. "Not only did they make the call in front of you, but they also put it on speaker?" he thought. The kidnappers' actions seemed deliberately designed to make Karen believe Maeve was the mastermind.

Karen was speechless, thinking in frustration, Isn't the main issue that Maeve is harming me? Why does he keep defending her?

"I... I'm so dizzy," Karen said, closing her eyes and feigning a faint.

Seeing her collapse, Byron set aside his doubts and let the doctor tend to her.

Meanwhile, Maeve returned to her ward, finding an unexpected visitor: Alex.

"I heard from Bonnie you were hospitalized," Alex said with concern, his brow furrowed. "Are you alright? Hurt?"

Maeve forced a smile. "Thank you, Mr. Brown. I'm fine. I should be back at work tomorrow."

Alex shook his head. "You look terrible. Don't rush back. We can discuss this once you've recovered. I'll grant you leave."

Maeve's eyes grew moist. Others cared, but Byron's eyes were solely on Karen. She'd foolishly agreed to postpone her divorce for the sake of the apartment.

"Maeve, what's wrong?" Alex noticed her reddened eyes. After hesitating, he helped her to the bed. "I'll call the doctor."

"It's alright," Maeve said quickly. "I'm just a little dizzy. The blow to my head..."

Alex sighed in relief and sat beside her. "I heard the hospital food is bland, so I brought you lunch from a private kitchen."

"How did you know I like stronger flavors?" Maeve asked, surprised.

"I guessed from how you kept adding cheese to your spaghetti last time," Alex replied, smiling as he set out the dishes. "I brought a variety."

His "variety" was a nutritionally balanced spread. Maeve tasted the well-seasoned food, a vast improvement over the hospital fare. Despite her lack of appetite, she ate, not wanting to waste Alex's kindness. "It's delicious. Thank you, Mr. Brown," she said gratefully.

Alex watched her warmly. "You should have more," he said. He'd spent two hours overseeing the chef. "By the way, you visited Bonnie earlier, right? Is she about to be discharged?" Maeve asked.

Alex hesitated. "Probably, though she's not fully recovered yet."

Biting into a cherry, Maeve remarked, "Bonnie is so lucky to have a cousin like you. You even look after her friend."

Alex chuckled. "You and Bonnie are close. Calling me Mr. Brown is too formal. You can call me Alex."

"Are you sure?" Maeve asked.

"Of course," Alex responded cheerfully.

Maeve nodded. "Alright, Alex."

A deeper smile spread across Alex's face.

As evening approached, Maeve was jolted awake by a shake on her shoulder. Byron stood by her bed.

"The doctor said if Karen's wound had been deeper, it might have rendered her hand useless," Byron said angrily. "And you seem quite at ease."

Maeve's throat tightened. She sat up defiantly. "I didn't injure her. Why shouldn't I be at ease? I haven't done anything wrong! How many times do I need to say it?"

"You're not remorseful at all," Byron scoffed. "Get up. We're going to Karen's ward."

His abrupt change filled Maeve with foreboding. He'd previously forbidden her from entering.

"What do you want?" Maeve asked defensively.

"Karen can let it go, but only if you agree to take care of her until her hand heals," Byron said firmly.

Maeve felt a lump in her throat. Why should I bear the consequences of her actions? The kidnapping, her self-inflicted injury—why me? He wouldn't listen, already convinced it was her fault. Now this. How can he humiliate me like this? she thought, fuming.

Hearing the quiver in her voice, Byron's gaze wavered. Yet, thinking of Karen's hand, his resolve hardened. "Either you go, or I'll have the..."

(The ending is cut off in the original text.)