"What did you just say?" Maeve's heart sank. "How could this apartment be yours?"

Maeve had told Byron she didn't want the apartment if they got an immediate divorce. He hadn't agreed, so their arrangement remained unchanged. Why was Karen saying the apartment would soon be hers? she thought in disbelief.

Karen laughed derisively. "Byron didn't tell you? Well, it seems there was no need. I just wanted to recuperate in his apartment, and he agreed to give it to me."

The smugness in Karen's voice caused Maeve to tighten her grip on her phone before hanging up abruptly. Staring at the empty bowl on the dining table, she wanted to get up and clean but couldn't muster the strength.

"He can give Karen whatever he wants, but why does it have to be this apartment?" Maeve thought, a hollow ache in her chest. She bit her lip so hard she tasted blood.

The phone rang. Absorbed in her thoughts, Maeve looked up in a daze. Seeing Byron's name on the screen, she felt reluctant.

Yet, she remembered Karen's previous lies and decided she couldn't believe Karen's words alone. She took a deep breath and answered. "Maeve?" Byron's voice came through. "Why did you call me?"

Maeve pursed her lips. "Nothing. Karen just said she'd be coming here to recuperate, and that you're giving her the apartment. Is that true?" Byron replied, "Yes, I was about to tell you."

"Are you not going to explain this?" Maeve questioned, frustration evident in her tone.

Byron frowned slightly. "Explain what?"

Maeve fell silent.

After waiting for a response that never came, Byron, sensing something was wrong, said dismissively, "Maeve, it's just an apartment. Don't be so petty."

At that moment, Maeve felt a sharp pain in her heart, tears of bitterness clouding her vision. "Did you consider my feelings when you made this decision?" she croaked. "If you can't keep our promise, then there's nothing more to say. I assure you, I'll leave and make room for your precious ex-girlfriend. Are you satisfied now?"

Maeve's face went pale as she ended the call. She sat in silence before gathering the strength to get up. She put the empty bowl in the dishwasher and went to the master bedroom to change.

Recalling she hadn't searched the room thoroughly, she half-heartedly rummaged and found the contract in the nightstand drawer.

Before leaving, Maeve took one last look at the room she had lived in. Once it became Karen's, she would never have the chance to return. However, it was nothing like the room she remembered. When she opened the guest bedroom door, it was completely empty. Even the light apricot-colored sheer curtain she loved was gone. Staring at the empty room, tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.

It turned out the signs were there all along. He even cleared out her room for Karen's arrival. "What's the point of holding on to this apartment?" she reflected with a rueful smile.

Maeve wiped her eyes, took out her phone, and called for a cab. She moved all the vegetables from the terrace, leaving nothing behind. She then closed the apartment door and left, contract in hand, without looking back.

Meanwhile, in the hospital ward, Karen leaned against the headboard, observing Byron's sudden coldness after he hung up.

"Byron, I only wanted a place to recuperate. If Ms. Reese is unwilling, perhaps we should forget it," Karen said weakly.

"Since I promised you, I won't go back on my word." Byron's voice was somber.

"Alright," Karen responded sorrowfully. "Ms. Reese has such a bad temper; it must be hard on you."

Byron cast a cold glance at her. "Maeve has a bad temper?"

He thought, If her temper is bad, then everyone else must be completely unhinged. Even her rare outbursts were harmless quirks, more playful than menacing. His lips curled into a faint smile.

Sensing an edge in his voice, Karen forced a smile. "She did cut me with a knife the other day and threw a cup at me. It was quite frightening."

The smile on Byron's lips faded as he looked at Karen, his eyes piercing. "Karen, there are things I've chosen not to spell out to spare your feelings. But that doesn't mean I'm oblivious. Do you understand?" Karen's heart skipped a beat; her fingers trembled. "I-I don't quite get what you mean."

Byron didn't answer, his gaze flicking to the bandaged wounds on her left hand. Karen's face turned ashen. The wound on her wrist and the one she claimed Maeve inflicted were consistent in depth and direction. One wound might have gone unnoticed, but two made the pattern obvious. He chose not to say anything, allowing her to maintain a shred of dignity.

How terrifying... How could he so calmly and rationally judge whether my injuries were consistent? Does he truly believe Maeve would never hurt me? Karen thought, resentment welling up. Mom was right. Maeve has to be destroyed.

After viewing the house at Zephyr Heights, Maeve and Alex returned to the car.

"Alex, thank you for your company today. I hope I haven't taken up too much of your time," Maeve said with a smile.

"Not at all. I was free anyway," Alex replied gently. "What did you think of the house? Are you satisfied?"

Maeve thought. "It's quite good. But I wasn't planning on looking for a place in such a high-end neighborhood, so my budget is a bit tight. I might be wasting your efforts." Her expectations were modest; she preferred to stay within her means.

"The owner is going overseas soon, so he's in a hurry to rent it out. He cares more about finding a good tenant who will take care of the property rather than the money," Alex said. "Since I'm on good terms with him, I can help you get a discount." Maeve's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course. Would I lie to you?" Alex quipped with a chuckle.

Maeve shook her head. "I just feel like I'm bothering you too much. I'm not sure how to repay you."

Alex, wanting to avoid putting pressure on her, said, "Actually, I do have a favor to ask."

"What is it?" Maeve perked up.

"There's a banquet tomorrow night that my parents insist I attend. They even want me to bring a date, or they'll set me up with one," Alex said helplessly. (In other words, they're subtly pushing for marriage, Maeve thought.)

The final sentence, being incomplete and including a website promotion, was removed.