Karen insisted I hired her kidnappers to harm her, but what about the possibility she framed me from the start? Maeve said calmly. "Or maybe nothing happened at all—a play staged by Karen and the kidnappers? I was unconscious; I knew nothing." Alex understood. His expression turned serious. "I'll make a call. Someone will send food later. Eat more." Maeve nodded, knowing who he'd contact.

"If Karen orchestrated the previous kidnapping, she's terrifying. To frame me, she used her own supposed innocence as a bargaining chip," Maeve thought. Even if it was a ruse, it chilled her to the bone. She likely did it to force Byron into a divorce, though he refused; his favoritism toward Karen still rankled.

A few days later, Maeve recovered well. The concussion symptoms subsided, and her abdominal bruises faded, leaving only occasional pain. Her forehead wound healed, but the scar remained. Bonnie, even more anxious, consulted a dermatologist. The specialist identified it as a fingernail scar, difficult to fully remove. Maeve needed to prepare for a slow recovery. Bonnie's devastation, however, amused Maeve.

"You're still laughing? You don't care about your face!" Bonnie retorted indignantly. "And that 'Great Demon King' of yours? You've been hospitalized for days, and he hasn't even appeared. I misjudged him."

Maeve's smile faltered at the mention of Byron. "Maybe he's busy." She'd called for days; his phone was off, and her messages went unanswered. The lack of contact seemed inexplicable in this age of constant connectivity. Gilbert only said Byron was busy, but even he couldn't reach him.

"Even if he's busy, he could find a moment, right?" Bonnie mumbled, then changed the subject. "Will the kidnapping investigation results be released tonight? Did your cousin say anything?" Maeve nodded. "He'll inform me immediately. He wants closure this time. I won't show Karen mercy; that would be cruel to myself."

That night, Maeve waited anxiously for Alex's call. "Ding!" Her phone rang. "Alex, what's the result?"

"Maeve, I'm sorry," Alex's voice was heavy. "The investigation materials from the first kidnapping were destroyed in transit." Maeve's heart sank. "Accident?"

"I can't say yet," Alex said. "No signs of foul play, but the timing is suspicious. Furthermore…"

Sensing his hesitation, Maeve felt a sense of dread. "What else?"

"The second kidnapping case had solid evidence against Karen, but her bodyguard just confessed, taking the blame." Alex sighed. "Karen was released; there's no direct evidence she was involved. Your testimony alone, given your history with her, might not be enough."

As Alex finished, the ward door opened. A tall, slender figure entered, his dark windbreaker accentuating his composed demeanor. His long legs moved swiftly, and his presence filled the room. A hint of weariness clouded his features; perhaps from an overnight flight. Maeve was startled. "Byron?"

Alex, not hearing her clearly, asked, "What?"

Maeve recovered. "Alex, you've been a great help. I'll treat you to dinner."

"Alright, I'll be waiting." Alex, though suspicious, agreed with a smile.

After hanging up, Maeve turned to Byron. Before she could speak, he interrupted. "Alex has been here taking care of you while you were injured?" Maeve nodded. "He and…"

"Are all the doctors and nurses dead?" Byron's expression turned cold. "Must you have him?"

Maeve was confused by his anger. "What are you talking about? Alex only visited a few times, because of Bonnie. He wasn't here all day; he only came when Bonnie visited."

Byron's words seemed outrageously accusatory.

Byron looked at Maeve's innocent expression, then pursed his lips. "If I hadn't seen those photos, you might have deceived me. You couldn't stand the loneliness for a few days?"

Frustration welled in Byron, but he paused, touching Maeve's cheek. "How are your injuries?"

Maeve felt comfortable confiding in Bonnie and Alex. She'd thought anger would only hurt her. But Byron's question stirred her resentment; old aches returned.

Maeve wanted to say she wasn't well but felt it was pretentious. "I'm fine."

Byron's gaze held hers until she looked away. "What happened?"

"Karen," Maeve said.

"Are you sure it's Karen?"

Maeve was stunned. "What do you mean?"

Byron's voice was grave. "Karen was hospitalized the day you disappeared. How did she kidnap you? The evidence against her was planted by Alex, wasn't it? You wanted to destroy her, didn't you?"

Maeve's heart sank. She controlled her emotions, but her eyes welled up. "Destroy her? Do you know what she's done? You're questioning me, suspecting me of framing her? Is she worthy?"

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