Byron and Lynn are getting married," Alexisโs voice, laced with bitter anger, came from behind Maeve. "Ms. Reese, no matter how skilled you are, Byron won't marry you. If you're willing to spend your life as his hidden mistress, I commend your courageโthough you've clearly discarded all sense of pride." The mention of the wedding sent a sharp pang through Maeve's heart. She turned, offering a faint smile, and looked at Alexis. "Are you telling me this, Mrs. McDaniel, hoping for a generous wedding gift? Don't worry, I'll be there, and I'll bring a present to celebrate Mr. McDaniel's... happy second chapter."
Alexis's expression darkened instantly; her anger flared as she ordered the driver, "Let's go!"
"Yes, ma'am," the driver replied.
Maeve's smile faded, her eyes drooping slightly as she silently walked toward the parking lot. She already knew Byron was marrying Lynn. It wasn't surprising, and it no longer mattered. As long as she obtained the antidote for Gilbert, she would sever all ties with the McDaniel family once he awoke. After driving to the sanatorium, Maeve went straight upstairs.
Meanwhile, at a business banquet, Jason and Alexis publicly announced Byron and Lynn's wedding date to numerous guests and media: the tenth of the following month. The news caused major social media platforms to crash for half an hour, becoming a top-five trending topic. The McDaniel Group dominated a significant portion of the domestic industry, with subsidiaries worldwide. As the group's president, Byron was not only wealthy and young, but he had also captivated the public years earlier with airport photos showcasing his striking looks and commanding presence, eclipsing even the hottest male celebrities. His personal life was always fodder for gossip, and the news of his impending marriage sent the online community into a frenzy, causing the company's stock prices to fluctuate.
Theo was furious. In a frustrated voice, he called Will, shouting, "He's marrying someone else, and you're still hanging around him? Kick him to the curb and come live with us! I'm not trying to scare you, but it's well known: where there's a stepmother, there's a stepfather!"
Will held the phone away from his ear. "Hold on, don't panic. The media loves rumors; they could be wrong. I'll ask Daddy when he gets home."
As he finished speaking, Will saw Byron entering. He ran over, saying, "Daddy, everyone online is talking about you marrying Miss Anderson."
Byron's expression was inscrutable. He calmly asked, "What's the matter?"
Will froze. "But I don't want you to marry her."
"This is an adult matter; children shouldn't be involved," Byron said.
Sadness flickered in Will's eyes, but he said nothing, running upstairs. Byron pressed his fingers to his aching brow, a cold glint in his eyes.
Overhearing their conversation, Theo threw his phone down in frustration and went to find Maeve. A news report about the wedding played on the television.
Maeve sat cross-legged on the carpet, eating an orange and watching television. Theo approached cautiously. "Mommy, how are you feeling?"
"It's fine," Maeve said, popping an orange segment into her mouth. "Wealthy people know how to make a splash at their weddings, right?" Her tone was calm, detached. Theo thought for a moment. "Mommy, if you can't stand that guy, how about asking Loren for some new weapons to blow up his wedding venue?"
Maeve nearly choked. "Where does Loren get all these things?"
"Mommy, don't you remember? He's in charge of Weapons Factory 011."
"Stop hanging out with him; he's too dangerous," Maeve said.
Theo tugged her sleeve. "Mommy, you still haven't said if we should blow up his wedding venue?" He thought, As long as Mommy wants it, I'll do it! And I can make sure there are no traces!
Maeve slowly ate her orange. "Let's not, okay? There are so many wealthy people; we can't blow them all up."
Theo felt anxious. Why is Mommy so calm? Is she too sad to show emotion? "Mommy, just let me know if you want to blow something up," he said sternly.
Maeve patted his head. "Alright, it's none of our business. Let's not worry about it." Little did she know, this would become far more relevant than she anticipated.
The next day, Alexis and Lynn came to the studio to order a wedding dress, clearly intending to flaunt their engagement and assert their dominance.
"I'm sorry," Maeve said calmly, "but the wedding dresses at Dreamscape are handmade, and the production time is lengthy. We only take one order every two months, and other clients have already booked my slots. I can't accommodate you this time. Perhaps you could come back for your next wedding?"
Alexis and Lynn's faces paled. Next wedding? What does she mean? Alexis thought.
"You're the first to turn away customers like us! Do you think we're unworthy of your service?" Alexis retorted angrily.
With a gentle smile, Maeve replied, "Mrs. McDaniel, you can check our appointment list. It's not that I'm refusing service; I'm genuinely unable to accommodate you."
Lynn glanced at the list held by Paige and whispered to Alexis, "Alexis, it seems she's telling the truth."
Alexis lifted her chin. "Then what about the gowns? I want to order custom-made dresses for Lynn for the wedding day."
"Ms. Reese's gown orders for this month are also fully booked, Mrs. McDaniel. Would you like to consider another designer?" Paige explained.
Alexis was furious. "Both the wedding dress and gowns are fully booked? What is your studio doing? Are you deliberately going against us?"
Lynn chuckled. "Alexis, you'll have plenty to talk about with those wealthy ladies next time."
Maeve noticed the implied threat and narrowed her eyes, formulating a plan. "If Miss Anderson and Mrs. McDaniel insist, considering Mr. McDaniel's account, I suppose I should extend a courtesy." Alexis snorted. "At least you know how to be sensible. Then Lynn's wedding dress will be your responsibility, and it must meet her satisfaction."
Lynn realized Alexis was making things difficult for Maeve, so she cleverly began listing requirements. Maeve smiled, nodded, and stood. "Miss Anderson, let's take your measurements."
Lynn paused, glancing at Alexis. "Alexis..."
"Go ahead," Alexis nodded. "With me here, she won't dare bully you."
Lynn bit her lip and reluctantly followed Maeve into the fitting room. Maeve took out a measuring tape. "Take off your jacket, stretch your arms out, and stand up straight. Also, pull down your collar for your neck measurement."
This cleaned-up version corrects grammatical errors, improves sentence structure, and enhances clarity and flow. The unnecessary "ะ" has been removed, and the final, seemingly random numbers have been omitted. The website plug was also removed.