Maeve returned to the living room and saw Jaylen leaning against the chaise lounge, seemingly asleep. His eyes were tightly shut, and his face was sickly pale. When she saw the empty tray on the table, she breathed a sigh of relief. However, she gasped when she saw medicine residue in the potted plant beside him. Just as Daryl had said, Jaylen had thrown the medicine away.
"Why are you back?" Jaylen, hearing the commotion, slowly opened his eyes. He looked at Maeve in surprise. "Did you come back to check if I've taken the medicine? Don't worry, I've taken it." Maeve thought, As if.
Maeve was upset, but she didn't expose him. She walked over and squatted beside the chaise lounge. "After I gave birth, I suffered from depression," she said. "I was barely holding on for Theo's sake. At that time, you were the one who kept encouraging me to overcome it and survive."
She thought, Now, it's my turn to help you. I owe you this, so I should pay you back!
Maeve looked Jaylen straight in the eyes and said seriously, "I promise to fulfill your wish. Now, please live for my sake."
Jaylen's hopeless eyes suddenly lit up. "Are you really willing to be my fiancée?" he asked.
Maeve clenched her fists, forcefully suppressing her panic. She nodded. "I'm willing."
Jaylen stared at her for a long time. He initially wanted to hug her, but in the end, he only patted her head. He knew her promise stemmed from pity, not romantic feelings. She was just pitying him because he didn't have much time left.
Jaylen thought, So what? At the very least, she'll be mine for a short time at the end of my life. That's enough.
"For you, I will try my best to live," Jaylen murmured, as if making a promise.
With his assurance, the burden in Maeve's heart eased slightly.
After watching Jaylen take the medicine, Maeve left and drove back to her apartment. Byron had brought the kids home that afternoon. When Maeve arrived, Will and Theo were sitting on the living room carpet, doing handicraft homework.
Will excelled at handicrafts. He'd used white plasticine to make a cruise ship, the details so exquisite it resembled a figurine. It looked impressive on the table.
Theo, on the other hand, was the opposite. He was working with Will on the cruise ship; Will had finished it, but Theo still hadn't made a flag.
"What are you kneading?" Will looked at the colorful paste in front of Theo, puzzled. "I don't think the flag is that color."
"This isn't a flag," Theo said solemnly, his voice lowered. "This is a representation of my hopes and dreams."
Will was speechless. He couldn't decipher Theo's hopes and dreams from the multicolored plasticine.
He saw Maeve walking over, his eyes lighting up. "Mom, you're back!" he called.
"Mommy! Come help me!" Theo, seeing his savior, jumped onto his legs, calling coquettishly.
Maeve's tense mood relaxed at the sight of two identical cute faces. She smiled and sat down with them.
"I came home late today," she said. "Have you guys had dinner?"
"Yes," Theo complained. "Byron cooked again, but it wasn't as sumptuous as yesterday. You can tell he's patronizing us just because we're kids!" Theo and Byron were naturally at odds; Theo mocked Byron at every opportunity. They were like cats in a cat's den, disliking each other and swiping whenever they met.
Will sided with Byron. "That's because we wouldn't finish all the food if he made too much. It would be a waste."
"Is Byron your younger brother, or am I?" Theo immediately asked Will. "Why are you always speaking up for him? I know, he's already won you over. I have to make room for him to be your younger brother sooner or later!"
Will decisively suggested, "Mom, Theo should have less screen time. He seems to have a screw loose."
Maeve tried to suppress her laughter.
After joining their bickering for a while, she helped Theo make a small flag. The crooked flag, stuck onto the cruise ship, was quite comical.
Theo was proud. "Will, you have to thank me. Thanks to my agility, your cruise ship now has a flag, enabling it to go to sea."
"That's not how you use 'agility'," Will corrected him. "Besides, plasticine cruise ships can't go to sea."
Will wondered, How did Theo get full marks on his exam?
Maeve took a photo of their cruise ship and posted it on social media. The next second, she received a message from Byron: [Are you back? Come to my place.]
Maeve frowned, hesitating before walking to Byron's apartment with heavy footsteps. She didn't want to hide her agreement to be Jaylen's fiancée, but didn't know how to tell him. If she were in Byron's shoes, she wouldn't accept it and would feel uncomfortable. Therefore, she didn't expect him to understand. Jaylen would last at most half a year; if Byron couldn't accept it, perhaps they could end their relationship temporarily.
Maeve suppressed her bitterness and sadness. She pushed open the door and walked into Byron's study. He was on the phone. Hearing her, he turned and gestured for her to sit and wait.
Maeve nodded. For some reason, she subconsciously looked at the top right corner of his desk. There was a photo frame.
Hesitantly, she moved closer and saw the photo from the side. It wasn't a photo, but a sketch of his first love—identical to the one in the manor's study. He must have brought it when he moved.
However, what surprised Maeve wasn't that he had the sketch. It was that, from her angle, the girl in the sketch resembled her. The shape of their eyes was especially similar. It was as though Byron had sketched Maeve.
Maeve's mind raced. She clenched her fists, looking at Byron's tall figure by the floor-to-ceiling window. Neglected memories flooded back.
Maeve thought, Lynn resembles the girl in the sketch. I also resemble her. Has Byron's preferences never changed, or are Lynn and I both substitutes for his first love?
She wondered if Byron saw her as herself or as his first love.
Maeve's face paled. Her heart was in turmoil. She felt so uncomfortable she wanted to leave immediately. Before she could, Byron grabbed her arm.
"What's wrong?" Byron asked, after ending the call. He grabbed her wrist, rubbing it habitually. "Did I make you wait too long?"