Chapter 482

Molly was so frightened her face turned pale. She couldn't make a sound, as if her throat were being strangled. Then, she hurriedly retreated.

Recalling Byron's look, Molly trembled. "I don't understand how this could happen," she thought. "Mr. McDaniel was so kind to me lately. Yes, kind. I accidentally spilled coffee on him yesterday, but he didn't get angry. The only variable is Maeve. She must have badmouthed me to Mr. McDaniel."

Starlight Pub, night.

Maeve drank half a glass of wine in one gulp. Her pent-up emotions finally found an outlet. She muttered drunkenly, "Bonnie, don't you think Byron is petty? Can't I just cry because of a tear duct malfunction? What does my old diary have to do with who I am now? He even asked me to prove it to him. Does he think it's a math problem?" Bonnie was overjoyed.

"Well, you shouldn't have explained it to him then. Didn't he keep his first love? That crush was ages ago. Byron's jealousy is ridiculous."

Maeve pursed her lips. "He's not jealous. I think he's making a fuss out of guilt. Today, Molly dared to stop me when she found out I'm his fiancée. Would she dare if she didn't have confidence? Who gave Molly that confidence? Byron," Maeve thought.

Bonnie saw Maeve was indignant and about to drink again, so she snatched the glass. "Don't drink so much. Mr. McDaniel wants you to prove your sincerity. He's not talking about your crush."

"What?" Maeve looked at Bonnie, confused.

"Didn't Mr. McDaniel tell you to show your sincerity? He's hinting you ask for benefits," Bonnie analyzed. "He probably just wants to hear you say you like him."

Maeve looked confused. "What? That's impossible."

She thought, Byron's attitude of not looking for me unless I figure out what I did wrong doesn't seem like he wants to hear that. If it were that simple, I wouldn't have been so helpless.

"Why not?" Bonnie patted Maeve's arm. "Maeve, you still don't understand men. It's fine when he doesn't care, but when he does, he'll be jealous of the boys you played with in kindergarten! Men play petty tricks. They beat around the bush when jealous, making you guess. Sometimes, they're harder to deal with than women."

Maeve couldn't match that description with Byron. Thinking of his cold face, she found it hard to imagine he'd be secretly jealous. But if he isn't jealous, why does he mind so much? she wondered.

Seeing Maeve in a daze, Bonnie was disappointed. "As for Molly, if Mr. McDaniel had anything to do with her, why would she play tricks on you? She would have fought you head-on. She doesn't want to. She doesn't dare."

Maeve suddenly understood. "I knew it. Byron wasn't in the office. Why would Molly lie to me... But isn't she afraid I'd complain to Byron?"

Bonnie shrugged. "Nothing's certain. Maybe Molly still has a trump card. Don't be so easy to bully. You're Mr. McDaniel's fiancée. Why are you afraid of her?"

"I'm not afraid of Molly. It's just… I feel upset when I think about Byron liking her before," Maeve refuted stubbornly. "Byron still hasn't fallen in love with me. It's normal to lack confidence."

Not only does he not like me, but he's also fierce to me, Maeve thought.

Thinking of sad memories, Maeve gulped down more wine.

Bonnie's heart ached. She said sympathetically, "Men are all like this. They don't cherish what they have and still step on it…"

For example, someone like Ray, Bonnie thought.

"I'm the poor one that's not cherished?" Maeve pointed at herself, feeling wronged.

"That's why we can't go along with them too much. Doesn't he just want to hear you admit you like him and care more about him than that crush? Don't say that. Men don't care about things that are too easy to obtain," Bonnie instilled ideas. "Whoever gives in first loses, and you'll be suppressed later. Unless he admits his mistake and kicks his first love away, don't bother with him."

Maeve looked confused. "Is that okay?"

Why do I feel something is wrong? Maeve thought.

Bonnie said, "Be good and listen to me. I'm more experienced in playing games with men than you are."

"Do you enjoy the experience of character clearance in otome games?" Maeve asked.

"Forget about the matter if you're my good friend."

Hence, there was another sad, little, pitiful person in the bar.

At the same time, at Ray George's villa.

Ray had just finished surgery. He'd returned home and slept for less than half an hour when he was woken up by Byron, sitting on his sofa, drinking silently.

"Byron, I know the wine in my cellar is delicious, but it's so late. Can't you come and drink with me during the day?" Ray yawned. "I haven't slept for two days."

Byron sat in a dark brown armchair. His rolled-up sleeves revealed a cold white wrist. His light green blood vessels were visible.

Hearing Ray's complaint, he raised his eyelids. "Didn't you often say you don't need sleep when you're alive and that you'll sleep forever after death? I'm giving you a hand."

"You're my good friend," Ray gritted his teeth. "Come on, you don't visit me for no reason. You came in the middle of the night, so you must be emotionally troubled?"

"How did you know?"

"How? Your face is filled with words—trapped by love."

"Trapped by love?" Byron thought.

Byron sneered. "You're overthinking. It's just a little dispute. How can I be trapped by love?"

It is impossible even if it is Maeve, Byron thought.

Ray poured himself a glass of wine. "What were you arguing about?"

Byron summarized the argument with Maeve. There was a hint of mockery in his eyes. "Do you think she's stupid?"

It was something that could be resolved with a few good words, but she had to be stubborn.

Ray instantly understood. "You just want to hear her say a few good words. You made it so troublesome. Aren't you afraid the fiancée you have will run away with someone else?"

Byron's sharp brows furrowed. "Who dares?"