Chapter 520

Byron was on the phone, but a glimpse from the corner of his eye caught Maeve approaching. He waved her over. Her eyes were fixed on his tie. Getting closer, she recognized it instantly – the one Molly had picked out yesterday at the men's store. Or was it a coincidence?

As soon as he hung up, she asked, "That's a striking tie. When did you get it?"

Byron, suspecting a gift-showcasing maneuver, replied smoothly, "Someone else gave it to me. Does it look good?"

"Who?" Maeve's heart hammered. Her confusion was evident. Byron saw her pretending not to know, a woman giving a man a tie, and the implication of it. His smile deepened. "Someone I see every day. You know her."

Maeve's mind reeled. Molly? He'd actually accepted Molly's tie! Rage flared. She snatched the tie. "Take it off! You're not allowed to wear this!"

Byron raised an eyebrow. "Reason?"

"No means no!" she snapped. "Take it off now!"

Calmly, Byron caught her hand. "Tonight. I won't stop you then." Maeve sputtered, speechless.

Two small children, witnessing the scene, gasped, covered their eyes, and scurried to the dining room. "We didn't see anything!" they whispered.

Heat flooded Maeve's cheeks. She loosened Byron's collar, revealing his usually hidden collarbone. He looked lazily amused. "Impatient?" he teased.

"Who said you could wear someone else's tie?" she huffed, tossing the tie in the trash.

Byron caught her hand, watching it fall. His brow furrowed. "What are you doing? Why did you throw it away?"

"Can't I?" she challenged. "Or can't you bear it?"

Her sudden outburst was as baffling as his cryptic "someone else." His dark eyes mirrored her impassivity. He tightened his grip. "Who allowed you to throw my things away?"

He'd received the gift; she couldn't simply discard it. Maeve met his gaze, mockingly. "Your things? My mistake. You like this tie, then?" His expression froze. Silently, he released her wrist, retrieved the tie from the trash. The fastidious Byron, rummaging in the garbage.

Maeve's fists clenched. A sharp pain pierced her heart. His first love...for her, he'd even overcome his aversion to dirt. And me?

"What if," she choked out, grabbing his arm, "it's me or the tie?" Between her and his first love's gift...who would he choose? She hadn't felt insignificant, but it was just a tie. Just a tie.

He dusted off the tie, his gaze cold and complex. "How long will you keep this up? What's the point?"

He saw the open navy blue box on the dressing table. Inside lay a watch, silver band, black and blue face. A card read "Gift for Ronny."

A smile touched Byron's lips. Maeve's gift…then what was that tie? And her words, "someone else’s tie"... that "someone else" was likely her intended recipient. Clem? The smile vanished, replaced by a glacial mockery. She wanted me to take it off, throw it away. Did she think my things were soiled, unworthy of Clem? He chuckled coldly, then tossed the tie in the trash, leaving the watch untouched.

The next morning, Maeve awoke late, troubled. Entering the master bedroom, she found Byron leaving. He stopped her, his tone frigid. "You don't want to be my fiancée, you want to break it off? I'll give you time to think."