Maeve trembled in the kitchen, her forced calm shattering. Tears welled in her eyes as the ladle slipped from her hand into the simmering soup. "What right does he have to treat me like this?" she thought. "I was stood up. I waited for Byron all day. So Karen is his treasure, but I'm nothing?" A silence followed the clanging metal.
She'd made dinner, but had no appetite. After refrigerating the food, she retreated to her room. Byron didn't return, even late into the night. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The memory of Byron's words ached in her heart. She rose and began to draw, but her lines were messy, mirroring her mood.
Then, her phone rang. It was Bonnie. Bonnie had commissioned a room divider with sketches of her idols; it now graced the left side of her room. Bonnie texted: "My parents say I'll miss out on the best men if I stay single. So what? The best men are already in my room!"
Bonnie continued: "Maeve, are you asleep? Need more drafts. Want another room divider—twelve incredibly hot men—for the right side!"
Maeve saw the photo. Bonnie's room was princess-like, dreamy, and lavish. But the room divider clashed. Maeve replied: "Bonnie, great taste, but it doesn't match. It's a little… explicit."
Bonnie: "Wow! Up late. Getting naughty?"
Bonnie: "It's fine. I'm the only one seeing it, anyway. Though I wish it were more explicit!"
Maeve: "Couldn't sleep. What style are you thinking?"
Bonnie quickly sent her request. Maeve was about to put down her phone when she remembered something: "By the way, I got the Eternal Hope job! Thanks again. Tomorrow's Sunday—lunch? My treat!" She'd almost forgotten, amidst the recent flurry of activity.
Bonnie: "New restaurant at the Winsor Building. Supposedly delicious."
Maeve: "Okay, tomorrow afternoon!"
Bonnie's messages flooded in. She sent many photos of a man at the Starlight Pub, claiming he was handsome. Maeve wasn't interested but looked anyway.
Maeve: "Just a blurry photo going upstairs. How can you tell?"
Bonnie: "There was a better one, but my friend got caught by his bodyguard. She had to delete it… I never even saw it!"
Maeve laughed, remembering her first encounter with Byron at the Starlight Pub—their argument, his subsequent attempt to take her to city hall for a divorce (thwarted by Gilbert). This time, there was no fight, but her disappointment far surpassed that previous encounter.
The next day at McDaniel Group, the atmosphere was icy. Everyone tiptoed in and out, fearful. Karen was caring for Patrick in the hospital, and Archer covered her work. He noticed Byron's unusually foul mood; even the sound of his footsteps drew criticism. He feared he'd done something wrong.
As evening approached, Ray and Jarrett arrived. Archer, relieved, ushered them in.
Ray: "Byron, bad mood? Your employees look terrified."
Jarrett: "Last time I saw you this angry was when you rejoined the McDaniel family."
Byron: (coldly) "Why are you here?"
Ray: "Opened a new restaurant. Need your support! It's been a while since we hung out."
Jarrett: "He's just been discharged from the hospital. Shouldn't he rest?"
Ray: "Rest? He's a workaholic! Back at work less than a week! I bet it's because he has a woman at home."
Byron paused, then looked coldly at Ray. "You have a girlfriend?"
Ray: "What?"
Jarrett: (laughing) "He means you don't have a girlfriend, so how could Byron?"
Ray, a confirmed bachelor more interested in his scalpel and dog than women, coughed. "I'll get one eventually. Going to support your restaurant or not?"
Byron: "Not free today. Visiting Patrick."
Ray: "Let's go together. Visit the restaurant afterward."
Byron, rubbing his temples, finally agreed.
Near noon, the three arrived at Ray's restaurant in the Winsor Building—quiet, elegant, a blend of classical and modern styles. Violin music filled the air. Ray secured a table by the window.
Ray: "Not bad, huh?"
Jarrett: "Looks good. No hospital today?"
Ray: "Only for major surgeries. Plenty of time." He turned to Byron. "What do you think?"
Byron glanced around, then froze, having spotted someone.