Chapter 544
Chapter 544
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Maeve’s heart skipped a beat, and her eyes burned with the sting of unshed tears. “Nobody is fighting with you! You were the one who said all that nonsense. You slept with another woman and still have the nerve to say you want to try things with
mne…
Byron’s voice was hoarse as he replied, “It’s my fault. I allowed them to take advantage.” He stopped short of saying what had been on his mind, he had thought the woman that night was her
That felt like an insult to Macve.
“Also, you might have misunderstood me,” Byron added.
Maeve stared at him, her eyes reddened with confusion. “What misunderstanding?”
Byron’s voice dropped, tinged with a hint of mockery, as he tilted his head, his lips brushing near her ear. He spoke each word slowly, deliberately. “If I didn’t care about you, do you think I’d go to all that effort to lick you like I do?”
Lick…
The word “lick” hit the air between them, thickening the tension.
Maeve’s face flushed crimson, her ears burning as she nearly stumbled backward, but Byron caught her in his arms.
Her pulse raced as she felt the warmth from the sink below her, wishing she could escape the moment.
“Maeve,” Byron whispered, his voice a low murmur. “You’re the only one who makes me do this, serve you like I do.” He tilted his head, studying her trembling lashes as he continued, “You think I don’t like you enough? Emust not have worked hard enough to make you believe otherwise.”
“Shut up!” Maeve snapped, pressing her palm over his mouth. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her face burned with a mix of embarrassment and anger. “I didn’t ask you to lick me!”
Byron shifted, pulling back slightly, his brow arched in a challenge. “I want to. Is that a problem?”
Maeve could feel her thoughts unravel.
Her instinct was to leave, to block him out of her life for good.
How did their conversation, meant to be serious, suddenly turn into this?
Maeve frowned, her cheeks flushed. “That doesn’t prove anything. It just means you’re more into… that kind of thing. Otherwise, you wouldn’t…” Her words trailed off, doubt creeping into her gaze.
“Did you sleep with Molly because you were drugged?”
Byron’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. “You don’t believe me?”
Maeve hesitated at first, but the more she thought, the more the edges of doubt started to soften.
Byron saw the shift in her, his eyes darkening slightly as he dropped his gaze. “The evidence that could prove it is
gqne.”
“So I’ll prove it to you,” he added quietly.
“How do you prove that?” Maeve asked instinctively.
Byron didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped forward, effortlessly lifting her from the sink and taking her hand as they walked
Chapter 344
toward the door.
As they left. the door to the bathroom next door creaked open. Molly stood there, watching them leave with a piercing gaze.
Half an hour later, Marve was caught completely off guard when Byron led her to Starlight Pub.
She’d expected him to take her home.
The bar manager placed a bag on the table, bowing slightly. “Sir I’ve got what you wanted. The effects are strong, so please be careful.”
“Thank you. You may go.” Byron said, dismissing him.
Maeve frowned, glancing at him. “He just… called you Sir?”
“Yes, and?”
Maeve blinked in surprise. “Are you… the mysterious owner of Starlight Pub?” She wondered, “The same owner Bonnie had mentioned, the one whose mere profile was enough to send hearts racing? It’s him?”
Byron nodded slightly. “Yes, I own this bar. I opened it while in university and hired someone to run it. I drop by occasionally.”
‘University… Maeve pondered.
Maeve recalled Molly’s words about helping him through his early days of starting the business. This must be what she
– meant.
Trying to push aside the sour feeling in her chest, she eyed the bag on the table. “What’s this?”
“Aphrodisiac,” Byron replied calmly.
“Why would you need something like that?” Maeve asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
Before she could say more, Byron pulled her into his arms, his hand gripping her wrist and turning her so he could kiss her.
Before Maeve could say more, she was caught off guard by Byron’s kiss. Her mind went blank, a swirl of questions, and by the time she realized what was happening, she instinctively pushed him away.
But Byron was faster, pulling back just enough to catch one of her hands, his voice a husky whisper. “Do you feel it now?” Maeve couldn’t deny it, the electric heat flooding her senses.
Maeve could feel the heat in her palm, her body betraying her as she tried to pull her hand away, but he held her firmly.
“Byron!” she gasped.
Just a kiss and he immediately reacts. Is he a rabbit? Maeve thought.
“Angry?” Byron cupped her face with one hand, making her meet his gaze, his dark eyes deep like an endless ocean. “Don’t underestimate the effect you have on me.”
Maeve bit her lip, frustrated. “What do you want from me?”
Byron chuckled lightly, his voice taking on a teasing, seductive tone. “Maeve, how about a bet?”
“A bet?” she echoed, still in shock.
9/1
Chapter 344
“Lexbet Ill drink this glass of wine and wait for the efferts to vay off, walut touching your If I win your believe me this time. If we teach lose you can do whirter you
Maeve’s eyes widened, the disbelief clear in her voice. “Are your of your mind? Why would your drink ther
With a slow, deliberate movement. Byron poured the contents of a small packet into his drink and swirled it. Then, lifting the glass, he flashed her a sly smile. “You didn’t believe me before, did you? Well, let me show you, with actions, not pr words, whether I’ve got my mind on something else?
“I bet I’ll win,” he added confidently.
Byron simply smiled, his gaze flickering with an unreadable intensity. He raised the glass and drank it all in one go
“Byron! You’re out of your mind! You can’t just drink this stuff! Spit it out!*
Maeve’s voice rose in panic as she tried to stop him, struggling against his hands that held her firmly. She could only watch helplessly as he spiraled further.
She couldn’t make sense of what he was doing.
Byron set the empty glass aside carelessly, and Maeve could feel the coolness of his hand slowly heating up, the warmth spreading rapidly.
His breath began to grow heavier, and Maeve could feel his restrained panting in her ear.
She didn’t turn to look at him, but she could feel the shift in his body, his arms tightening around her waist as if he wanted -to pull her into him completely.
Maeve shifted uncomfortably. “Byron…”
It was as though he snapped out of a trance. His eyes cleared, and with a swift push, he moved away from her, standing up and heading toward the bathroom.
She noticed his hands trembling as they hung by his sides.
Maeve wanted to shout at him for making trouble out of nothing. She thought, ‘But now, the absurd bet is already in motion. There is no way to stop it. Not for me, and not for him either.‘
That glass of wine had been like opening Pandora’s box, pulling out Maeve’s deepest fears.
If he won, it would be perfect, just as she hoped.
But what if he lost?
What if, in the end, it proved that he couldn’t control himself? What then?
Her thoughts were a jumbled mess, but by the time she regained focus, she realized she had unconsciously walked to the bathroom door, the sound of water splashing inside,filling the air
She stood there, watching the tall figure outlined by the frosted glass, her feelings tangled in a storm of uncertainty.
“Byron, are you okay?” she asked softly.
“There has to be an antidote for this, right? Tell me where it is.”
