Marrying me that a mistake?’ Maeve thought, feeling a painful tighten in her chest. The words cut deep, leaving bitter their wake, and a wave surged through her. She couldn’t hold back. the hell gives you the right to say that? Do you even know me?” Just dealing with a she had only seen online bad enough; now, confronted with Maeve felt a sense of injustice wash over her. Byron to respond when series of violent bangs apartment, followed Jeff’s furious, accusatory voice. “Maeve! You b***! I waited at city half an and here you are around another guy! If I hadn’t the footage. I wouldn’t known you dragged some guy into I know you’re in there! the d***n door”” Jeff’s voice a frenzied his rage so intense it practically through the wood, each pound punctuating his fury. Byron frowned and turned to look at Maeve. She was on the verge of tears, her eyes and swollen from holding them back. He watched her closely, a flicker of crossing his face. So, she didn’t up the camera? got this all wrong… he thought. Maeve Byron’s stare; she was too on the door that now under Jeff’s violent assault. Her face had gone as she grappled with the situation. had never been the type, when he was pi***d drunk. could get violent over the thing. With Byron hurt just the two us letting Jeff in could turn deadly, she thought, anxiety gripping her. Outside, Jeff kept screaming, his voice a snarling mix of rage and bitterness. “You w**e! No wonder you’ve been playing coy, acting all high and mighty sneaking around with random guy behind back! Think just open the door? Fine!” A loud, crash reverberated something heavy slammed against the door, shaking the walls. Several brutal hits and then, with final shattering impact, the door splintered and crashed inward. Maeve instinctively jumped back, bumping Byron. Remembering their argument, she quickly pulled away, but his large hand shot catching her and pulling her behind him His was calm but steely as he commanded, “Stay back. Maeve froze moment, her racing, and by the time she it, Jeff had barged into the apartment. Clutching a rod, his face with fury, Jeff’s eyes burned venom as he spat on the floor. “You filthy cheaters! Did really think door would keep me out?” Maeve’s expression hardened. “Jeff, you’re the who cheated arst. I already told you it’s over. Who I’m with now is none of f****g business- the f****k Jeff bellowed, his boiling over. “I’ll with this a***le first, then take care of you, s**t!” He swung the metal rod with a vicious force, aiming straight for Byron’s head, kind of that could serious damage or worse, kill. Maeve’s face turned as white as a sheet, her pounding with fear. She barely managed to shout, “Mr. McDaniel, watch 14:39 Mon, Oct 14 GB. Just as the rod hurtling down, a powerful hand shot out, it mid-swing. Byron stood there, unfazed, his eyes cold and filled with as he stared Jeff down. tightened, strong defined, as he gripped the rod if it nothing. In one swift motion, twisted body and grabbed arm, yanking it with a brutal snap. The sickening crunch of bone the followed by Jeff’s piercing scream. But Byron wasn’t done. His leg shot out, delivering a vicious kick to chest. The blow was brutal; the sharp crack of ribs echoed in the air. even have time to groan he collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Byron’s movements, reopened his wounds. He grimaceel, his growing visibly paler. Maeve noticed right away and rushed over to not sparing a glance Jeff, lay motionless on the floor. “Did you tear wound open? Do we need to get hospital?” fine,” Byron grunted, but his eyes unintentionally flicked to Maeve’s cleavage peeking out from her nightgown before his focus back to Jeff. “What are we supposed to this piece trash? His voice cold and dismissive, if Jeff were nothing more than garbage waiting to be tossed out. Maeve felt small, unexpected smile tug at lips, but it faded as she looked around and the wreckage in living room. She shuddered at the of might have happened if Byron hadn’t up. The idea of being by Jeff every single day her skin and her stomach churn. Thank God I never married she biting her lip, trying to steady herself. When Maeve gathered again, she noticed Byron on the phone, calm and collected he spoke. “Yeah, get it done and bring it over. blinked, puzzled. minutes Byron’s bodyguards arrived. took photos, collected evidence, dragged Jeff off to the police station. They also grabbed hidden camera and the rod-key pieces of evidence. long after the bodyguards a team of workers showed up to install a new door. They worked efficiently about half hour, soon, the door securely in place. Marve, grateful for hard work, to them something before she say a word, they were already gone, leaving her nothing to do but abandon the thought. She looked at the brand-new door and smiled. This door looks solid. It shouldn’t break so easily next time, right?” Byron, having just finished checking the lock, an her. “Didn’t tell This door is made from the same they use for safes. It’d take bomb to get through it. Maeve’s dropped. “Isn’t that a bit much a apartment like mine?” My tiny, getting the same treatment as a bank vault? That’s nuts,’ she thought. Byron let out low chuckle, but face suddenly went pale, beads of sweat forming on forehead.