Chapter 29
He frowned instantly. “What happened to your legs p>
A bitter smile touched Maeve’s lips. “Forced onto the gravel p>
Jonathan glanced past her toward the sprawling Fairchild estate in the distance. Having a pretty good idea of what had happened, he didn’t press for details.
“Get in the car p>
Maeve didn’t bother protesting. She pulled the door open and climbed into the passenger seat.
“Thank you p>
The luxury SUV drove smoothly down the road, the interior wrapped in total silence.
After a few moments, Jonathan broke the quiet.
“My house is just around the corner, and I have a private doctor on call. Let’s head there first and get those wounds patched up p>
Maeve felt it would be imposing and opened her mouth to decline, but Jonathan beat her to it.
“Delilah is home, too. She’s been begging to see you. She recently had a fight with her best friend at kindergarten, and I haven’t had the time to sit down and talk her through it. You’d be doing me a massive favor if you could help p>
Maeve actually really missed little Delilah, so hearing that, she agreed.
“Alright p>
Back at the Fairchild estate.
Frederick sat frozen in his chair for ten grueling minutes.
Unable to take it any longer, he snatched his car keys and stormed out the door.
This time, Arthur didn’t try to stop him.
Frederick drove his Maybach at a crawl down the main road.
He scoured the sidewalks, but Maeve’s fragile silhouette was nowhere to be seen.
It had barely been ten minutes. With her injured legs, how far could she possibly have gotten?
Unless p>
A dark sense of foreboding washed over him. His hands gripping the steering wheel began to shake uncontrollably.
Taking a deep breath, he forced down the mounting panic in his chest.
He grabbed his phone from the console and dialed Samuel Vance.
“I want the traffic camera footage from every road surrounding the estate, on my screen in ten minutes p>
Samuel responded without hesitation.
“Understood, boss p>
Inside a high-end European-style villa at Yarwood Manor.
By the time Maeve followed Jonathan through the front doors, the private physician was already waiting.
Jonathan grabbed a shopping bag from the entryway and handed it to her.
“I had these delivered. It’ll be much easier for the doctor to treat you if you change into something more comfortable first p>
Maeve took the bag. “Thanks p>
Jonathan pointed down the hall. “The guest bathroom is right across from you p>
“Got it.” Maeve took the bag into the bathroom and pulled out a pristine white silk maxi dress.
The fabric was cool and luxuriously soft—perfect for not aggravating her raw skin.
After changing, she stepped back out. The doctor had her sit on the sofa, and as she lifted the hem of the dress, it revealed legs that had been brutalized and shredded by the sharp stones.
Even the seasoned physician couldn’t suppress a wince at the sight.
“Good Lord, how did this happen p>
Overwhelmed with humiliation, Maeve dropped her head, her hair falling forward to hide her pale face.
Jonathan shot the doctor a sharp look before smoothly intervening.
“Make sure you use the premium scar treatment. We can’t have these leaving any permanent marks p>
Catching the hint, the doctor asked no further questions.
“Of course p>
Once the wounds were disinfected and bandaged, Maeve smoothed her dress back down. Suddenly, two tiny hands latched onto her shoulders and a bright, giggly voice piped up right next to her ear.
“Maeve! Did you know I missed you and came over just to play with me p>
Maeve turned around to find Delilah leaning over her back. The little girl had her hair in pigtails, her chubby cheeks soft and flushed. Maeve couldn’t resist reaching up to gently pinch her cheek, a soft, genuine smile spreading across her lip.
“I sure did p>
Their whole friendship had started at a high society banquet. Maeve had snuck out to the gardens for some peace and quiet, only to witness a bratty kid push little Delilab into the fountain. Maeve had immediately jumped in to fish her out, crossing paths with Jonathan in the process.
Delilah glued herself to Maeve’s side, wrapping her little arms around her and nuzzling against her shoulder.
“I missed you so, so much, Maeve p>