Chapter 988

Those words nearly made Maeve spit blood. When the hell did she ever give this backstabbing pair her blessing?

But one thing was horrifyingly clear: Delilah and Quinn were genuinely together.

Maeve suddenly realized coming back to the estate was a massive mistake. She never should have come home; she should have gone straight to Quinn. But it was too late now.

Seeing Maeve turn to leave, Delilah lunged forward and grabbed her arm, refusing

to let go.

"Now that you're back, you should at least wait for Dad. He'll be thrilled to see you after two years."

But Maeve had zero desire to see Alastair right now. She hadn't finished her mission, and if she faced him empty-handed, he would literally beat her to death.

Let alone demand any favors. She had no idea if Delilah knew about her secret contract with Alastair. Sporting her haute couture gown and a wicked smirk, Delilah clung to Maeve's wrist, dead set on making her stay.

Mrs. Sterling suddenly stepped forward, shoving Delilah aside with a mother's fierce protective instinct.

"That's enough, Delilah. Letting you stay in this house was a favor to Maeve because you were her friend. Don't push your luck.

Maeve is my daughter. This is her home. She comes and goes as she pleases. Who the hell gave you the right to stop her?"

Mrs. Sterling had fallen from a wealthy heiress to a woman with absolutely no voice in her own home, living a life worse than death.

Delilah glared coldly at Mrs. Sterling.

"I'm doing this for Maeve's own good. She's the daughter of the Sterling family, and she's been missing for two years. Do you have any idea what people are whispering out there?

Besides, Dad must be out of his mind with worry. Now that she's finally home, what's wrong with me making sure she stays put?"

Maeve saw right through her. Delilah was desperate to keep her trapped here because she was terrified Maeve would go find Quinn.

She and Quinn had been together for years, surviving countless breakups and reconciliations. Maeve knew exactly how much power she held over him.

Delilah had clearly swooped in when she was vulnerable and manipulated Quinn with her sweet lies. The second Maeve showed her face, Quinn would drop Delilah na heartbeat

"Watch me, Delilah. I'm going to find Quinn right now."

All the color drained from Delilah's face. She was already pregnant with his child. If Quinn saw Maeve and they actually got back together, what would happen to her baby?

"Maeve, you are not allowed to go see him! He doesn't want you anymore!"

Delilah was practically hysterical. She couldn't let this woman near Quinn. The two of them began to physically struggle on the landing.

Maeve dug her heels in; the more Delilah tried to stop her, the more she wanted to leave.

"What is this disgraceful screaming in my house?"

The booming voice echoed through the hall as a man in a sharp, tailored black suit strode out from the back corridor.

Alastair was tall and imposing. Even in his fifties, he exuded a terrifyingly charismatic authority. It was no

wonder Mrs. Sterling had a met

over

madly in love with him that she banded her entire family fortune to marry him.

The second Alastair appeared, Delilah instantly switched back to her pathetic victim routine.

"Dad, Maeve is back! I was so happy to see her. We all thought the worst, and now she's right here in front of us begged her to stay unt you got home but she refuses. I tried to stop her, and now she's accusing me of having ulterior motives."

Facing her own father, Maeve swallowed her rage. Just as she opened her mouth to

defend herself, Alastair shot her a gaze so chilling it stopped her dead.

"My study. Now. You vanish for two years without a single word, and now you barge

in here throwing a tantrum? You would have been better off dying out there."