Chapter 176: Chapter 176

Until late in the evening, Flora still hadn't seen Maxwell and Oliver return, and a sense of unease began to creep into her heart. The unusual behavior displayed by Oliver today made her feel like something was about to happen.

After hesitating for a while, clutching the phone, she finally mustered the courage to dial the unfamiliar number, which was Maxwell's mobile number. However, she had never called it before because she never thought of reaching out to him.

The phone rang for a long time before Maxwell's voice finally came through. Flora hesitated and became even more nervous; this was her first time calling him!

Nervously, Flora stuttered, "Uh, Big Young Master, is everything... okay with you guys?"

"What do you mean?" Maxwell asked cautiously, the first thing crossing his mind was that she already knew the truth! But she shouldn't know! No one should know!

"Uh... nothing, just noticed you haven't returned, so I wanted to check in, hah..." His unfriendly tone made Flora even more nervous.

"Nothing, not going back tonight. You go rest early." Maxwell said and, without waiting for her to speak again, hung up the phone.

Flora panicked and shouted a few times, but all she got in response was the beep of the disconnected call.

"Sulky guy!" Flora spat towards the phone, hung up, and went back to bed. She scolded in her mind: What's so great about him! He won't even talk a bit more on the phone, a guy without any sense of humanity!

After scolding, she lay back in bed, holding the blanket with Maxwell's scent, and fell asleep in embarrassment, sleeping very soundly.

When she woke up at dawn, Flora instinctively reached out to the side, finding it still empty. Maxwell indeed didn't come back to sleep last night. She wondered if the others had returned.

A small worry surged in her heart. To find out the truth, Flora got up from bed, cleaned up, and walked downstairs. As soon as she stepped out of the room, she encountered Betty, who was bringing breakfast up.

"Flora, have your breakfast first before going down. Things are a mess downstairs," Betty suggested.

"What's going on? Why is it chaotic?" Flora asked in confusion. Had something really happened? The Smith Family's troubles should have nothing to do with her, and she should even feel happy about it. However, Flora couldn't muster any joy and felt a bit nervous instead.

Betty sighed and said, "I heard that Mrs. Smith is hospitalized. I don't know why, but Nancy is urgently preparing a nutritious meal for her. Planning to send it over later. I don't know how serious it is!"

"Did Second Young Master come back last night?" Flora asked.

Betty shook her head, indicating no.

Flora forced a smile, guessing that the brothers must be at the hospital accompanying Kevin. That's why they didn't come home last night. It must be exhausting to accompany Kevin. What about Mrs. Smith? What happened to her? Despite her extremely hostile attitude, Flora couldn't help feeling concerned when she heard that Mrs. Smith was hospitalized.

Mrs. Smith had reasons for her hostility, whether it was because of the Joshua incident or her current inexplicable presence by Maxwell's side. Flora was in the wrong in both cases, so Mrs. Smith had every reason to dislike and treat her poorly.

In the hospital room, Joshua looked at Mrs. Smith lying on the bed, silent and anxious. "Mom, what's wrong with you? Please speak," he urged desperately. He was almost frantic, but Mrs. Smith remained silent as if she had lost her voice.

Having no choice, he turned to Maxwell, urgently asking, "Why did my mom suddenly end up in the hospital? What happened?"

Maxwell supported Joshua, apologizing, "I'm sorry, Joshua, go back to the room first. I need to talk to Auntie." Only he and the deceased Alan Smith knew about this. Of course, there was also Mrs. Davis, who had figured out the truth. With Oliver in her hands, and a new Oliver emerging from the Smith Family, she naturally could guess what was really going on.

Joshua sighed helplessly, turned, and with the help of a nurse, walked out. Maxwell watched him leave until he was sure he had returned to the room before closing the door and hesitatingly approaching Mrs. Smith.

Standing by the bedside, he gently pushed Mrs. Smith's arm, took a deep breath, and apologetically called out, "Auntie, I know you're angry. Please don't be upset; it's not good for your health."

Mrs. Smith coldly snorted, turning away from him. She wasn't just angry; she was shocked and heartbroken. She had a lot of questions for Maxwell, but out of spite, she didn't want to say a word.

Maxwell could naturally sense her feelings. Sitting beside the bed, he sighed and softly spoke to her back, "Auntie, I had no choice. You should remember, 25 years ago, when the police told Mom and Dad that Oliver had disappeared, my mom went crazy, and her condition worsened over time."

Mrs. Smith turned around, staring at him. "I remember all of that, but you shouldn't have lied to me for 25 years! Despite treating you so well and pampering you since you were little..." Mrs. Smith's voice choked with both anger and frustration.

"Auntie, please let me finish," Maxwell pleaded. When Mrs. Smith spoke like this, his heart was weighed down with guilt and remorse. After all, Mrs. Smith had raised him, and she was no less than his own mother.

Only when Mrs. Smith calmed down a bit did Maxwell continue, "Later, Dad, helpless, had to buy many good things to appease me, asking me to impersonate Oliver to awaken Mom, claiming that Oliver had been found. We didn't want you all to know because we were afraid you couldn't cooperate, making it easier to expose... Later, fearing Mom's condition would worsen, we had to keep acting, until it became irreversible, until today."

Mrs. Smith looked at him in astonishment. She never expected it to be for this reason. When Oliver, who had been reported killed by the kidnappers 25 years ago, suddenly returned, her joy blinded her, and she never thought everything was a lie, a drama orchestrated by Alan Smith!

Not only her but the entire Smith Family mansion, everyone in their social circle had been fooled! It was ironic. She had just said she pampered him and couldn't even see through the fact that he was playing two roles. What kind of pampering was she talking about?

"So you created a false image of disagreement with Oliver. That's why Oliver studied and worked in England from a young age?" Mrs. Smith clenched her fist against her teeth, sobbing softly.

Maxwell hesitated for a moment and nodded, "Yes."

Finally, Mrs. Smith couldn't hold back her tears, crying heavily on the bed. She cried for the lost Oliver, and for Maxwell's exhausting life all these years. She had been urging Oliver to return to the country every day, threatening them to have a reunion dinner together!

No one knew that every time she asked Oliver to return to the country, it was the most tiring time for Maxwell. Not only did he have to play the role of Oliver without being discovered, but the double personality transformation also made him lose his sanity several times!

Looking back now, in her memory, it seemed like she had never seen Maxwell and Oliver together in front of her. Despite her numerous requests for them to come home together, attempting to mend the strained relationship between the two. However, Maxwell and Oliver always found reasons to evade her.

Oliver had been studying in England since childhood and later managed the branch office there. Everything seemed so natural and real, making it hard to suspect. Although Mrs. Smith had suspicions about why the brothers, who were inseparable before the age of five, grew apart as they got older and even had heated arguments over trivial matters.

But she never delved deeper into why. She couldn't have imagined that this was a deliberate arrangement by Maxwell, let alone that Oliver would be fake!

Watching her cry so heartbreakingly, Maxwell patted her shoulder reassuringly, consoling her helplessly, "Auntie, don't cry. Knowing that Oliver is not dead and is doing well is enough, at least it's not like what the police said back then."

Speaking of which, Maxwell was the most unfortunate one. For more than twenty years, he had believed that there was no Oliver in this world anymore. His own younger brother was lost, and he was the one suffering the most. On the contrary, everyone around him thought that Oliver had really returned, felt relieved, and then moved on. Only he... was deceived by this false news for 25 years, saddened for 25 years!

Mrs. Smith lifted her face from the pillow, wiped the tears from her face, sat up, and placed her hand on Maxwell's hand. Choking with heartache, she said, "Maxwell, you've been through a lot these years, and you must be very tired, right? Please live a normal life from now on."

"No!" Maxwell stared at her seriously, saying, "Auntie, you must promise me that this matter cannot be known by a third person, at least not now, okay?"

"Why?" Mrs. Smith looked at him puzzled, sniffing, and asked in a hoarse voice.

After thinking for a moment, Maxwell smiled bitterly, "I still need Oliver's identity to help me with some things." Over the years, Maxwell had caused too much trouble. Let him pretend to be Oliver Smith for a few more days, and easily live through some ordinary days.

"But what about Oliver? We must get him back! We can't let Mrs. Davis succeed in her scheme!" Mrs. Smith spoke indignantly, thinking of Mrs. Davis's smug face, which made her itch with anger.

"Auntie, Oliver is no longer a child. It's not like 25 years ago when he could be snatched around by anyone. He can distinguish right from wrong now," Maxwell said helplessly. Oliver opposed him at every turn; it was evident that he had been badly influenced by Mrs. Davis. It wouldn't be easy to retrieve him in a short time, but Maxwell believed that Oliver would eventually be willing to come back!

"But we can't let that malicious woman get away with it!" Mrs. Smith exclaimed anxiously. "Our Smith Family's child should not end up in someone else's home, especially not with someone as impure in motive as Mrs. Davis!"

She had not forgotten that Mrs. Davis was using Oliver to retaliate against the Smith Family, and she was worried that Oliver might be harmed. At this point, she had no idea what Mrs. Davis planned to do next or if she would do something harmful to Oliver!

"Auntie, rest assured, I'm keeping an eye on them. As for Oliver, give him some time; I believe he will come back. When he does, I can easily relinquish my identity as Oliver to him," Maxwell sighed. Having played the role of Oliver for so many years, he was indeed tired. It was time to handle things and step back!

"Okay," Mrs. Smith responded in a daze. She was still uneasy about the sudden turn of events and couldn't fully process it at the moment. Maybe it would take time, but how much time? No one knew!

Just then, a faint knock on the door of the ward caught their attention. Maxwell felt uneasy, went forward, and opened the door. He saw Flora and Robin standing at the doorway.

Robin rushed into the ward, anxiously shouting, "Auntie, what happened to you? Are you okay? I heard from Flora that you're sick, so I asked her to bring me here. Auntie, you must not be sick!"

"Yeah, Auntie is fine." Mrs. Smith reached out to touch Robin's head, tears of emotion welling up in her eyes. Seeing his worried little face made her heart ache; she suddenly felt that these children, who had lost their parents early on, were truly unfortunate.

Flora stood at the doorway without entering, partly because the entrance was blocked by Maxwell, and she couldn't squeeze in like Robin. Also... she didn't know if she should go in. Mrs. Smith probably didn't want to see her!

Glancing around the luxurious ward and not seeing Maxwell, she thought he might be at work. She looked up, smiled, and greeted, "Hey, Second Young Master!"

"Look carefully! I am Maxwell!" Maxwell stared at her, his expression indifferent with a hint of hostility as he spoke.

What? Flora was taken aback, looking at him in astonishment. Maxwell? But Oliver was the one wearing this outfit yesterday! Could they have switched clothes? Flora had to admit that her judgment was poor; it was challenging to distinguish between the two. Usually, she relied on their behavior and facial expressions to identify them.

Maxwell always had a cold face, whether he was angry or normal. On the other hand, Oliver always had a gentle smile on his face, no matter the situation. Even when he was angry, he would calm down in an instant.

"Um... I'm sorry, Big Young Master!" Flora stammered, awkwardly addressing him. In her mind, she thought that these two should have signs hanging around their necks, making it immediately clear who was who.

"What are you doing here?" Maxwell asked displeasedly, feeling a trace of wariness rising in him. He stared at her intently, probing into her thoughts. Did she know something? It would be better if she didn't!

"Little Young Master dragged me here," Flora shifted the blame, shamelessly playing her cards. After being manipulated by Robin so many times, using him a little wasn't too much, right? She came here on her own to find out what happened and, quite uncharacteristically, to see if Maxwell was okay. Seeing him now, it turned out he was fine!

Except for looking a bit tired on his face, everything else seemed fine. Even scolding her, he had the energy for that. She knew it was wrong to come here without permission, and she knew he didn't want to see her. But was he so angry about it?

"Now go back immediately!" Maxwell growled low, displaying a mix of frustration and impatience as if his secrets had been exposed. Although her face showed no emotional fluctuation and did not seem like someone who had discovered a secret, Maxwell felt annoyed, or rather, concerned about her sudden appearance.

Just like the night before last when he was being spied on by her in Oliver's room, in that moment, he almost had the urge to kill her! This woman's curiosity was overwhelming, and he truly felt endangered!

Being yelled at by him, Flora suddenly felt wronged and wanted to cry. She had never encountered such a nasty man! Suppressing the urge to shed tears, she sighed softly and turned to walk in the direction she came from. Maxwell! Did you have to be so heartless?!

Maxwell watched her leaving dejectedly, then turned back to the ward and said to Mrs. Smith, "Auntie, I'll escort her back. Can Robin and Nancy stay with you here?"

"Yes, and you should go back, change your clothes, and get a good night's sleep. Go now." Mrs. Smith urged. Her mind was in turmoil, and there was no need to trouble him further by keeping him company.

Maxwell nodded and gave a warning pat on the back of Robin's head, saying, "Stay here obediently, no wandering around, understand?"

"I got it!" Robin responded happily.

Maxwell walked out of the ward, making a call to bring back Nancy, whom he had sent away. He headed for the elevator, wondering where Flora had gone now!

When Flora reached the elevator door, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in her eyes, causing her to freeze. It was Joshua! Since the second time she was brought back to the Smith Family mansion, Flora hadn't seen Joshua again.

Joshua also noticed her at the same time, and the two of them scrutinized each other. Joshua, now able to move slowly with the help of a cane, seemed on the path to a full recovery from his leg injury. Seeing this, Flora felt somewhat relieved. After all, she didn't want to see him crippled for life, especially considering her involvement in his leg injury. That would make her feel uneasy and unsettled.

Moving her red lips slightly, Flora couldn't bring herself to say a word. She didn't know how to greet him at this moment. His hatred for her had penetrated deep into his bones. Engaging in casual conversation with him seemed highly unrealistic.

However, Joshua broke the silence first, sneering at her.

"Miss Flora, what a coincidence. Are you here to visit my mom? Are you happy to see my mom sick and hospitalized?" The hostility on his face was evident every time he saw Flora.

Flora understood his sarcasm, lowering her head, "Young Master Joshua, you misunderstood. I'm just accompanying Little Young Master. I'm not here to enjoy the show." Why were men's minds so dark? Couldn't they think of something more positive? Flora couldn't help but smile bitterly in her heart.

Joshua, supporting himself on the cane, approached her and reached out to touch her face, teasingly saying, "You sly woman, you're quite the actress! Did you deceive Big Young Master with your act?"

During the conversation, Joshua's gaze lowered, landing on her flat abdomen. He continued to mock, "I heard you brought back an illegitimate child, and intended to dirty Big Young Master's reputation, right? Is this child perhaps Henry's?"

Flora couldn't stand it anymore. But he was injured, she couldn't hit him or scold him! Fortunately, at that moment, the elevator stopped. Without saying a word, Flora stepped over him and got into the elevator, intending to have a moment of peace where she couldn't hear anything!

But just as she took a step, her arm was grabbed by Joshua. In a moment of panic, he seized her arm, gritting his teeth as he cursed, "What's wrong? Did I hit the nail on the head? You shameless woman! You bitch!"

Growing more anxious, Flora glared back at him, frustratedly saying, "Joshua, what are you trying to do? Let go of me!"

"Why are you in such a hurry? What are you trying to escape? Huh? Is it because I hit the mark?" Joshua not only didn't release her but tightened his grip on her arm, causing her pain.

She began to struggle, shouting, "Let go of me! Joshua, are you insane? This is a hospital! Let go!"

The more she tried to escape, the more Joshua clung to her, and the two became entangled in a struggle.

Just then, a low voice suddenly came from behind.

"Joshua, let her go!"

It was Maxwell! His tone wasn't too harsh, but it carried an irresistible force. Joshua, who had always been afraid of him since childhood, was momentarily stunned and immediately released his grip on Flora!

Freed, Flora quickly moved behind Maxwell, staring at Joshua with a face full of fear.

Although Joshua felt unwilling, he obediently stopped all his actions. He awkwardly called out to Maxwell, "Cousin Maxwell..." From a young age, he had a kind of fear, admiration, and awe for Maxwell. Maxwell was just too outstanding, always making him feel inferior.

Especially when it came to Flora and breaking off the engagement, he didn't handle it well. Such a large company nearly collapsed in his hands, the chaos in the company, his father's death, and his car accident. In this series of turmoil, with Maxwell's urgent handling, the company stabilized. Currently, it was still him and Oliver managing everything.

In front of him, Joshua could only feel guilty and inferior. He felt that he was inferior in every aspect, unworthy of being the new generation heir of the Smith Family, and even consciously avoided taking over the company.

"Joshua, have you finished reviewing the documents that Darren handed over to you today?" Maxwell asked, staring at him with a serious and meticulous expression. Deep down, he felt a bit displeased about Joshua's recent behavior towards Flora, but he didn't say anything because he knew that Joshua hated Flora even more than he did!

"Um... I've read half of them. I'll continue later when I get back," Joshua falsely claimed, when in reality, he hadn't even glanced at the documents. The sight of company files gave him a headache, and he conveniently sought refuge in the hospital. However, Maxwell wasn't willing to let him off. Every day, there was a pile of materials waiting for him to review and approve.