Chapter 190: Chapter 190

Maxwell didn't return to the bedroom until almost midnight. For the first time in his life, he ignored the teasing from others and walked into the room holding a bouquet of vibrant champagne-colored roses.

He never had the habit of giving flowers to anyone, but he wanted Flora to know that he was trying to change himself. Just like changing his temper, he was willing to tolerate any rude or naughty behavior from her.

As someone who was extremely serious with employees, subordinates, and everyone else, he had never imagined that he would one day indulge a woman like this, let alone change himself for her.

Mrs. Smith, seeing him come in, welcomed him with joy and said, smiling, "Maxwell, you're finally back. I was afraid you were busy with social engagements or other matters, so I didn't dare to call you."

"Aunt, what makes you so happy?" Maxwell chuckled as he looked at Mrs. Smith, finding it amusing that she stayed up so late and greeted him with such a cheerful demeanor.

But seeing Mrs. Smith so happy, he couldn't help feeling uplifted as well. Perhaps something good had happened?

"I'm certainly happy," Mrs. Smith said mysteriously, unable to contain herself. "Let me tell you some good news—Chiyoko is pregnant." Yes, this was undoubtedly a tremendous piece of good news for her, heralding the next generation of the Smith Family!

However, what was good news for her felt like a bomb exploding in Maxwell's mind. His smile froze on his face, and he couldn't react for a long time. Chiyoko was pregnant? Instead of a pleasant surprise, he felt a sense of frustration and impatience!

Mrs. Smith thought he was just too pleasantly surprised, so she continued cheerfully, "Well, now, the Smith Family finally has a grandson with a pure bloodline."

She believed Maxwell would be thrilled. Given his hatred for Flora, he even went so far as to bring her down from the third floor upon learning about her pregnancy. How much more delighted would he be with the beautiful and charming Miss Chiyoko?

"Aunt, are you sure?" Maxwell's voice quivered as he tightened his grip on the roses, oblivious to the thorns piercing his palms. He could sense that this would be the beginning of trouble.

Regret, along with the thorns, seeped into his flesh!

"Of course, it's true. Doctor Alan personally confirmed it." Mrs. Smith smiled warmly, pushing him upstairs. "Chiyoko has a fever and is lying in the bedroom. Go see her quickly; I should go to bed now."

Maxwell didn't refuse, walking upstairs with steps that were no longer as steady. Arriving at Chiyoko's bedroom, he knocked a few times before entering. The room was brightly lit, and Chiyoko, leaning against the bed, was reading a magazine, waiting for his return.

Startled by the opening door, her frightened expression transformed into a sweet smile upon recognizing Maxwell. Softly, she called out, "Maxwell, you're finally back. Why are you so busy this late?"

She lifted the quilt and got out of bed, reaching out to take the champagne roses from Maxwell's hands. Simultaneously, she smiled happily and said, "Maxwell, thank you. These champagne roses are so beautiful."

She felt secretly pleased, thinking that Mrs. Smith must have called him in advance with this good news and even bought roses for her. It was the first time he had done such a thing since they met!

Maxwell raised his hand, avoiding her attempt to take the roses. The champagne rose traced an imperfect arc in the air and fell into the nearby trash bin. In an angry tone, he growled, "Chiyoko Tokugawa! Is this your ultimate goal?"

"Maxwell, I don't understand what you're saying." Chiyoko looked pitifully at the discarded roses in the trash bin, innocence in her eyes. Facing his rage, her heart sank, realizing that everything might not be as wonderful as she had imagined. He was angry, but it was okay; Flora had been through this before.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on her lips again as she spoke softly, "Maxwell, can you stop thinking of me as so despicable? I've never blamed you for that night, nor did I ever think of using it to force you into responsibility. But I never expected to become pregnant, Maxwell... I want this child."

Maxwell sneered bitterly. Of course, she wanted this child; after repeatedly enticing him, how could she blame him for the intrusion? She was probably overjoyed, wasn't she?

She had always wanted to establish a relationship with him using such means, and today she finally succeeded! However, he would never be led by a woman! Never!

He stared at her intensely, his voice even colder, "Chiyoko Tokugawa, don't think that having a child will make you my wife, I tell you! I will never marry a woman like you in my life!"

Such heartless and ruthless words! Only he could utter them.

Chiyoko cried silently in her heart, blinking away the tears with bitterness as she choked out, "It's okay; I can raise him on my own. Don't I have the responsibility to raise him into an adult?"

Since meeting him, she had gradually fallen, no longer the former Chiyoko Tokugawa. But what could she do? Everything she did recently was because of him.

Her tears and pitiful words left Maxwell pained and helpless. Stepping back, he turned and walked out, standing in the corridor. He didn't dare go to his bedroom; he couldn't imagine what Flora might be like now or what she was doing.

Yet, an urgent desire to see her, to know if she was okay, filled his heart. She must know about Chiyoko's pregnancy by now, right? Was she hiding in a corner crying, or had she gone somewhere else to weep?

Worry prompted him to walk quickly to the bedroom and push open the door abruptly. The room was pitch black, but as Maxwell fumbled for the light switch, brightness flooded every corner.

Luckily, she was there! Just as he thought, curled up in the corner, but she wasn't crying, perhaps having cried enough. His heavy heart finally dropped. Maxwell bent down, one hand supporting the large bed, the other embracing her, lifting her out of the corner.

Under disheveled hair, her eyes were reddened, and even her fair cheeks were flushed from tears. Maxwell gently cradled her face, carefully examining the distressed woman. He softly called, "Flora."

Flora was forced to look at him, unable to speak, and her response was a continuous stream of tears. The feeling of heartache was overwhelming; she didn't know what to do next. Should she leave him? It seemed like the right thing to do.

"Flora, I didn't expect this to happen either. I'm just as distressed as you are. But please believe me; I only want you, now and forever."

This was his promise, a promise spoken only to her.

Flora blinked bitterly, choking out, "Can I believe you? I really can't believe it!"

"You should know that I always keep my promises," Maxwell spoke with a hint of frustration, using his thumb to wipe away her fresh tears. He helplessly said, "I know you won't believe anything I say right now, but the child is indeed there. I can only regret bringing him into this world and regret being so careless to fall for that woman's scheme."

"Done is done; don't always push the blame onto Miss Chiyoko." Flora pushed away his hand, wiping away the tears on her face. The Maxwell she loved was not a man who wouldn't take responsibility, and that's why her heart ached even more!

"I... I just want to tell you that I didn't willingly touch her, nor did I want to see her pregnant." Maxwell explained urgently. The waves of emotions between him and Chiyoko were complex, full of grievances and resentments, how could she understand?

He didn't want to evade responsibility; rather, he understood Chiyoko's feelings. That woman indeed used schemes, and of course, he failed to resist, bearing significant responsibility. Thus, he regretted it, feeling a faint pain in his heart.

"You're saying this too early. Let's talk about it when you've truly decided." Flora turned around, climbed onto the bed, and lay down in the disarrayed bedding. Maxwell's words provided her with some psychological comfort, but she knew everything was too unrealistic.

Chiyoko was his fiancée, and she was just a servant. In every aspect, she couldn't compare to Chiyoko. How could he, with open eyes, choose her over Chiyoko? A child was often the best mediator between adults; she and Maxwell could reconcile. He and Chiyoko could too, it just required a little time.

Maxwell once again lifted her from the corner, embracing her tightly, and earnestly said, "It's not too early at all. I don't need to consider anything else. Besides you, I want no one else!"

"What about the child in Chiyoko's belly? Have you thought about that?" Flora spoke blankly. The child was innocent, and she knew Maxwell wouldn't consider aborting the child. Back then, even when he hated her, he chose to keep the child. He loved his children.

Maxwell hesitated; he hadn't thought about this issue yet. He would keep the child, and love it, but he wouldn't choose a woman he didn't love just because he loved the child. This was beyond questioning.

"You're squeezing my stomach; it hurts." Flora, in his embrace, spoke lightly, causing Maxwell to release her. She lay back down on the bed. He fell silent, understanding that it must be challenging and painful for him. Her heart ached just like his, so she could not spare a thought for him!

Maxwell stood in front of the bed, staring blankly at Flora with her back turned to him. After a while, he turned around helplessly and walked into the bathroom. The rushing water couldn't wash away the pain in his heart and the deep sense of helplessness.

What should he do? How could he make things work out for everyone? It seemed there was no way, right?

When he walked out of the bathroom, he didn't know if Flora had fallen asleep. She remained motionless, curled up by the bed, a sight that made him feel distressed. Maxwell walked over, lay down beside her, and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.

She probably hadn't fallen asleep; her eyelashes still held a few tears. Maxwell lowered his head to kiss her, then his red lips slid to her ear, whispering, "Flora, don't give up on me, because I haven't given up on you. Have a good dream."

Flora's eyelashes trembled, and tears no longer flowed from her eyes. Instead, they slid into the depths of her heart. She hadn't given up on him and didn't want to give up on him. Regardless of what the future held, she would persist for herself and her child.

The next morning, when Flora woke up, it was already past nine o'clock. Last night, lying in his arms felt warm, but she couldn't sleep. How could she sleep after such a significant event?

She had only managed to doze off lightly when the day timidly revealed its light. In just a few hours, she woke up again. There was no longer his embrace behind her, and her heart suddenly felt empty.

Instinctively, she reached out to the spot beside her, which had turned cold. He left; it was time for him to leave!

Flora forced a bitter smile at herself for being so nostalgic. Since she couldn't sleep, she sat up in bed after cleaning herself up a bit. Sitting at the piano, her fingers pressed on the keys absentmindedly, her mind still somewhat blurry. Even the black and white keys seemed a bit indistinct.

Then, she heard the sound of the door opening, followed by his breath, his embrace, and his kiss. His tongue entered her mouth, arrogantly and gently absorbing the essence that belonged to her, kissing deeply and passionately.

Why wasn't he at work? Today wasn't a weekend; was it because of Chiyoko? Just found out she was pregnant; perhaps it was for her? Flora allowed him to kiss her, but her mind was still wandering.

After a long while, Maxwell finally let her go, but he still held her in his arms. His chin rested on her neck as he softly said, "Why are you up so early? You didn't sleep all night last night." His tone was full of concern and tenderness.

Flora was surprised. Did he know she hadn't slept all night? So, he was being so gentle with her early in the morning? Did he also... to Chiyoko just now? She shook her head, forcing herself not to overthink.

"What's wrong with you?" Maxwell looked at her face, which kept changing expressions and asked with concern.

"Nothing." Flora shook her head, staring at him indifferently, and asked, "Why haven't you gone to work? Didn't you say these days would be very busy?" Her tone was a bit cold because she couldn't be cheerful and smile at him.

"I'm worried about you, not at ease leaving you alone at home." Maxwell rubbed her hair, explaining that's why he had entrusted all the company matters to Darren and decided to stay at home to accompany her.

Flora glanced at him and sneered, "Are you afraid I might do something foolish? Rest assured, I won't do anything stupid. Whatever happens, I will ensure that my baby lives healthily. He is my only family now."

Towards the end, her tone became a murmur, and when the tears were about to fall again, she raised her head, forcing them to flow into her heart.

"Our baby," Maxwell corrected, then cupped her face, looking at her seriously, "You don't have only the baby as a family. You have me, and I will always be your family. Remember that, okay?"

"Remembered." Flora smiled bitterly. Could it really be like this? She didn't dare to hope!

"Alright, you should have breakfast. I'll ask Betty to bring it up for you." Maxwell let her go, got up, and walked to the bedside table to use the intercom. These were the tasks Flora usually did for him, but today he was doing them for her.

Flora observed him actively trying to please her and felt infinitely melancholic. As the pampered Big Young Master of the Smith Family, what he had achieved so far was already quite remarkable. Should she go back to the way things were, smiling at him every day? Could she still manage to smile?

After breakfast, despite Maxwell's initial reluctance, Flora eventually persuaded him to go to the office. She knew he was always busy, and she didn't want him to jeopardize his work because of her. Besides, even if he stayed with her all the time, what difference would it make? Time couldn't go back to the past, and the right and wrongs wouldn't reset. Life wasn't formatted.

After Maxwell left, Flora walked out of the bedroom. Unlike her usual reluctance to leave the room, today she felt like going out. She even wanted to see Chiyoko, to witness her joyful and triumphant demeanor. She needed some fighting spirit to compete with her!

As her footsteps moved through the corridor, she quickly arrived at Chiyoko's bedroom door, which was left ajar. She overheard Nancy enthusiastically persuading her to consume various supplements. Chiyoko was arranging a bunch of champagne roses one by one into a flower vase, wearing a sweet and contented smile. Those vibrant champagne roses were Flora's favorite, symbolizing nobility and purity.

Raising her shoes, Flora involuntarily walked towards that exquisite bouquet. Her appearance caught Nancy's attention, who looked at her with a hint of gloating before leaving. Chiyoko also noticed her, and her smile deepened.

Seeing Flora staring at the champagne roses, Chiyoko smiled and said, "Do you also like champagne roses? If you do, you can ask Maxwell to buy you a bunch too, it's convenient anyway."

Flora felt a little uneasy. Was this bouquet of roses sent to her by Maxwell? But... "Why would Maxwell give you champagne roses?"

"He knows I've always liked champagne roses. We've known each other for a few years; how could he not know what kind of flowers I like?" Chiyoko laughed. Even though she had picked up the flowers from the trash, they were still from Maxwell, and she liked them just the same.

"I like champagne roses too," Flora murmured unconsciously. Why did Maxwell give her roses? Roses couldn't provide nutrition, nor could they ensure a healthy pregnancy. Didn't he never give flowers to anyone before? It turned out it was all a lie!

Although she only whispered, Chiyoko heard it, and her face changed slightly. She felt like she had been pricked by a needle. Yes, the original intention of this bouquet was not for her. Suddenly, she felt pitiful, always comforting herself in this way.

Knowing Maxwell for so long, he had indeed never given flowers to her, nor would he know what kind of roses she liked. But he knew Flora liked champagne roses, so he bought her a bouquet and brought it home even in the middle of the night.

"So what if you like them? Maxwell didn't buy them for you!" Chiyoko gritted her teeth and spoke resentfully.

She didn't want to see Flora. Every time she saw her, Chiyoko would be tormented by the flames of jealousy. She knew Flora had the advantage—happiness from being pampered—while she only had the pain of unrequited love.

Chiyoko turned and walked towards the large bed, maliciously throwing out her words, "Miss Flora, I want to rest now. The doctor said I should get more rest in these days for the baby to stabilize, so I won't keep you company."

Her words pierced Flora's eardrums like needles. The baby, yes, the child in her womb was Maxwell's. She couldn't disturb her anymore and apologized, "I'm sorry, I'll leave now."

After saying that, she turned and walked towards the door. At the moment she opened the door, Chiyoko's elevated voice came from behind, "Miss Flora, as an experienced person, I still have a lot of pregnancy-related things I don't understand. Can I come to you for help and advice?"

This woman was constantly reminding Flora of the fact that she was pregnant. Flora's back stiffened, and she had to force a smile and replied, "Of course, you're welcome to come anytime."

She quickly walked out of the room, as she didn't want to hear more hurtful words from Chiyoko. Standing in the corridor, for a moment, she didn't know where to go, feeling like she was superfluous wherever she went.

In the end, she chose to go to the garden. The vast garden seemed to match her current mood. Sitting on a chair by the side of the swimming pool, she distinctly felt a cold, malicious gaze from the second floor.

Without guessing or thinking, she knew the source of the gaze was from Chiyoko's bedroom. It turned out she didn't really want to sleep!

After wandering around the garden, Flora returned to the bedroom. Bored, she lay on the bed, unable to sleep, just staring blankly at the ceiling. She didn't know how long she had been staring before finally drifting off to a shallow sleep.