Chapter 191: Chapter 191

Flora didn't know how long she had slept when a pleasant fragrance of flowers drifted into her nose, entering her dreams. In her dream, Maxwell gave her a bouquet of champagne roses, even more vibrant than Chiyoko's.

When she opened her eyes, she was astonished to see a bouquet of champagne roses on the bedside table. A warm current passed through her heart, realizing she wasn't dreaming – Maxwell had indeed bought her champagne roses.

For the first time since yesterday, Flora revealed a joyful smile, cradling the bouquet in her arms. She lowered her head, greedily inhaling its fragrance. Receiving flowers from her lover could indeed brighten her mood, at least temporarily pushing the heartache into the depths of her soul.

When Maxwell walked out of the bathroom, he saw her blissfully smelling the flowers. Feeling a bit remorseful, he wondered why he hadn't thought of buying her flowers earlier. Such a small expense could bring forth her most precious smile.

Flora was startled by Maxwell's sudden appearance, never expecting him to be in the bedroom. Her hand holding the bouquet stiffened for a moment, then she nonchalantly placed it back on the table, the smile on her face gradually fading away.

Maxwell smiled faintly, walked over to her, and pulled her onto his lap, kissing her face. "From now on, I'll buy you flowers every day." It was evident that she liked champagne roses, and he truly hoped she could return to being the lively and adorable Flora she used to be.

"Thank you, but there's no need to waste so much. I'm satisfied to receive flowers from you once in my lifetime," Flora replied with a somewhat bitter smile. He bought flowers for her and Chiyoko alike, both champagne roses.

"How did you know that Miss Chiyoko likes champagne roses?" Sitting on his lap, Flora could look him in the eye. She stared at him with a poignant question.

Maxwell looked puzzled, scrutinizing her. "I don't know what kind of roses she likes. Why are you asking?"

Flora also hesitated, and then her smile became even more bitter. Didn't he know? If not, why would he buy roses for Chiyoko? Why would he lie to her? Was it necessary? She shook her head. "It's nothing, just a casual question."

Flora attempted to get up from his lap, but he held her tighter. Maxwell's warm hand gently caressed her bulging belly. He smiled and said, "Tomorrow is Children's Day. Robin has a performance at school, and he wants us to be there to support him."

She had changed, becoming quieter and more reserved. Today, there was no reaction at all. Maxwell hoped this shift was only temporary, just for this day. He wished everything would be back to normal when he woke up tomorrow.

Flora indeed lacked enthusiasm, but Robin had asked her to go a month ago. She had promised, and she had even taught Robin the children's dance. So, she couldn't let Robin down and had to go. She couldn't let him feel disappointed.

After hesitating, Flora nodded and said, "I know, I will go with you."

"That's good. Do you still want to sleep?" Maxwell lifted her chin, gently holding her charming face. It was clear she had no intention of going back to sleep.

Indeed, Flora shook her head, indicating she didn't want to sleep.

"In that case, I'll keep you company. What would you like to do? Chat? Or watch TV?" Maxwell considerately handed her the TV remote. He had gone to great lengths to make her happy.

Flora sighed lightly. Chatting – they seemed never to have sat down calmly and chatted together. It also appeared they never had any topics to discuss.

She tugged at the corners of her lips, giving him a faint smile. "You don't have to be so overly nice to me; it only makes me uncomfortable."

Accustomed to facing the occasionally cold, occasionally tender Maxwell, his current behavior indeed made her uneasy.

Maxwell, holding the remote, froze in mid-air for a moment, then dejectedly placed it back on the table. He gently kissed her cheek. "I just want to see you smile, the way you used to. Your current state also makes me feel uneasy and guilty, you know?"

"Sorry, give me some time. I'll get better," Flora embraced his neck, her face buried in his neck, softly sobbing. "I'm just feeling upset for a moment. Since childhood, I've never had my stepparents' love. Except for Brother Henry, everyone looked down on me, secretly calling me an unwanted wild child. Now, just when you are being kind to me, it seems like it's about to disappear."

Touched, Maxwell held her tightly and comforted her in her ear, "Flora, I promise you, I will never disappear, and I will always be good to you."

She had never told him about her background, and he had never asked. All along, he thought she was the pampered and privileged Miss Flora. He never expected such a painful past.

Since Henry had been good to her in the past, let him take over Henry's role, love her well, and cherish her. He believed he wouldn't do worse than Henry, definitely not!

"The impression you give, always seems so elusive, like air that can't be grasped, not secure." Flora choked with sorrow. It was true before, and even more so now. She had always felt unworthy of Maxwell, wanting to escape, yet yearning for his love. It was so contradictory!

"Even if it's air, it's the air surrounding you, guarding you, watching over you," Maxwell promised earnestly.

Listening to his words, Flora couldn't understand why she couldn't feel happy. Perhaps it was because his words, like himself, felt elusive and uncertain. She didn't know if she could trust him.

She didn't say anything more, just held onto him, greedily inhaling his scent. In the past, feeling his breath and embracing him would always calm her heart. Today, however, it no longer had the same effect.

Flora spent the following days in a state of extreme contradiction. While admonishing herself to be magnanimous, she couldn't help but feel emotional about a small gesture from Maxwell.

She felt like she was on the verge of becoming neurotic.

She treated this inexpensive item as a treasure because Maxwell had given it to her. Anything he gave her, regardless of its nature or value, could become a treasure in her heart.

Flora stood up from the piano, walked downstairs, and found Mrs. Smith downstairs, gently touching Chiyoko's slightly noticeable belly. She smiled broadly and said, "It might be twins, and that would be wonderful."

"Aunt, do you think the baby will resemble me more or Maxwell?" Chiyoko asked shyly, her face showing anticipation.

Nancy, standing aside, sneered discreetly, showing a disdainful expression towards her.

Mrs. Smith smiled and said, "Whether it looks like you or Maxwell, it will be a smart and beautiful child. It doesn't matter who it resembles."

"I really want her to be born soon." Chiyoko stroked her belly, laughing sweetly. She glanced upstairs at Flora and smiled with a hint of malice. She embraced Mrs. Smith's arm and said, "But Flora's child will be born first. If it's really Maxwell's, they can be companions in the future."

A snicker came from Nancy next to them, and when Chiyoko's sharp gaze fell on her, she hurriedly covered her mouth. She regretted why she made that sound. Chiyoko was currently the most favored person in the Smith Family!

Mrs. Smith pampered her, and even the once indifferent Big Young Master, who used to ignore her, now frequently cared about her health. He even went to her room to check on her and ordered the chef to prepare nutritious food for her.

Mrs. Smith did not notice anything unusual between the two, and angrily said, "I never believed that the wretched woman is carrying Maxwell's child. Only Maxwell believes it. I really don't understand how Maxwell can be so confused!"

Speaking of this matter, Mrs. Smith was both angry and helpless. It was understandable that she no longer believed Flora. After all, in the beginning, Flora insisted that the child belonged to someone else. It was only when she was forced to have an abortion that she temporarily admitted the child was Maxwell's. How many people could believe such words?

Upon hearing Mrs. Smith's words, Flora's heart was deeply pained. The most painful thing for a woman is to be so distrusted. It was all her fault. If she had admitted it from the beginning, Mrs. Smith wouldn't be so repulsed now.

Chiyoko, acting as if she hadn't seen Flora slowly walking downstairs, continued following Mrs. Smith's words, "Aunt, you can't blame her either. A girl without manners, ability, and looks like she wants to marry into a wealthy family will always have to resort to some means. It's just that her methods are a bit more despicable, perhaps trying to mix in a wild seed somewhere."

Flora's face changed, and she angrily rushed up to her and shouted, "Who are you calling lacking manners? Who got pregnant by fooling around with someone else?"

Her sudden appearance startled Mrs. Smith, who looked at her with some trepidation.

However, Chiyoko remained indifferent. She stood up abruptly from the sofa, glared back at her, and said, "Yes, I'm talking about you. So what? Did I say anything wrong? Would a cultured woman go after someone else's fiancé? This child isn't the result of a dalliance, is it really Maxwell's? Only you know for sure, right? Flora, you are despicable to the core!"

Enraged, Flora, unable to endure it any longer, raised her palm and slapped it across Chiyoko's face, shouting, "My affairs are none of your business. Just take care of yourself!"

The slap was not gentle. Chiyoko exclaimed and fell onto the sofa, her belly hitting the back of the seat not too lightly. It wasn't painful, but she tightly furrowed her brows and groaned in pain while holding her belly.

Mrs. Smith was shocked, supporting the wailing Chiyoko and anxiously asking, "Chiyoko, what happened? Where did you hit yourself?" She looked her up and down, not knowing what to do in her distress.

"My belly, Aunt. My belly hurts so much." Chiyoko, with tears streaming down her face, pretended to be unable to speak. However, from the corner of her eye, she glanced at Flora, who stood there as if in a daze. She felt an extreme sense of mockery.

Flora stared blankly at her. Although she knew Chiyoko was pretending, she was still bewildered and stood motionless, watching her groan in pain without extending a hand to help because she knew Chiyoko didn't need it!

Her inaction made Mrs. Smith even more furious. Trembling with anger, she yelled at her, "Wretch! Get out! Get out!" After yelling, she hurriedly called for Doctor Alan.

Watching all this, Flora felt a sense of falsehood in every movement and expression. Taking a step back, she turned around and quickly ran upstairs. She had to escape from this false scene, away from this scheming woman!

She rushed into the bedroom, hands on the table, gasping heavily. The noise from downstairs kept echoing in her ears. Flora covered her ears desperately, trying to block out the sounds!

Sitting on the floor, her body weak, she didn't know what awaited her next – Mrs. Smith's punishment? Maxwell's reproach? Or... She lifted her slightly aching hand; did she just hit her?

On the way, Maxwell received a call from Mrs. Smith, saying that something had happened to Chiyoko. He hastened his pace to return. As soon as he entered, he saw Mrs. Smith sitting on the ground floor sofa with a gloomy face. Involuntarily slowing down, he walked up to her, assessing her with a question, "Aunt, how is Chiyoko? Is the child okay?"

Mrs. Smith raised her eyes to him, discontentedly saying, "I've told you not to keep Flora around. You just wouldn't listen!"

"What happened to Flora?" Maxwell asked anxiously. Earlier, Mrs. Smith had only mentioned that something had happened to Chiyoko, without elaborating on anything else. He was eager to know what had transpired in the house.

"She viciously slapped Chiyoko, and Chiyoko fell, risking a miscarriage!" Mrs. Smith exclaimed angrily. "Such a malicious woman. Only you would treat her like a treasure, only you would trust her. Maxwell, when will you wake up!"

"How is the child now?" Maxwell asked urgently again. He cared about the child's well-being.

Mrs. Smith glared at him, "You only care about the child. Why don't you care about Chiyoko? Fortunately, Doctor Alan arrived in time, and both the child and Chiyoko are fine. It was Flora who pushed Chiyoko down!"

"As long as the child is fine, that's good. " Maxwell sighed heavily in relief. Thankfully, everything was okay! After a moment of contemplation, he continued, "Aunt, I believe Chiyoko must have provoked Flora first; otherwise, Flora wouldn't resort to violence, right?"

"You..." Mrs. Smith's words got stuck in her throat, almost choking her. Indignantly, she shouted, "You're still protecting that woman? Doesn't she know Chiyoko is pregnant? Even if something happened, she shouldn't have resorted to violence! Clearly, she has ulterior motives. You must teach her a lesson, make her behave, and stay at the Smith Family mansion until the child is born!"

She was now just waiting for the child to be born quickly, to conduct a paternity test and put everyone's mind at ease.

"I will, Aunt. Don't be angry. Rest early." After saying this, Maxwell prepared to go upstairs.

Mrs. Smith raised her voice behind him, "Don't you plan to check on Chiyoko? Chiyoko is bearing your child; don't you have a bit of conscience!"

"I don't need her to bear a child for me!" Maxwell suddenly turned around, glared at Mrs. Smith, and growled softly. This low growl left both of them momentarily stunned. It was the first time Maxwell had raised his voice at Mrs. Smith. After a brief silence, it was Maxwell who reacted first and apologized with a lowered head, "I'm sorry, Aunt. I... My mind is in chaos; I didn't mean to offend you."

Mrs. Smith forced a bitter smile and shook her head gently. "It's okay. I know you must be feeling uneasy. I just hope you can live a good life. However, looking at the current situation, it seems very difficult."

She knew Maxwell was caught between two women, and it was tough for him. But no matter how difficult it was, this was a legal society, and he couldn't marry both women. Even a fool could see that Chiyoko was his best choice! She had always respected his decisions, except for this one – only this one!

"Rest early. Whether you want to check on Chiyoko, it's up to you." Mrs. Smith sighed, walked past him, and headed upstairs.

Maxwell was left alone in the place, feeling helpless!

In the end, he did go to see Chiyoko. Walking into her room, he gazed at her but remained relatively silent. He didn't know what to say anymore; there were no more topics between them. Moreover, he had no intention of staying here to chat with her!

Upon seeing him, Chiyoko smiled happily, leaning against the head of the bed, staring at him intently. However, when her gaze fell on the bouquet in his hand, her smile couldn't help but fade. In his hand were champagne roses—roses he had bought for Flora!

"Maxwell, can I ask you one thing, just one thing?" Chiyoko said, with a pitiful tone.

From Maxwell's behavior these days, she understood his love for this child. She had to endure, had to continue smiling at him as usual, to have a chance at winning!

"Punish Flora? Drive her away?" Maxwell glared at her, asking.

Chiyoko smiled bitterly, took a breath, and helplessly said, "Although I have been trying hard to do well, your opinion of me hasn't changed, Maxwell. I am not that kind of person..."

Looking at Maxwell, she paused for a moment before continuing, "Even if you drive her out of the Smith Family mansion, you can't drive her out of your heart. What's the use? I have failed to keep your love..."

"Say what you want to say." Maxwell interrupted her, not wanting to hear more of these sentimental words.

Chiyoko was suddenly interrupted, felt a pang in her heart, and then looked at the champagne roses in his hand, saying with a sigh, "You probably don't know that I also like champagne roses. I just hope that when you buy flowers for Flora, you can also buy a bouquet for me, okay?"

"..." Maxwell was speechless. His instinctive reaction was to refuse, but he couldn't bring himself to. Mrs. Smith's words instantly echoed in his ears: Chiyoko is carrying his son. She hadn't made any requests all these days, and faced with such a small request, would he reject it so completely?

"Waking up every day and smelling the fragrance of my favorite flowers can improve my mood for the whole day. I really want that." Seeing him silent, Chiyoko continued, her voice so soft that it was hard to refuse.

"Okay, I will buy them for you," Maxwell hesitated for a moment and nodded. Seeing the joy on her face, he didn't hesitate to strike, "But please remember, the flowers are for your baby, not for you."

Chiyoko's smile indeed froze on her face. This heartless man! Why did he have to add that last sentence? Was he deliberately wanting to see her sad and upset? It was already embarrassing enough to ask him for flowers!

As Maxwell turned and left, at that moment, she spoke with a melancholy tone, "Thank you. I will take good care of it for the baby."

Maxwell's steps paused for a moment, but he didn't stop, closing the door behind him as he left.