Chapter 194: Chapter 194

Flora was slightly stunned and quickly turned her head to look at the front yard, where Maxwell was casually walking towards them with an easygoing stride. Smiling gently at the maids, he looked towards her at this moment.

Flora quickly averted her gaze, afraid to let her eyes linger too long on his captivating gaze, as if she feared she would be captivated by that enchanting smile.

Maxwell smiled as he approached them, and Flora nervously laughed, calling him like the other maids, "Big Young Master, good afternoon." In front of others, she always addressed him as Big Young Master.

"Big Brother." Richard greeted and lifted his leg to kick a chair over, gesturing for him to sit.

Instead of sitting on the chair, Maxwell walked to Flora's side, lightly caressing her shoulder with his right hand. Seriously addressing Richard, he said, "Today, I had Darren find a suitable position for you at the company. You can start working tomorrow."

"No way! Big Brother, are you kidding me?" Richard opened his mouth wide, simultaneously staring at Maxwell in an exaggerated shock. "Do you want me to go to the company to work? I don't know anything!"

Richard is still a student, and now he's about to be pushed into the company to work? Is there anyone in the world more pitiful than him?!

"No one is born knowing everything; if you don't know, you have to learn," Maxwell disregarded his lamentations, looking determined, and gave a meaningful glance at Flora. He continued, "Besides, the summer vacation is so long. Since you're idle all day, why not consider it as an early study and adaptation to the company?"

He didn't want to leave this passionate young man at home. After all, he was about the same age as Flora. Their topics and interests were easy to align, and they felt a good connection even before meeting. How could he not worry?

Moreover, he did need an assistant, and he wished Richard could learn quickly and return to work at the company tomorrow!

"Big Brother, can I start adapting next summer?" Richard looked at Maxwell with puppy eyes, hoping he could be treated leniently this time. He wanted to play for a few more days!

"Since the decision is made, don't change it lightly. Let it be this way." Maxwell held Flora's waist, leading her towards the house, leaving Richard sitting by the pool with a handsome face collapsed.

He said the same thing last year, saying to start adapting next year, and now he's saying the same thing this year! Maxwell shook his head helplessly, deciding not to indulge him anymore and to cultivate him into someone more responsible.

Flora heard a faint sigh by her ear, looked up at Maxwell, and asked, "What's wrong? Why are you so eager to get him into the company? Also, why the sigh?"

Maxwell shook his head, smiled lightly, and said, "I sighed because I saw you all full of youthful vitality, and I felt like an old man myself." Especially when he saw Richard and Flora sitting face to face, two young faces full of vitality, he felt out of place sitting down.

"Do you also know that you're getting old?" Flora teased him on the side, with a mischievous smile on her face. She knew that Maxwell disapproved of her getting close to Richard. He was just that domineering and unreasonable!

Maxwell, dissatisfied, pinched her waist and raised an eyebrow at her. "Did you already know I'm old?"

Flora shook her head in a hurry, grabbing his hand to prevent him from playing tricks. She chuckled and said, "No! How could I think an unmarried person is old? You're still very young, really!"

"Are you implying that I should get married?" Maxwell stopped walking, looked down at her with a smile, and asked.

Flora shook her head more vigorously, raised her hand to defend herself, and said, "No! I didn't mean that, really!" How could she imply that he should get married? His engagement with Chiyoko hasn't been officially canceled yet. Even if he got married, it should be their business!

Maxwell folded his arms, lightly pulled her waist, and looked down at her, smiling. He said, "I was just teasing you, why are you so nervous?" After a pause, he spoke earnestly, "But, I really want to get married. Let's get married after the babies are born!"

He announced this news not seeking Flora's approval. When Chiyoko's child is born, everything will be settled. He can be free of any burdens and openly take her as his wife!

"What did you say?" Flora was taken aback, looking up at him with her small face. Did she hear him correctly? He wants to marry her, and soon?

However, why did he say he would wait until all the babies were born? She knew Maxwell was referring to Chiyoko's baby being born! Does he plan to send her away once Chiyoko gives birth?

Maxwell is capable of such cruelty, but why does she feel a bit frightened, as if she sees the scene of his cruelty towards her in the past, that cruel and bloodthirsty Big Young Master?!

"I said I want to marry you; you are my wife. From this moment on, you are!" Maxwell lifted her waist a bit, kissed her lips, and once again declared dominantly.

"Did you take the wrong medicine today, saying so many inexplicable things? Aren't you afraid I'll take it seriously?" A mist of tears appeared in Flora's eyes as she protested, staring at him through the mist.

Maxwell was displeased. Were his words so unworthy of belief? "Rest assured, I didn't take the wrong medicine today, and I didn't find any of my words inexplicable. Let me warn you, you must take my words seriously! Understand?!"

"Understood." Flora shrank her neck, frightened by his displeased expression, feeling moved in her heart, almost bringing tears to her eyes. Maxwell really going to marry her? Can she live with him for a lifetime? Such anticipation!

"Understood is good." Maxwell released her waist, took her hand, and walked into the room.

The two people, their hearts filled with happiness, were completely unaware that they were standing under Chiyoko's window, and they didn't sense the two malicious and melancholy gazes from the second floor. Could that be a dangerous signal?

Back in the bedroom, Flora was pleasantly surprised to see the blue flowers already arranged on the table. She ran over, hugged the bouquet of blue flowers, and smiled like a child.

He indeed didn't send champagne roses, but chose the blue flowers instead. It wasn't her preferred variety, but because Maxwell bought it, she liked it. Perhaps, from this moment on, she would come to love it, just as she loved champagne roses.

The next day, Maxwell and Richard went to the company early, and Mrs. Smith rushed to the hospital early to pick up Joshua. With the protection of Bella and Lily, Flora became a bit bolder and no longer had to spend the whole day hiding in the room playing the piano to pass the time.

After a nap in the afternoon, accompanied by Bella and Lily, she planned to go to the yard to watch Robin play baseball. What she didn't expect was that as soon as she walked into the living room on the first floor, she encountered Mrs. Smith and Joshua, who had just returned home from the hospital.

Joshua, with a displeased expression, shouted, "Mom! I told you I didn't want to leave the hospital. Why did you bring me back so early!"

Flora was startled, instantly regretting that she shouldn't have come out of the bedroom at this moment. Joshua in front of her could walk steadily to the bar and pour himself a drink. There was no problem with his legs; he could walk like a normal person. However, his face emitted a fierce and somewhat terrifying aura.

He had already recovered. Why didn't he want to leave the hospital? Flora didn't understand, but Mrs. Smith quickly provided an answer.

Mrs. Smith glared at Joshua and rebuked sternly, "Do you think I don't know why you hid in the hospital? Joshua! When will you ever make me proud? When will you be half as outstanding as Maxwell and Oliver?"

Whether it was Maxwell's feigned Oliver or Oliver taken away by Mrs. Davis, they were both outstanding in Mrs. Smith's eyes. They were incomparable business elites, full of charisma, courage, and intelligence!

"Mom! Can you stop mentioning Maxwell and Oliver in my ear all day long? I know they are amazing! I don't understand anything. I've exhausted the company, and I've caused trouble for Dad. Isn't that enough?!" Joshua shouted angrily.

Inferiority had long accumulated into a violent atmosphere in his heart, deepening with each passing day. He knew he couldn't compare to others, but every day, hearing Mrs. Smith repeat it, made him resentful!

"Joshua! Shut your mouth!" Mrs. Smith scolded loudly. "You know you don't understand anything, so why won't you learn? Why did you hide in the hospital for more than half a year? Do you plan to ignore the company?"

"It's not that I don't care; it's that I'm not capable! Now everything is fine, right? The performance is thriving with Maxwell helping to manage it. Let him continue managing it; he's so capable anyway!" Joshua retorted. He also wanted to manage the company well, and to be an impressive figure, but he was inherently slow-witted. What could he do?

Mrs. Smith was infuriated and rebuked, "What are you saying?! The company is yours, and Maxwell has his own company to manage. He's been busy with that lately. Shouldn't you have returned to the company to help earlier?"

"I said I'm not going! I won't be involved in the company's affairs anymore!" Joshua yelled resolutely, forcefully throwing the highball glass back onto the bar counter and angrily heading upstairs.

Just as he turned around, he saw Flora standing dumbfounded in the middle of the staircase, unsure whether to go back or continue downstairs. After a moment of stunned silence, he began to scrutinize her. The anger on his face was replaced by a sneer, and after a long while, he uttered a sarcastic remark, "Miss Flora, long time no see. Your belly has grown so big; my nephew is growing fast!"

As he spoke, he jokingly reached out to touch Flora's prominently swollen abdomen, startling her into hastily taking a step back. Fortunately, Bella quickly caught her, preventing her from tumbling downstairs. After a few seconds, she greeted the two downstairs with as steady a voice as possible, "Good day, Young Master Joshua, Mrs. Smith."

Mrs. Smith snorted coldly, ignoring her, and briskly walked upstairs, not even sparing her a glance.

On the other hand, Joshua seemed quite interested in Flora, continuing to tease, "Miss Flora, weren't you sticking to Henry every day before, engaging in incest? Why now, after entering the Smith Family, are you unwilling to leave? Has Maxwell enchanted you?"

Flora's face changed, incest?! She heard such a word from him. He clearly knew that she and Henry were not biological siblings. What kind of incest was this? It seemed intentional to embarrass her, deliberately tarnishing her reputation! When did Joshua become such a malicious man?

Although these words were hurtful, she still spoke calmly, "Young Master Joshua, I'll go downstairs first."

"Why do you always rush to leave when you see me? Am I that frightening? Huh?" Joshua's face became more ferocious, taking a step up, and getting closer to Flora, who instinctively took a small step back.

"Young Master Joshua." Bella and Lily called hesitantly, their voices trembling because he was the master!

Joshua glanced at the two women, momentarily captivated by their beautiful faces. With a sly smile, he pretended to have an emotionless expression and said, "Come to my room; I have a gift for you." After saying that, he ignored Flora and walked upstairs.

Bella and Lily exchanged glances, then simultaneously looked at Flora.

Flora sighed in relief and said, "Go ahead." As long as Joshua didn't bother her anymore, she didn't care about the so-called gift; there was definitely no good intention behind it!

After Bella and Lily followed Joshua, Flora hesitated for a moment and then decided to go back to her room. She didn't want to run into people she didn't want to see everywhere. As she turned around, before she could take a step upstairs, a shadow enveloped her.

Because the person was standing one step above her, she felt the pressure. Her slightly lowered gaze fell directly on the slightly bulging abdomen of the person. Without thinking, she knew it was Chiyoko.

Flora's heart skipped a beat. Why did she always appear in front of her at the right time? She must have been secretly watching her from the side, waiting for Bella and Lily to be away from her side before revealing herself.

What did she want to do? Suddenly, a sense of unease crept over her.

After the incident last time, Flora didn't dare to speak loudly in front of her, fearing that she would play pitiful again to gain sympathy. And falsely accusing her, smearing her name, that way, Maxwell would be disappointed, thinking she was scheming! She didn't want to be a scheming woman, even if it was a misunderstanding!

Flora didn't lift her head, quietly sidestepping, preparing to continue walking past Chiyoko. However, the figure in front of her moved with her steps, continuing to overshadow her with a lofty attitude.

"Miss Chiyoko, I wonder what kind of tricks you want to play today?" Flora raised her head, staring at her expressionlessly. She silently swore in her heart that even if she chopped herself up, she would never retaliate!

"I want to play something exciting. I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it!" Chiyoko smiled slightly, a mysterious and sinister smile. She took a step down, standing on the same step as Flora, locking eyes with her.

Although it was an eye-level encounter, Flora still felt she was shorter than Chiyoko. Was it fear or self-pity that caused this feeling? She didn't know! A sudden chill inexplicably crept into her heart, and her hair stood on end. Did this unusual reaction foreshadow something about to happen? Flora's heart pounded irregularly.

"Miss Chiyoko, I don't understand what you're saying. I'll go upstairs first." Flora forced a smile that looked worse than crying and turned around, wanting to escape, she must escape!

Chiyoko sneered, watching her departing figure. In her mind, she silently recited a sequence of numbers. Then, at the critical moment, she reached out and forcefully pushed her down, the cruel and bloodthirsty smile on her face intensifying.

Maxwell! He wanted to marry her? Wanted her to be his wife? She would see what they had to marry!

In Chiyoko's mind, the fantasy scene she had imagined countless times reappeared. The moment when Maxwell walked in, she stared at Flora falling in a pool of blood. She lost the child, and then gradually lost her breath.

"Ouch—!"

A scream brought Chiyoko back from the illusionary world. Flora, off-balance and not very agile, screamed as she tumbled down.

Suddenly, Flora saw Chiyoko's triumphant and cruel face. In that last moment, she quickly grabbed Chiyoko's body. Even if she died... she would take her down with her! The other hand gripped the railing, and both knees hit the steps heavily, causing intense pain throughout her body.

Before she could scream in pain, Flora was shocked by the scene in front of her. At this moment, the one falling straight down the stairs wasn't her, but Chiyoko, and the one screaming was her.

Chiyoko's body crashed heavily on the steps, then rolled violently down to the first floor. Finally, she came to a stop on the first floor, lying on the ground in a rather miserable state, her snow-white chiffon dress gradually staining with a bright red hue.

Flora was stunned, staring blankly at the motionless Chiyoko below. Her horrified gaze passed through the spacious first-floor living room and landed on Maxwell, who had appeared at the door without her noticing.

When did he come in? She really hoped he had been there from the beginning! However, why was his gaze so angry? Why did he look at her with such a cold stare?