Chapter 198: Chapter 198

"I don't want to! I won't listen!" Flora desperately shook her head and shouted. She didn't want any reasons; deception was deception, regardless of the excuse. Everything was fake!

Oliver Smith? There was no Oliver in the first place! It made her live in daily guilt, made her feel she owed Oliver so much, that he gave too much while she gave too little.

Even moments ago, she was trying to distance herself from him, feeling remorseful for that kiss, and now she found out he was actually Maxwell, and everything was a hoax.

She cried, collapsing in Kevin's arms, sobbing, "Maxwell! Do you find it amusing to see me act like a fool every day? Laughing in your heart every day? You're a perverted lunatic!"

"No, why would I think of you as a fool? I played Oliver to take care of you more conveniently because Maxwell was away on a business trip, and everyone knew he was away..."

Kevin glared at Maxwell and said coldly, "Do you think locking Flora in a golden cage will protect you from the Yota Gang? Do you think Oliver can protect her forever?"

"I told you! It's none of your business!" Maxwell's eyes turned red, and his anger reached its peak. He was furious! If not for Kevin, Flora wouldn't be this angry, wouldn't be crying like this, and wouldn't be ignoring him!

Kevin believed he could help Flora, but only he knew what was truly best for her. After Kevin stirred everything up, the whole plan was in chaos, and most importantly, how could he regain Flora's heart?

"As long as Flora isn't happy, I will take care of it!" Kevin didn't care about Maxwell's anger.

Maxwell, helpless, didn't want to argue with him anymore. His gaze softened only when it turned to Flora. He reached out to her, his voice pleading, "Flora, come here."

He couldn't lose her, so he had to coax her back, no matter what.

"I never want to see you again in my life!" Flora stared at him coldly and then began to struggle, attempting to break free from Kevin's embrace and leave alone. Her heart was so numb from the pain that she feared she might faint again if she didn't leave.

But Kevin didn't release her; it was too dangerous outside, especially for a pregnant woman.

"Come back with me. I have a lot to say to you and a lot to explain." Maxwell continued to plead. For the first time in his life, he was speaking so humbly to a woman, all because it was necessary!

Maxwell took a step forward, grasping her hand again, and this time, she didn't shake him off because he held on tightly.

Flora struggled and began to scream, loudly crying out, "Let me go! I don't want to go back with you! I'd rather die here than go back with you!"

"Flora!" Maxwell tried to be firm.

Flora wasn't afraid, screaming even louder, "Maxwell! If you force me, I'll die right here in front of you! I—" She suddenly turned to Kevin, raising her tear-stained face and pleading, "Mr. Kevin, take me away, please take me away from here!"

"Okay, I'll take you away." Kevin nodded, cast a scornful glance at Maxwell, and led Flora toward the car. He would take her away, away from this demon!

Maxwell rushed forward, shouting, "Flora! You can't go with him! Come back to me!" If he weren't worried about Flora getting too agitated and risking harm to the baby, he would have charged forward to snatch her back from Kevin. But now he could only use pleas and commands, unfortunately, no matter what he tried, it was in vain.

He watched helplessly as Kevin's car left the parking lot, taking Flora away. Frustrated, he took a step back, clenched his fists, and fiercely pounded them on the roof of the car, feeling no pain whatsoever.

All the pain had already converged in his heart. Heartache was the most unbearable suffering!

******

The car moved slowly along the brightly lit streets, and immersed in the dreamlike glow, Flora felt like she was in a dream.

The recent news rolled and echoed in her mind. For a moment, she couldn't believe that everything was real. Oliver, whom she had known and spent so much time with, was actually fake? There was no Oliver in this world?

Was the Oliver who had been good to her since she entered the Smith Family mansion, even during times of abuse, really Maxwell? How could that be possible? Maxwell hated her so much; how could he be so good to her?

Suddenly, she remembered how Oliver would always bring up the necklace every time they met. Could that have been his real motive? Was he pretending to be Oliver from the beginning just to deceive her and take the necklace?

Everything suddenly felt false, and her heart seemed to lose something, leaving her empty.

One shock followed another. Should she be happy that Maxwell hadn't abandoned her these past few days, or should she hate him for the deception? At this moment, she knew she hated him a bit more.

Flora couldn't hold back her tears, and Kevin, glancing at her in the rearview mirror, accelerated toward his home. Returning to the Davis residence at the fastest speed, he parked the car in the garden.

Undoing their seatbelts, he gently pulled her into his arms, patting her back to comfort her. "Flora, I'm sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have interfered. Was it my fault that you're crying?"

Flora shook her head in his arms, unable to speak due to the overwhelming discomfort in her heart. She should be grateful to him; he's the one who made her aware of the truth. Otherwise, who knows how long she would have been deceived by Maxwell.

"Stop crying, okay?" Kevin comforted her tenderly by her ear. Seeing her tears made him feel helpless and unsure of what to do.

"Mr. Kevin, was everything you just said true? Is Oliver really Maxwell in disguise? Has it always been like this?" Flora asked, choked with emotion, needing someone to provide her with definite answers.

"It's true," Kevin sighed softly and whispered, "Oliver disappeared from the Smith Family twenty-five years ago after being kidnapped by outsiders and never returned."

His gaze passed through the car window and landed on a certain window; it was Mrs. Davis's bedroom. She was the one who had kidnapped him. After he learned the truth and Mrs. Davis explained everything to him, he forgave everyone in the Smith Family.

When Mrs. Davis knelt before him, begging him not to abandon the Davis family, he couldn't bear to hate her anymore. After all, Mrs. Davis treated him very well, and Mrs. Davis was getting old. With such a large family business, it needed him to manage. So, he pretended not to forgive the Smith Family.

Let's pretend that Oliver Smith didn't really exist in this world, let everything go back to the way it used to be. He was still Kevin, the heir of the Davis family!

"Why would he treat me like this?" Flora sobbed loudly, her cries growing louder.

"That's what infuriates me," Oliver gritted his teeth, saying, "He flaunts his relationship with Chiyoko Tokugawa as Maxwell and deceives you as Oliver. I've never seen anyone more two-faced in my life!"

"He deceived me just to have my child, right? Actually, his true love is Miss Chiyoko, isn't it?" Flora moved slightly backward, out of Kevin's embrace, and looked at him with tear-filled eyes.

Kevin wiped away the tears from her face with his hand and said softly, "I don't know what he really wants. His thoughts have always been unpredictable. Flora, there are plenty of good men in the world. You shouldn't be heartbroken over someone so unfaithful."

"But I can't help but be heartbroken. What should I do?" Flora helplessly covered her mouth, trying not to cry out loud. If Maxwell really just wanted her child, would he take the baby away once it was born?

If she lost him and then lost the baby, would there be any meaning in continuing to live?

"Flora, rest assured," Kevin comforted her sincerely. "Stay here in the future or come with me to Germany. As long as I'm here, no one can harm you. Trust me!"

Hearing his words, Flora hurriedly shook her head. "Mr. Kevin, I don't want to bother you. I..."

"Not at all!" Kevin interrupted her, even sounding a bit angry. "Look at this huge mansion. Who could be disturbed by you? Why do you always insist on keeping me at arm's length?"

Flora, dumbfounded, stared at the displeased Kevin. She just didn't want to trouble him, as she didn't know the extent of Kevin's feelings for her. Were they just friends? If they were just friends, why was he so good to her?

She didn't want Kevin to have feelings for her beyond friendship. Her heart was already filled by someone else, and there was no room for a second person. She didn't want to hurt anyone; hence, she shouldn't let anyone fall in love with her.

Kevin seemed to understand her thoughts, sighed lightly, and reassured her, "Flora, don't overthink it. I'm caring for you as a friend, or you could say, as a family member. There will be no crossing boundaries."

"A family member?" Flora was puzzled, sniffing and observing him.

Kevin smiled wryly, saying, "Actually, you started suspecting my identity from the first moment you saw me, didn't you? How could two strangers look so much alike in this world?"

Flora opened her mouth in astonishment, stared at him, and then exclaimed, "Are you saying you are the real Oliver? Are you truly Maxwell's twin brother?"

Indeed, she had always suspected the relationship between Kevin and Maxwell, Oliver. However, she couldn't figure it out, so she stopped thinking about it. Little did she expect Kevin to be Oliver! What a shocking piece of news!

"Are you saying you were the one abducted twenty-five years ago?" Flora mumbled incredulously, struggling to digest this astonishing revelation. Her mind was now even more chaotic than before!

At this moment, Mrs. Davis, who had been awakened by the commotion, came out of the house. She bent down and looked at Kevin, saying, "Kevin, who are you talking to? Why aren't you coming inside? Also, was someone crying just now?"

"Mom, I'll come in right away," Kevin responded and began to lock the car, preparing to get out.

Flora, upon seeing Mrs. Davis, hastily wiped away the tears on her face and greeted cautiously, "Hello, Mrs. Davis." She had never seen Mrs. Davis before and couldn't gauge her temperament, making her feel uneasy.

However, Mrs. Davis recognized her, gave her a once-over, and belatedly said, "Oh," standing straight and waiting for them to get out of the car.

Kevin turned to Flora, comforting her, "Let Maxwell explain all the mysteries to you himself. I believe he should be here early tomorrow morning."

Flora stayed still for a moment, and Kevin had already gotten out of the car. He walked around to her side, opened the car door for her, and reached out to her, saying, "Get out. It's very late; go upstairs and rest early."

After hesitating for a moment, Flora pressed her small hand against his large palm and let him help her out of the car. As soon as she got out of the car, she felt two unfriendly gazes shooting her way from the side—Mrs. Davis!

Mrs. Davis scrutinized the visibly pregnant Flora. She remembered quite well that she was Maxwell's woman. Coming home with a man in the middle of the night, crying and sobbing—what on earth was going on?

"Kevin, why did you bring her home? She's Maxwell's woman." Mrs. Davis turned to Kevin, speaking with a hint of dissatisfaction. Kevin had been heartbroken over this woman, and now that she was coming home with him, pregnant no less, how could Mrs. Davis possibly welcome her?

Upon hearing Mrs. Davis's words, Flora's face turned pale, and her body trembled uncomfortably. She felt an immediate urge to turn around and flee. Indeed, what was she doing here, following Kevin back? Such behavior was so inappropriate!

"I'm sorry; I think I should leave," Flora apologized. Sensing a hint of displeasure on Kevin's face, she quickly forced a smile and added, "Mr. Kevin, I can go to Chloe's house. I used to live at her place."

"Things are different now. You could be in danger at any moment, so you should stay here." Kevin looked at her seriously. With Yota Gang closely watching her, how could he allow her to be outside?

Mrs. Davis felt a bit embarrassed, as Kevin was clearly going against her wishes! All for the sake of this woman? Before her discontent could manifest, Kevin turned to her, timely speaking, "Mom, let Flora stay here for a few days. I guarantee she won't affect your life. Okay?"

Mrs. Davis felt somewhat relieved at Kevin's words. At least he was giving her a way out. After all, accommodating one more woman wouldn't be a problem for the large Davis family. It was better than causing discord between mother and son.

Ever since Kevin learned the truth 25 years ago, Mrs. Davis had felt guilty towards him. She had been cautious in everything she did, afraid that he would abandon her and the company to return to the Smith Family.

She nodded, albeit hesitantly, "Since you want her to stay here, I don't have a problem with it. But...," Mrs. Davis looked at Kevin, hesitating, "aren't we supposed to return to Germany in a few days?"

Was the plan changed again? Last time, Mrs. Smith had stopped them at the critical moment, preventing their return. This time, would it be delayed again because of this woman? Mrs. Davis was eager to return to Germany to avoid constant anxiety.

Mrs. Smith had never given up her plan to snatch Kevin back from Mrs. Davis. Mrs. Davis was afraid that she wouldn't be able to compete and might really lose Kevin. By going back to Germany, at least Mrs. Smith wouldn't have the chance to be in contact with Kevin.

Understanding Mrs. Davis's concerns, Kevin smiled reassuringly and said, "Mom, don't worry. I'll keep this in mind. Well, it's late now; let's all go back and rest."

"Okay, make sure to get some rest soon," Mrs. Davis glanced at Flora, feeling somewhat displeased. However, she maintained a surface appearance of willingness.

After speaking, the three of them walked towards the house together.

Following Kevin's arrangements, Flora stayed in a guest room on the second floor next to Kevin's bedroom. She washed away the tears on her face with clear water and stared blankly at herself in the mirror. Was the woman in the mirror really her?

Her eyes and cheeks were swollen from the tears, her hair was disheveled, and her complexion was dull. Everything looked so haggard and terrible that she dared not look at herself any longer. How had she become like this?

At that moment, there was a sudden knock on the door. Flora hesitated for a second, then left the mirror and crawled under the covers, lying still with her eyes closed, pretending to be asleep.

No need to guess, she knew it must be Kevin knocking. She didn't want him to worry about her, so she thought of pretending to sleep. This way, Kevin would feel at ease enough to go back to his room to rest.

Sure enough, Kevin entered, saw Flora lying on the bed, and walked over, taking cautious steps. Seeing that she was 'asleep,' his heart, which had been worried all along, finally relaxed. He carefully pulled the nearby blanket over her, then turned and walked out. Flora didn't open her eyes; tears flowed silently from her tightly closed eyelids. It was unclear whether it was from a sense of gratitude or heartache.

In her confused mind, the tangled faces were still Maxwell and Oliver—two faces that looked exactly the same but with different expressions. Those two faces had deceived her and spun her around. Were they really the same person?

And so, she cried, with tears seemingly never-ending, until the sky was about to dawn, drifting into a shallow sleep.