Robin exclaimed, "You mean Hercules? He's my big brother!"
"Big brother?" Flora stared at him in surprise.
That man had to be at least thirty years old, right? The boy in front of her couldn't be more than nine years old. This age difference...
But that wasn't the main point. Flora had finally found someone willing to have a decent conversation with her. She couldn't help but ask, "You said his name is Hercules? Hercules Smith?"
Robin shook his head, saying, "Hercules is what outsiders call him, so I like to call him that too." Then, he placed his index finger on his lips, hushed his voice, and whispered, "Don't tell him, okay? I only dare to call him that secretly behind his back. His real name is Maxwell Smith."
Maxwell Smith...
Flora quietly pronounced those words, searching her memory for any recognition, but she couldn't recall knowing this person. However, she couldn't help but wonder why he was treating her this way. She wanted to know.
What was his relationship with Joshua Smith? Why was he seeking revenge on behalf of Joshua? And why did he claim that she had caused the downfall of the Smith Family Group? She knew nothing about it!
"Flora, what are you spacing out for? The coffee is all over the floor," Robin loudly reminded her.
Flora snapped out of her thoughts, lowered her head, and saw that the coffee was spilled all over the floor. However, she didn't pay attention to the coffee and looked up at Robin, asking, "Can you please tell me something else? What's the relationship between Joshua Smith and your family?"
"Of course," Robin was about to answer when a deep voice echoed from the staircase, interrupting him.
"Robin, do you find life too boring?"
Robin's expression turned fearful as he looked toward the majestic Maxwell on the staircase. He knew that when Maxwell asked this question, there would likely be many hardships for him to endure. So, before Maxwell officially got angry, he dashed off.
Flora was equally startled by Maxwell's appearance but didn't turn and flee like Robin. She lifted her head slightly, gazing at Maxwell as he slowly descended the stairs.
She began to feel increasingly anxious with his approaching presence. This man was utterly heartless, cruel to the core, and she was never his match!
Flora suddenly felt the room darken as Maxwell stood right in front of her. His cold and handsome face held a mocking expression, and he stared at her, taunting, "Miss White, if you have any questions, feel free to ask me directly. Perhaps I'll be in a good mood and answer."
Flora took a step back and suppressed her fear, sneering, "Your heart is as dark as the night, will there ever be a good mood for you? I doubt it!"
"Of course," Maxwell replied. He reached out his long fingers and tugged at the strands of hair hanging in front of her chest, pulling forcefully. Flora winced in pain, and Maxwell grinned, saying, "Seeing you in pain is when I'm in a great mood."
Flora glared at him and managed to squeeze out two words through gritted teeth, "You pervert!"
"Think what you like, I don't care," Maxwell said indifferently, then looked down at the spilled coffee on the floor, mocking, "It seems you're quite an incompetent maid, more suited for servicing in bed."
"You...!" Flora was seething, feeling a mix of anger and embarrassment as she glared at him, but apart from her fiery gaze, she couldn't do much else.
Maxwell, with a contemptuous smile, turned and walked to the door.
And then the sound of the car's engine starting followed by the fading noise of the car. That damned man, he had finally left!
Flora once again prayed in her heart that he wouldn't return, that he would never come back!
"What are you doing?!"
A high-pitched voice suddenly pierced her eardrums, and Flora was startled almost to the point of jumping. Nancy's distorted and grotesque face appeared abruptly in front of her. Before Flora could even figure out how to respond, Nancy's plump arm swept over.
A loud smack, and a large red mark appeared on Flora's face. A cry of shock escaped her lips, and her frail body staggered to the side, narrowly avoiding falling to the ground thanks to clutching the edge of the nearby table!
"Are you deliberately trying to get Big Young Master to blame me for not teaching you?" Nancy shouted.
Not only had Flora failed to brew the coffee properly, but she had also spilled coffee all over the place. Nancy could easily imagine how the perfectionist Maxwell would react to all of this.
Flora steadied herself, not retaliating or arguing, but instead knelt on the floor, extending her hands to clean up the spilled coffee.
"Have you lost your voice or your hearing? Can't you speak?" Nancy ranted, about to give her a second slap, when suddenly, from above the staircase, a young, fierce yet childlike voice exclaimed, "Stop!"
Nancy paused and turned her gaze toward the top of the staircase. Her angry expression was immediately replaced by a fawning demeanor, and she chuckled, "Little Young Master, why have you come out? Why aren't you in your room doing your homework?"
Flora was also surprised by the sudden appearance of this commanding voice and stole a glance at the top of the staircase. It was Robin. He was nothing like the mischievous troublemaker from before; he had a mature and self-assured air about him. His beautiful little face bore an expression of indifference well beyond his years.
On his face, she once again saw Maxwell's shadow; they were indeed brothers, as their anger was uncannily similar. But why was this little guy so angry? Was it because of her?
"You—! Come up here!" Robin pointed at Flora and commanded loudly.
With her head bowed while cleaning up the floor, Flora thought he was addressing Nancy. She continued her work without paying much attention.